The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-07


How We Can Promote the Temper
ance Reform.''-Eph. 3:14-21.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS)
Even greater than the terrible world
war of nations is the struggle for a
higher type of life for humanity. The
forces that are working for social
justice, for temperance, for brother
hood and human happiness are
countless host, and being daily re-
cruited. Within the memory OF even
the young people of today, the tenn
perance cause, for example, has
leaped into the forefront or natlonal
and world issue. 1t is no longer the
wild dream of a few fanatics, but
the pressing concern of statesmen.
No other war measure of the past
eventfu1 year has attracted the atten-
ton that has been given to Russla S
prohibition of alcohol. France,
whose moral resurgance has been one
of the wonders of the war, has abol-
ished absinthe, the drink that threat
ened the nation. The liquor question
proved SO formidable in Britain that
the cabinet was obliged to recede
from it's advanced temperance posi-
ton, ample proof being given or the
truth of Lloyd-George's statement that
in the present crisis drink is great
er menace to Britain than is the
armed enemy. The temperance cause
is today a world issue of first magni-
tude. Not to be alive to 1t, and a
sharer in it, is to have missed one OF
the great opportunities ana opnga-
tions of the time.
More lives are drowned in the beak-
er than in the ocean.
The surgeon-knife of the efficiency
expert is finding the vitals of the
liquor business. For he has proved
that g man cannot be ethclent, OF
make good in the tremendous com
drinks even moderately: The, day
great corporations may be 1kened TO
the modern Caesars watching the
gladiatorial battles in life's arena.
They have turned down their thumbs
upon the appeal of liquor, and have
voted for its doom.
The old intemperateness is disap-
pearing from temperance literature
and speech. There is more or sc1en-
tific precision of speech in dealing
with the question of alcohol. Tenn
perance literature has grown strong
er by becoming saner- Stat1sucS are
more reliable. The best temperance
work refuses to use figures and incl
dents which are not absolutely prov
able and unassailable. Ardor is not
diminishing but accuracy is 1ncreas-
ing. Whoever helps promote TINS
mood of carefulness in all temper
ance work is serving the cause.
Many kinds of work may be done
to promote the destruction of the Ii
ouor business, but we shall never out
grow the cardinal necessity for clos
ing, as one has put it, that hquor
business which is carried on between
the individual mans nose and chin"
Personal total abstinence is the bed
rock of permanent temperance reform.
Strong drink makes weak wills.
M h no ctr hnnZn
without hurting every other kind or
organized vice. For liquor is what
may be called a parent evil.
Production of placards making
graphic the evils of drink has been
a recent development of the temper
ance movement. The procuring and
posting of these is a practicable serv-
ice for young peoples societies.
Countless jests and caricatures and
comedies have been built on the antics
of the drunkard. The doings of a
man under the influence of drink have
been a historic source of merriment
Even yet the antics of an intoxicated
man make many persons laugh. A
reaction against this has set in:
thinking men and women realize that
drunkenness is not a comedy but
a tragedy. A DEFINITE contribution
to the temperance reform is the per-
sonal resolution never to laugh at
drunkards or drunkenness or at jests
about them.
The proper function of a govern
ment is to make it easy for people to
do good, and difficult for them to do
evil.-Gladstone.
The moral courage that will face
ob1oQuy in a good cause is a much
rarer gift than the bodily valor that
will confront death in bad one
Chatfield.
Some degree of greatness isrequired
to enable one to hate and oppose
the liquor business while at the same
time maintaining an attitude of sin
cere friendliness for the liquor
dealer himself. The Church wants
to be a friend to the saloon keeper,
the brewery worker and every other
man in any wise engaged in the traf-
fic. An attitude of personal interest
in the individual whose business we
loathe is the only Christian attitude.
A life of sobriety and wholesome
good cheer and friendliness is the best
of all temperance tracts.
The reign of the Christ spirit in
life drives out whatever hurts and
mans best self. That is why the
Church is against the liquor bust
ness.
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.
He who cannot smile ought not to
keep a shop.-Chinese Proverb.
= = =
Hope is a good breakfast but
bad supper.-Francis Bacon.
x
My doctern is to lay aside
Contentious, and be satisfied:
Jest do. your best, and praise, er blame