The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-28
DOING FOR OTHERS

Never IN the worlds history has there been a time when the
many were thinking so little about themselves and doing so
mucn Tor others, The allied nations, representing civilization
are doing all in their power to bring political and economic
salvation to the peoples of the world. The Methodist church
Is preparing to spend many millions to carry out the divine
command to preach the gospel to all nations" and thus bring
them spiritual salvation. Other churches are doing likewise,
Inc prohiotionists are preparing to launch a campaign, the pur-
pose OF which IS to make the world sober and keep it so. The
war has aroused people and made them earnest and aggressive
When people unite and are in real earnest they are irresistible
Obstacles, seemingly unconquerabe, fade before them as the
stars IN heaven fade before the coming of the morning sun.
The impossible becomes easy, casual. Making a bone-drv
world is a titanic task, but a bone-dry America at one time
seemed as impossible, and a bone-dry America is here. Whisky
has no defender, and can find no advocate to accept a retainer
and take Its case, The most resourceful can find no argument
IN its favor, and the most liberal minded" will admit-because
they cannot deny-that most of the sins and sorrows, sufferings
and shortcomings Of humanity are directly traceable to It.
Being universally condemned, there is on logical reason why it
should not be universally extirpated. Nations unite in stamp
ing out the bubonic plague, yellow fever and other pestilences,
because they are injurious and deadly to the human race.
Whisky occupies a place in the same category,
America is doing much for the world, and destined to do
muon more and 1t would be tine 1t this young nation, out Of
its strength and abundance, should return and rescue the older
countries, its hatbrothers, from the clutches of a-monster out
OF which it has had the power and the will to escape. Europe
knows the evils of whisky as we'll as we do, and has suffered
from them quite as much, because they practced poisoning the
poison over there before we did, and on a larger scale. Tenny-
son was not an extremist, nor given to painting carricatures
and calling them pictures, and he writes in Maud:
And the vitriol madness flushes up in the rufhan's head,
Till the filthy bylane rings to the yell of the trompled wife
While chalk and alum and plaster are sold to the poor for bread
And the spirit of murder works in the very means Of life.
when a Mammonte mother kills her babe for a burial fee,
And Timour-M ammon grns on a pile OF children's bones,
Is it peace or war? Better war! Loud war by land sea;
War with a thousand battles and shaking a hundred thrones
Dickens often tells of the effects of vitriol poisoned whisky
and he knew, if anyone did. England has suffered and other
countries have suffered, and they have had their war and are
now ready for another against a greater foe than Prussiansm
This war is going to be fought by the allied hosts of temper
ance and virtue, and we should be proud to know that the forces
for this war are being recruited, financed and munitioned in th;
country. We are the real potential evangelists of the new
dspensation. We are doing for others, and our work is cut out
for us. A great work, a tremendous work, but not beyond ou
strength. America will carry the light to those who sit il
darkness.