The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-22

constitution The organic structure
OF this republic rests on a logical di-
vision of functions between the
Union and the states. The states
have retained control Of ali matters
OF local concern. while the federal
authority embrace every purpose of
general or national scope. The liquor
traffic imperils both the nation and
the state and every unit of SOW
Ell eighty must cooperate against IT.
II must be fought by the country;
II must be fought by the state; it
must be fought by the nation.
Already the federal government
has entered the fight by decreeing
that liquors shipped from one state
to another for the purpose of violat-
ing the laws of the state of destina-
ton shall be deprived of the charac-
ter and the protection of the inter
state commerce. This is but the
first step in the battle for the ma
tons life. 1t is a valuable step, but
so powerful is the liquor traffic that
every weapon must be brought into
use. Indeed, it is not sufficient that
We should have this nation enter the
contest. We must unite all the other
peoples of the earth in attacking an
evil that menaces society every
here
Let US never forget the pioneers
in the world movement against al
cohol. Let US here pay tribute to
the courage and devotion of the men
and women who nearly 70 years ago
organized at London 1916 perhaps
the first international temperance
congress. In the many internation
al congresses that have met since
then this world movement has found
an enthusiastic development, cuImi-
mating for the present in the four
teenth international congress on al
coholism which assembled in Milan
in September of this year. Nor
should We forget the various socie-
ties of the international membership
that have been founded for the pur-
pose of resisting this enemy of the
human race.
1t is gratifying beyond estimation
to note the fact that the world is
waking as never before to an acute
sense of the danger of alcohol. In
every country the same terrible in
dictment stands against it. From
every land ascend the cries of the
multitudes it has damned. Among
almost every people it is the chief
scource of the murders, the suicides,
the thefts, the debaucheries Of the
lar judgment of almost every coun-
try the dealers in this frightful drug
must answer the following arraign-
ment: Your traffic brushes every
! movement some home, some heart.
The poison you distribute is an ever
! spreading pestilence. 1t impedes
! the physical and mental growth OF
children, distorting the moral sense
promoting disobedience of parents
and disregard for law. 1t curses the
| future generations of it's victims the
| crazed, the manned, the palsied and
the blind-into whose blood the ia
tai faint is inevitably transmitted
1t wrecks domestic happines AND
betrays the most sacred vows L
! 20; ,,,-ie. III, rriy-
no strength 1t impairs the vita
process, the vital tissues of the hu
man organism. 1t destroys modera
ton and self-control, releasing ever,
low and savage impulse. Instead 0
satisfying thirst it leaves a create
thirst, suggesting the agonies of hell
II is the cause of practically half tn
accidents in industrial occupations
|. # lowers the efficiency of labor an
Weakens the foundations of indus
trial progress. 1t increases the liza
: bility to disease, particularly to in
fictitious maladies like tuberculosis
It diverts the earnings of mankin
) into channels of economic waste
causing loss that far exceeds tn
, revenue it produces for the govern
: mental use. 1t is an obstacle t
/ human advancement that should
no longer tolerated
As the facts become impressed O
| all mankind, the conviction grow
; that temporizing policies must b
, discontinued. The world is comm
: to understand that humanity mus
, destroy the liquor traffic or welcom
: moral degradation and economi
: ruin. The overwhelming issue
whether men shall conquer the traf
fc or the liquor traffic conquer me,
To be continued next week.
; (Will every public school teache
! III the county have this speech rea
by the boys, or use for declama
tiOn?)