The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1917-01-05

(By MISS Lena JonnSOn.D
! One of the greatest conflicts in
which the moral and Christian forces
of our country are today enlisted is
the fight for temperance. 1t is a
fight that concerns all the forces that
stand for right in both society and
state affairs. It is a move for moral
betterment and civic righteousness.
The results of this battle are matters
of qualification and full of inspira.
ton and encouragement for still
greater endeavor toward the end
sought in the final and complete de-
struction of the most malignant
| curse that aflicts humanity. men,
tally. morally and physicaliy-the
, curse of Intoxicating drink. 1t is the
greatest foe to human happiness that
ever summoned the strength of
righteousness for its overthrow. 1t
is the most common instrument en-
ployed by the prince of evil to lure
the souls of men away from God.
1t is the source of more misery, more
agony. more crime. more hunger,
more grief and sorrow. more tears
and heartbreaks, more pain and an.
guish. more desolation and despair,
than all the other causes of human
suffering combined. 1t steals strength
from the body, robs the mind of rea-
son. kills love in the heart and lights
the funreal pyre of hope, love and
trust with a torch lit at the deepest
pit of hell. Hate is it's minister and
desolation marks the way that the
demon has taken in his march of de-
struction. The liquor business is
the only business kept up by the dis
tresses and mistakes of others. It
prospers among vice and hides itself
from righteousness and good society.
Thank God though, for against
this minotaur of wrath, the forces of
Christianity, under the banner of
love are waging a terrible conflict
for the release of mankind from the
horrors of intemperance. Wonder
full progress has already been made
in this campaign. 1t has not been
marked by an h~ysterical outburst of
feeling at any stage of it's progress,
but has gone steadily forward gath
ering greater strength with every on
ward step and with a resolution to
gain it's end completely before it's eff
fort is relaxed. We haven't any rec
ord of a great reform movement be-
ing turned from it's course. 1t al
ways meets with opposition at first,
but through patient work it gains
The manufacture and sale of in
.toxicating liquors are prohibited in
about 20 per cent of the territory of |
the United States East of the Missis- |
sippi river; prohibition in some form
prevails in every state except Flori- |
da. West of the Mississippi, Texas
and Louisiana remain to be won.
New Orleans is keeping Louisiana
enslaved.
We are told by some people that
the law is ineffective to prohibit
whiskey-drinking and is more honor
ed when broken than when obeyed.
When the ten commandments were
given all of the people did not obey
them. Shall the barriers against evil
and wrong be abandoned because
they are broken through by society's
Civilization recognizes in al
,ohol the greatest foe to peace, SAT.
ETY. and happiness Of mankind. Nom
of ancient times realized
he dangers. JConfucius condemned
he use of wine. The Koran forbids
is use. Why should our Christian
tolerate this evil? We
use every means possible for
is elimination.
There is a conflict on now in our
between the liquor-loving peo-
lie and the lovers of righteousness
md good order. There is a strong
lppeal to each and every one of the
class to do their duty. 1t
would be too horrible to lose this
The whiskey men are do
ng their utmost. Thep are spend
ng large sums of money to carry out
heir plans. The One-Quart law is
urely reducing the sale of whiskey,
II else the whiskey men would not
want it repealed. The dawn of Ma
ion-wide prohibition has come. The
vii of drink is doomed and must go.
do take the interest in this
Ight that you should. Do not leave
/ with "the others" The battle cry
5 onward and upward, not back
,ard and downward. The only ques-
ion of victory is, will you do your
uty? What will you do?
o demon drink! Death!
} cruel foe of mortal man,
,ver dost thou seek to mar his plan
Iany the ways and means are thine;
If all the worst is flaming wine.
Iations at strife in cruel war I
10 not desire strong drink any more;
and leaders all admit
rob men of grit.