Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-22
In the Religious World

AS one who regularly reads foreign
publications, and occasionally the
daily newspapers of many cities, |
confess that / am amazed at the reck-
lessness of much that is written about
the continuance of drink under pro.
llibition. Disregard for law seems to
be accompanied by disregard for facts.
1t is true that in cities law-breakers
seeking liquor, and willing to pay a
high price for it, may usually secure
contraband intoxicants. But to say
that the cities are "wettcr than
ever,' and that "there is more booze
drunk today than before prohibition
came in" is simply to talk bosh.
For the greater part Of two months
I have been travelling continuously I'm
Canada, the Atlantic States and the
Middle West, and / have looked in
vain for anything like the outward
evidences of the bad old days of the
open saloon. There are rich and reck-
less men who buy "bootleg" whisky
and who risk home-brew." There
are also immature minds who want
what is denied them simply because
it is denied But all honest men who
are able to form their judgments upon
wide collection of facts know that,
in this period of labor unrest and
unemployment, it is boon beyond
words to society that the saloon is
closed and that intoxicating liquors
are generally inaccessible. The net
result of the drastic legislation against
strong drink has unquestionably been
beneficial.
The Pendulum S Present Swing
The world s after-the-war slump is
partly responsible for the difficulty
that has been experienced in enforcing
the prohibition law, as well as all
other statutes. But the pendulum is
swinging back. A few days ago the
leading editorial writer on a Mil
waukee newspaper said to me, as we
talked in his office of our common
war memories, "There is certainly a
perceptiblc return toward the war
ideals. People are getting over the
debauch that followed the armistice.
The world is seeing that her only hope
is in spiritual forces" That man
truly interpreted our times. The ex-
traordinarily deep and clear interest
in the Washington conference is one
vindication of his opinion. The ideals
that won the war, and at the same
time put the iron heel of the law upon
the debauching power Of the liquor
traffic, are again emergent.
From the depressing spectacle of
the heartless looting of victims of
great fire, and of all kindred lawless-
ness, we turn to the more inspiring
view of world, represented by the
churches and Sunday schools, which
is preponderatingly unselfsh and al
truistic. Deeper flowing than the
mood of disregard for law is the pop
ular passion for human welfare and
for righteousness. Ordinarily unvocal
entirely too unvocal - the noblest
public sentiment is nevertheless, in
most tests, dominant today. Men and
women are dreaming the great dreams
of sober world, of world of JUS
tice, Of a world of good will and
brotherliness.
As our Lesson text says, "preccpt
must he upon precept. precept upon
precept; line upon line, line upon
line; here little and there little, -
tho great truth must be taught to all
peoples that no man lives to himself
alone, and that there is no personal
desire or privilege or right that may
not be nobly surrendered for the sake
of all mankind. For that is the Chris
tian principle underlying the whole
idea of temperance.