The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-06-26

more to do with the passage Of the
Webb. Kenyon temperance bill than
any other influence.
Our Great Adversary BY Capt j E.
Ray.
our present laws punish the drunk
ard instead of the dealer, the weak
Instead Of the strong, the unfortu-
nate instead OF the wicked; in fact,
we wage war against effect, instead
of against cause, hence accomplish
but little for temperance reform.
Such laws are crimiually unjust
II the highwaymau rObs our fell
low do We fine aud imprison the man
robbed, while we allow the highway
man freedom 10 rob other? To i'm
prison aud fluc the drunkard while
the dealer goes free simply helps
the dealer to rob the wife and child
rem OF poor unfortunate whose
only strength is his weakness his
appetite-appotite the dealer has de-
veloped. 1t would not he more un-
wise to punish the mailman for his
madness and leave the mad dog that
bit him freedom to bite others.
Our methods are ridiculously alb
surd and unwOrthya sensible people.
Jerusalem stained her streets with
the blood Of her prophets, and after
ward sought to atone for It by rear
ing monuments to their memory.
Just so we are doing when we vote
these foreign liquor dealers the pow
or to Stay husbands and fathers, aud
then build asylums for their home.
less wives aud houses of refuge for
their helpless children.
The man who casts "A vote which
in any measure counts for the gov
eminent licensed saloon can have
no assurance that he has not there
by consigned soul to the doom of
Ii drunkard.
No man who has soul can afford
10 east IA vote for the wr0ug, or re-
fuse to cast 1t for the right.
Every opportunity offered us to
east vote against or for the pollti-
cal parties which favor the liquor
traffic marks an epoch in our govern
mental history of blood and murder
from which many II man will date
his salvation from drink through
the saloons we abolish, or his de-
struction through drunkenness
trough the saloons which we es-
lhlish.
II the Christian homes of Amer
lea insure the strength of our re-
publican government, 1t behoOves
us to guard them with more jealous
care agains. the invasion OF the de
spoiler.
Christians of America, God has
set this battle for us to fight and
win. While we delay thousands
around us are being destroyed whom
We might save.
Has our Christianity not enough
patriotism to Danish IA foreign usur-
per? Enough philanthropy to rescue
the native sons from an alien de-
spoiler9 Enough Christ force to
crush out the life of foreign demi-
devil?
Are we that people whose God Is
the Lord? IL so, shall we, with the
weapon of protection always at our
service, surrender our American in
situations, our Christian homes,
with the loved ones who embellsh
them, to the domination of horde
of devilish liquor dealers?
If so, our children must reap IA
harvest of sorrow, from the seeds
II cir fathers have sown In sin.
The highest tribunal of the church
declares the licensing Of the saloon
sin.
The highest tribunal of the nation
denies It the inherent right to exist.
Gods law has always been prohib-
tory of it.
Hence, IL is n sin, existing with
out right, human or divine, save
that given IL by our votes, given 1t
by the votes cast for political parties
which found and foster 1t. Hence,
we can no more base our hope of
abolishing IL through compromises
with these parties than we can base
our hope of winning Heaven upon
compromises with the devil that
dominates them.
The greatness Of a nation consists
not in tho extent OF its territory, or
the vastness of its wealth, but In
the moral forces OF its mankind.
To allow our party preferences to
dominate our temperance convic'
tions ID placing higher estimate
upon foreign dealers than upon
American manhood. Can we afford