The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-18
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIs.)


Most of the careful students of the
present world war point out not only
it's amazing moGernity, with new
weapons of death, but also its rever-
warfare, with hand to hand fighting,
the revival of barbaric methods, and
even the use of steel helmets on the
soldiers.
Likewise it links up with many OF
the wars of the long, long ago in the
prominence it has given to the hq-
uor question. With singular appro-
priateness the present Sunday scnool
lesson, planned long before war was
declared is called Defeat Through
Drunkenness and it tells the story
of how strong drink caused the rous
of the king of Syria at the hands OF
Israel. One hesitateS to point out
DEVELOPMENTS of a twelVemonth with
respect to the relation between
strong drink and the present war
lest he seem unneutral; but the ca
HES have been laden with dispatches
upon the subject. 1t is enough TO
say that from all battlefronts has
come an astounding recognition OF
the truth that drink is the enemy
best ally To be safe, a nation must
he sober This terrible war seems
destined to enroll liquor among its
victims, which is at least one wholly
)eneficert result of the conflict.
Signs multiply on every hand that
a new war has been declared on this
old foe of the human race me tenn
perance cause has been wonderfully
reiuvenated in the United states
and in Canada especially; although
the most drastic a1ti-alcohol enact
ments are reported from Europe
Russia's losses in battle Sre less slg-
nificant than her gains in social ire
through the abolition of vodka AL
ready we see the reasonabieness of
the statement of the actuary Oh the
New York Life Insurance company,
that because of her new temperance
Russia will make up within ten
years all the losses of life and prop
erty incurred N the wer.
when a few years ago, the inter-
national Christian Endeavor conven-
ton at Atlantic City raised the $40
gan. "A saIoonless nation in 1920,
nobody N public life paid any atten-
mere ebullition of fervor and fanatl-
cism Now, when this summer IN
Chicago, the Endeavorers reported
that this goal seems clearly IN slght'
by the admission of eminent pohtI-
clans. and flung to the breeze new
banner, "A sa1oonless world by
1880" the newspapers and general
public took cognizance of 1T The
o nnn the wall Of King Alcohol,
At his gate is an allied army above
which we may discern such banners
as Economic Efficiency, Social
Justice" 1.-The Cause of Labor, The
SUNDAY School," Christian Endeav-
or scientific Education" The
woman Movement" Human Wei
fare "Children's Right "A United
church, and 1.-The New Patriotism
There never before was such con-
yerpence of diverse forces in behalf
Of anv reform as may now be wit
messed in the present war on strong
drink
Where Harvard's Spade Dug.
The Old Testament story upon
which the present temperance lesson
is based links up Interestingly with
recent research by an American uni
versity. Archaeologists from Harvard
have of late years been digging on
the site of old Samaria, and they have
uncovered some wonderful ruins. in
Guiding the foundations of Ahab's
ivory palace. A traveller today may
examine the historic remains of the
palace and city about which this pres
ent Sunday school lesson centers.
For Samaria. as we recall, was the