The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-07-02
Why the Department of Christian
Citizenship?

The department of Christian citi-
zenship views the liquor traffic not
from the standpoint of suffering, the
wrong, the degradation Of the individ-
ual primarily, but of it's danger to the
State. The menace of the liquor
traffic to the State and the conse-
quent duty of the Christian citizen
is it's distinctive field. Its appeal,
therefore is an appeal to patriotism.
How effective that appeal isall history
shows. Let our people be once con-
vinced that any real danger threat
ems the nation, or that in any way its
honor is compromised and We know
how, as with an electric shock, the
whole nation is stirred The call for
soldiers brings thrice the number
needed and wealth pours its treas
ures unstinted into the nations cof-
fers. Convince the manhood ard wo-
manhood of this country that the liI
uor traffic, by debauching our young
men and women, by corrupting OUT
legislatures, by destroying the sense
of public honor, threatens in very
truth the life of the nation, and the
response Will be neither slow nor un-
certain.
But the department of Christian
citizenship does not confne itself to
the duties Of the patriot in the one
matter of the liquor traffic. "Do ev-
erything and do it al the time," pool
your issues" the. watchwords of our
immortal leader, epitomize the truth
which long years Of experience in
this war have taught us. Evil is one,
and all evils so closely connected that
when you attack one, 10! you face the
combined forces of all. There is not
a problem of all the crucial problems
that confront us as nation over
which does not appear the Shiny trail
of the liquor serpent. Therefore,
perforce, the temperance army is con-
cerned with them all. The depart
ment of Christian citizenship would
awaken the patriotism of the people
to the great and crying need of liv
ing for the nation. 1t is especially
an appeal to youth. Of the 2,500,000
soldiers whom Lincoln enlisted, a.
100000 were under 81. Of these
100000 there were 100000 un-
der Is years of age and of those lat
ter. 100000 were under Is. To that
enthusiastic spirit of youth which
longs for action, which is fired with
enthusiasm when an opportunity for
noble adventure presents itself, but
which curbed and restrained, fills our
cities with crime, to that spirit we ap-
peal. 1t is our high nilsson to direct
the exuberant youth of our land into
activities which shall equal the en-
thusiasm of their spirits. 1t is ours
to show them that
1T great to be out there where the
fight is strong,
To be where the heaviest troops be-
long,
And to fight there for man and Cod"
and that the field of battle does not
offer such opportunities for strenu-
Gus and glorious action, not make
such demands for lofty patriotism
as does the life of the peaceful cit
iZen.
Let them see the glory and the
sacrifice and the danger of fighting
the beast" of our jungle as Judge
Lindsey is doing. and he will no
longer fight his battle single-handed.
Let them realize that to stand as
Roosevelt and La Toilette and Wright
and Glen and Folk and Johnson and
Hanly and Burke have stood against
politicians. demands more splendid
courage than ever to climb the heights
of San Juan Hill and we shall not
wait long for recruits. When men
once realize not only that siXpences
as we'll as lives must sometimes be
sacrificed" for the nation. not only
will the siXpences be forthcoming but
our Christian patriots, our splendid
body of young men and women, will
enter into the contest with all the
enthusiasm which made them invin-
chile on the sabella
Webb Parks.