The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-24
Lincoln VS.. Liquor
Nv GEORGE McGINNIs.

AFTER DEMONSTRATION tfe HsAa
question before the American people
IL the suppression of the liquor traffic
by law"
These words were spoken on the
day of his assassination by Abraham
Lincoln to Major Merwin, whom ne
was sending upon mission
Throughout his entire life as man
and boy. Lincoln always stood for
temperance The dry cause never had
a truer friend. His first essay. writ
ten when a mere lad, was upon tenn
perance and was considered of sui
ficient merit by Baptist preacher to
he sent to a newspaper in Ohio for
publication. His first speech made
when seventeen years Of age in
Countrywide. Indiana, was upon the
subject OF temperance.
Coming to Illinois when twenty-one
years OF age. he at once interested
himself In the cause, signing pledge
In an old schoolhouse in Coles Coun-
ty. After his election TO the pres!-
dencv he visited the neighborhood,
probably to see his step-mother, and
on inauiring for his boyhood friends
found that many OF them were dead
victims OF whiskey, This led him TO
explain: "All that | am owe to sign
ing the temperance pledge at yonder
desk
| when the washsntenfan movement
swept the country he Joined sn hear
thy. making speeches all over sanga =
mon County and securing many sig
natures 10 the pledge There are men
living today in Central Illinois who re-
member the occasion and signed the
tptsfre- presented by {siineelFr---
When the committee on notification
came from the Republican party TO
announce TO Lincoln that he had been
chosen standard bearer OF his Iarty,
sou,e neighbors suggested that he pro-
vide the popular liquid refreshment Of
the day. He replied:
"T have no liquors in my house and
have never been in the habit of enter
tanning my friends in that way"
| When some friends offered to fur
nish the liquor he said
II cannot permit my friends to a.
for me what | will not do for myself.
II shall provide cold water, nothing
else
The agitation Of the slavery aues-
ton took on such proportions thar
eventually 1t overshadowed the tenn
perance problem and Lincoln, with
other leaders in the dry cause, gave
freeing the black man.
When the question OF securing rev.
enue for the prosecution of the war
was presented In Congress. 1t was sug-
gested that a tax be placed upon
LIQUOR. Henry Wilson and President
Lincoln vigorously opposed 1t. The
Congress OF 1882 told Lincoln that it
was an emergency bill and only tenn
porary and would be set aside when
the war was over Therefore Lin
coin. under protest, reluctantly con-
sented and the bill was passed
Around this pernicious system or
liquor taxation has grown up the great
law -defying, brow-beating criminal
liquor traffic which the people with
the Anti-Saloon League battle axe are
hacking to pieces today. 1t is re-
markable that in that day when liquor
was the common beverage at every
husking bee, barn raising and apple
paring that Lincoln was total alb
stainer. He said he had never tasted
drop Of liquor in his life.
/ II Ia we'll for us on this. the one
/ hundred and seventh anniversary os
the birthday of Americas greatest
commoner to take patriotic bearings
ana ask ourselves the question:
! ''If living, where would Lincoln
stand today on the saloon question p
| Knowing his sentiments as we do.
we unhesitatingly declare he would
| he one OF the leaders OF the great
/ Anti Saloon movement in the nation.
On the anniversary of his birth let us
irededicate ourselves to the unfinished
work which Lincoln so nobly adj
vanced. that this nation under God
may have a new birth OF freedom
which shall bring liberty to the mill
lions of drink slaves In America, and
that this government shall not con-
tinue a government of the brewers. by
the brewers. for the brewers. but shall
be In name and in truth government
of the people, by the people, for the
people.
| Dressing For SaIad.