The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-08-26
TEMPERANCE.

D., founder Of the Anti-Saloon League
of America, has covered over six hun,
dred miles with his famous Rail
spHtters' Quartet. pushing the
cause of Prohibition, preaching and
singing Temperance as they go.
This Lincoln Highway Water Wa,
gon. which left New York in July
made the trip across the continent
ringing temperance bells.
Let the glad tidings blend with
the music of the brooks and rills anc
natures anthems loud; herald afal
no conquering heroes come with
banners bathed in blood, but cham.
pions for humanity and right, sworr
enemies to rum-and as the Hebrew
Prophet of the past from Pisgah'E
summit saw the promised land ht
could not enter in, SO they on heights
of Prohibition stand and with pro
phetic vision fair behold the time
when men drink poison nevermore
only cold water, healthful, sweet ant
pure, pronounced by its divine crea
tor-good! and drink at last the wa
ter Of lifes river eternal flowing from
the throne of God.
AS the hosts gathered at Atlantic
City, there was brighter promise OF
the coming of the day Of the coun.
try's deliverance than ever before
With 1S states. 100000 of popula
ton, IS per cent of the area of our
country is dry territory.
Years ago the Brewers Associa-
ton met in New York and raised
some $4,000 to subsidize the press
and fool the people with story of
the increased consumption of beer,
when the facts proved the opposite
so the temperance papers told us.
The saloon men know they are in
the last trenches and facing a might
ier army than they ever before en-
gagged in conflict; and one that will
fight till the braggart hosts of the
enemy are put to rout and their en-
pire has gone down.
AS Bob Ihgersoll said. 1.-THE saloon
is the father of all crimes, the moth
er Of all denominations, evils best
friend and Gods worst enemy"
l would think it a greater honor to
be in hell with Judas Iscariot than
to stay on the earth and be drunk
ard, or vote for license to ruin i'm
mortal souls.
How strange that men drink poi
son till they die, die in disgrace and
rags; drain the foul dregs of misery
and defy the laws of State and God.
Whene'er ] taste glass of water,
pure, in its crystal depths I gaze and
wonder why its liquid sweetness will
not satisfy the thirst of all mankind? I?
Boundless. exhaustless, priceless
what beside could love Divine for
mortal thirst supplied? A servant
brought Cleopatra serpent coiled
in basket of flowers, that planted
his fangs in her bosom and Egypt's
queen died. The liquor dealers have
brought the serpent of the still into
the gilded saloon and put it In the
lap of American liberty. and as sure
ly as the asp killed Egypt's queen,
just as surely will the saloon destroy
American liberty.
Thrice blessed Is he when he hath
been a drunkard signeth the pledge
and keepeth 1t. for there is more joy
in Heaven over one such temperance
man than over thousand that have
no temptation; verify will the angels
Of God watch over him, and the ever
lasting arches ring with triumphant
when such an one is re-
ieemed from the intoxicating cup.
The saloon keeper is worse than a
robber or a murderer, for the robber
nay leave nothing in your pocket,
he saloon keeper will take your mo-
hey and leave bottle of liquor in
vour pocket, worse than nothing. The
murderer may put a bullet through
'our brain, the saloon keeper will
ill you with lingering, disgrace
ul death. Open saloon in johnson
;ity and a bigger Jail will be needed
o hold the drunken soldiers and de-
'auched young men. What a glori-
us harvest of drunkards, paupers
nd criminals for the glory of Bris-
oil wholesale liquor dealers!
Drinkers say town or city can't
rosper without the revenue of sa-
oons. I've been in rs States and
ever saw place grow faster in
realth and prosperity without a sa.
BON than Johnson City.
The commissioner of internal rev
nue. reported, 'It costs the govern
rent six times as much as all the
quor revenue amounted to, to cor
ect the evils of intemperance and
lie mighty Russian Empire, with It's
i00,000,0O0 revenue for the sale of /
odka, and drunken nation lying in q
le streets on all the holidays, and a
efeats of their armies by drunken Il
iicers in their war with Japan. is J