The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1921-12-30
ERNEST H. CHERRMGTON, SEC'Y WORLD LEAGUE AGAINST
ALCOHOLISM SPEAKS ON WORLD PROHIBITION MOVEMENT
American Issue Editor Convincing Argument
Americas Participation In the Dry World Movement
Objections Liquor Americas Entry Into World Fight
Knocked Security of American Prohibition Demands
NorId Prohi

NuOh ~ = VkbhSs &sOs
The keystone OF the arch OF all gen
uine temperance activity, past and
present. is the missionary spirit. Take
that spirit out OF the temperance re-
form. and what is left?
A Task We Can Not Escape
Education is the first word in our
creed Fireproof construction is OF
more value than fire cxtinguishers.
Abraham Lincoln understood this
fundamental fact when he said :
with public sentiment nothing can
fail; without it. nothing can succeed.
Consequently, he who molds public
sentiment goes deeper than he who
enacts statutes or pronounces decis-
ions. He makes statutes and decis-
ions possible or impossible to be exc
cuted."
The League must bear the torch OF
enlightenment with its flaming light of
truth into the world at large. We
may not be responsible for whether
or not the people OF any country or
race welcome or spurn its shining ray;
but we can not avoid the responsible
ity of bearing it even to the uttermost
parts OF the earth. Every effort thus
to penetrate the dark places of the
world will tend to make brighter and
clearer that same light in America,
making it easier for the millions i'll the
United States to see and know that
truth. (which alone can make them
free"
If the movement for world Prohi-
bition is to take organized form in the
nations. the sentiment that now ex-
lists in every part of the globe must
he crystallized into public opinion.
This is our task. We can not es-
cape it.
What excuse is there for the Chris
tan church OF America sending thou
sands OF missionaries into such coun-
tries as China, Japan. India, Africa
and South America, whose people, and
some OF whose governments, are conf
mitted to other distinct forms OF re-
ligions, il it is unwise for great moral
reform movement such as the Anti
Saloon League to send its mission
aries into countries whose people and
governments are committed to the
world liquor traffic?
An Assault Upon the Prohibition
Policy
Spain having recently abrogated her
trade treaty with Prohibition Iceland,
is threatening to boycott the FISH in
dustries OF Iceland unless the Prohi-
bition law of that island country is re-
pealed in order to make a market for
Spanish intoxicants. Since Spain is
the greatest customer for Iceland fish,
the putting into effect OF such threat
is bound to starve the little country
into submission.
What Spain is attempting to do i'll
Iceland, France, Spain and Portugal
have attempted in the case of Norway;
all of which is in harmony with the
action of France, which in three in
stances compelled the defeat OF Pro-
hbition in Finland after it had been
adopted by the national legislative
body OF that country. What arc we,
as Americans going to do about such
matters? Prohibition of the liquor
traffic is no longer theory in Amer
lea. 1t constitutes in part the funda-
mental charter upon which the
American republic stands. 1t has long
been the established policy of the
United States government to stand for
and uphold those projects in the
world which tend toward the ideals
presented in the American form OF
government.
If the United States was justified in
a Monroe doctrine to protect Amer
lean ideals which were being emulated
by the new countries of South and
Central America, what about the case
of Iceland, Norway and Finland to-
day: These difficulties suggest real
task.
How Long Before the Combine is
Directed Against America
Suppose Spair succeeds in bringing
Iceland to her knees Suppose Nor
way in spite Of the vote OF her people