The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-10-02

lions of bushels of grain are destroyed
every year by making it into alcoholic
drinks. 1t is converted into an agent of
destruction, destroying the bodies and
souls of men by multitudes and casting
its death blight on nearly every family
relationship. Is there no responsibility
on US for such results?
Men of sympathies, Christian men.
look into these homes where by the use
Intoxicating drinks sorrow, shame, pow
erty and wretchedness exist, and then
ask, can there be any reason for the use
of such stuff Ask yourselves if the
practice is not justly condemned from
the first glass to the last debauch. Call
liquors by what name you please, what
gives them their potency is the stimu-
lating effects upon the drinkers. Alco-
hol is one of the worst poisons.
Is this one of Gods creations to be
enjoved by US? Is the Bible by every
sort of implication to be pressed into
the service of Intoxicating liquors and
this, too, when it abounds with denun-
Citations against drinking and drunken
ness? How can a Christian man of re-
spectability maintain its rightful use,
and that when so many have fallen into
drunkenness by feeding an appetite that
Will soon develop an uncomfortable
power? What good has it done; what
crime has it not lnstigated; what depth
of misery has it not produced? If a
thing in its nature and use is injurious
it is our duty to discard it? This is the
principle of Gospel temperance, which
IS protecting power that admits of no
compromise with social pleasure and
convivial enjoyment; no Welding to the
qualification of an abnormal appetite.
Grape juice Is the product of the vine,
in its unfermented state, and so may be
properly used, for of this 1t is said "A
blessing is in it"
With US it is not a question of wine,
for few drink that 1t is a question of
Intoxicating liquors that destroys soul
and body; that is sapping the vitality of
our government; that is permeating
society to the extent that rottenness is
produced; it is a case of drunkenness
which DESTROYS the whole moral nature.
Truthfulness falls before it, for the
slaves of this vice will say anything to
obtain what they need to satisfy appe-
tite, and you can't believe a word a
drunkard says. Then one after another
all the fine qualities disappear. One
after another is sacrificed until the end
comes. Eighty or ninety thousand die
every year in cur country from the
effect of liquor. Yet we scarcely notice
1t. If this number were to fall in war
every paper in the land would sound
the moi tie of lamentation and woe. Yet
it is the nations annual tribute to its
favorite vice. Hear the tramp of the
hopeless procession as it files past into
the eternal world, for they are going to
appear at the judgment seat of Him
who has said: "No drunkard shall in
herit the kingdom of heaven"
In the disgusting Diggs- Caminetti
cases in San Francisco Judge Van Fleet,
in sentencing the two white slavers,
commented on the laxitY of social con-
ditions and the lack of parental control
which made such vicious occurrences
possible, and then struck at the in
fluences underlying the crime in these
words: Il wish to say that all through
this case there is evidence that drink
had its paralyzing influence upon the
morals and the minds of these men and
these two young girls. The terrible,
debasing influence of the saloon and the
bad house is too disgustingly apparent
in this pitiable situation, and make the
observation here that society must pay
the price for permitting the existence
of these highly Objectionable places"
Society is paying the price and it is an
awful one. We can't afford it. We
must throttle the liquor traffic or it will
throttle the life out of US as nation.
o, men, awake to your responsibility
and do your duty. You have the power;
exercise it. Yours truly,
T M FRANCE