The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-10-30

the benefit Of your readers to repro.
N. $. PAUL.
2l4 ~, Division st.
We stand today on tho threshold OF
great reform, We are iacins new
dawn. new day.
That reform is the triumph OF ten.
I,erance. The new dawn Is PROHIBl.
TlON The new day. SOBRlETY.
shall vote for prohibition because
underlying its tenots are the happi-
ness OF my fcllow.mcn. the welfare Of
society, the betterment OF the world.
shall vote for prohibition az pro-
lection to everything hold near and
dear, as a safeguard to all that love
and as an appeal TO It's helping hand
when mine shall have withered away.
shall vote for prohibition in Mich.
igan as contributory to its adoption
by my country. | shall hold fast to
the thought that right must prevail,
that drink " wrong. ] shall set aside
all contrary sclfintcrests, friendships
and associations and cling firmly to
the inevitable truth that the world
will be better. when drink Is doomed
shall vote for prohibition to
avenge the toll that drink has exact
ed from its innocent victims. shall
vote for the widows, the orphans
made destitute through the ravsge of
intoxicstion, and those for whom /
would shed my own blood could il
but ease the pain, the suffering and
the anguish II has brought them.
shall invoke, through my vote, a
law that will help the weak win their
battle. shall exercise my franchise
to accomplish that which prayers and
supplicatiops have failed to do. !
shall vote to stem an evil that scorns
respect, shirks. duty and takes on
the rose from the fair forehead OF an
innocent love and sets blister
there" 80 ~
shall vote for the boys and girls,
my children and their children.
shall vote for the young man who
falls by the wsysidc cannot say
no. | shall vote better environ
ment for the young woman who wants
to live right and so straight, but
whose path is made peritous by
drink. #
shall vote for industry, for thrift,
and for self.respect. shall vote for
the worker, the toflcr. that in time he
may see the fruits of his labors and
live as becomes his worth. shall
vote for better homes, better health
and longer life. shall vote for the
restoration to its rightful owners of
all that drink has contiscatcd-for the
return of happiness and human faith.
That prohibition will conquer is as
fixed as are the stars In the irma-
ment. Tempcfshce will prevail as
the survival of truth, and with 1t will
come the economic reward which has
followed right thinking since man be-
gan. '..
Let your vote be a toast to a van
ishing evil-a welcome to its doom.
We bear the cup no Ill will. Many
time has it been raised TO noble
cause and drained By noble men.
But you must so, old comrade. You
have made the world no better. You
have cheered, but your cheer has
chilled our hearts and blurred our Wis
ion. You have given hope, but your
hope was false. You have given life,
but your life WAS a lingering death.
For thousands OF years we have
tried you. but not once have you
stood the test. Your philosophy is as
empty as were the brazens images
which men forsook to worsh Zip God.
The sorrows we have drowned in
your shallow pool have Knocked Us
when you we're not near to deceive
our mind and beguile our path.
The hopes you cnkindle today van
ish with the sordid reality of the NOR
row. Your sunshine has been devoid
of life, there are no stars in your
night. Yours Is a pale, lifcless glare
enveloped in eternal gloom.
When the new day is at its zenith
you will be among the memories Of a
dark and ignorant past, You will be
classed with the pagan altars upon
which were sacrificed human blood
and human lives. Your cheer will be
, forgotten as are the fallen leaves in
springtime, and the only epitapb that
will mark your time will be the sears
you left in our hearts. The world
will forget you as you have so often
forgotten those who fell beneath
your blows.
Your passing will be the greatest
blessing we have known since Christ
| You have had your day and we bid