The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-10-05

Al percent Tor light wines and beer,
and only SO percent for a continue
ton of the present laws Clients ami
others are justified in being sur
prised. When surprised it is because
we are governed by our hopes rather
than by our studies. We figure
that after a Claw is passed we have
nothing more to worry about. We
forget that making" laws does not
make men. We need something like
this test by the Literary Digest to
wake us up.
The Digest's vote is simply another
evidence that legislation and even
Constitutional amendments are of
little benefit excepting as the desires
of men and women are changed. l
believe in Prohibition-voted for it
and always will vote for it 100 per-
cent dry-but as a statistician l rea-
lie that the vote was put thru under
the stress of war and without chang
ing the basic desires of sufficient
number of people. Until the desires
Cor what the preachers call the
"hearts") of people are changed,
legislation does not accomplish much.
Such legislation is like painting =
building which has rotten timbers.
1t is like ordering water to run up
hill. We can pump water up hill,
but as soon as we stop pumping the
water runs back again. This does
not mean that the Prohibition amend
ment will be repealed; but it does
mean that the American people were
not ready for it. Hence, it will con-
tinue to be a source Of trouble, agi-
tation and ridicule for some time to
come.
Let us not think, however, that
Prohibition is in a class by itself. A
great many other good causes are in
almost similar position. Sunday
Observance" purity of the Home"
Child Labor" and host of other
good things are in the same para
dOXical situation. Hardly a day goes
by that an urgent appeal does not
come to me to "join" some society,
league or association with the pur-
pose Of putting across some reform.
All of them are good, and they are
being directed by good people.
All organizations are up against
the same problems: viz, they are
trying to change the activities of men
and women without changing their
hearts; or speaking statistically-
their desires. That is why they have
an uphill fight and always will until
the desires of people change. As this
time approaches, people say that pub
lie sentiment is changing. This is
why public sentiment is so powerful.
But public sentiment is simply a
popular way of saying that the de-
sires of people regarding a certain
thing are undergoing a change. We
all know how tickle is public senti-
ment. 1t will change almost over
night. 1t is very powerful while it
lasts; but it is very treacherous.
Every political leader knows this.
What the nation needs is to perma-
nently ingraft into the hearts of men
and women, right desires. Then all
of these problems will solve them
selves. Then with a proper system
of education all the amt" and
"Pro" leagues, associations and
societies could disband.
What does permanently change the
desires of people? Only one thing
namely religion. This has always
been true throughout the ages and is
true today. Men and women may be
converted in different ways-some
through the influence of a noisy re-
vival and others through the influ-
ence Of a quiet mother; some through
study or research and others just
naturally by living in religious en-
vironment. However the conversion
comes about, the statistical fact re-
mains that at such a time the desires
of he person change and henceforth
he wants to be on the right side of
every question, Such people make
intakes and fall by the wayside, but
they are all the time struggling for
the right. After man is converted
he automatically hungers and strives
for the virtues instead of the vices,
although he may constantly be temp
ted and often fall.
What is religion? 1t cannot be eX-
planned any more than electricity.
But like electricity we know it is all
powerful and men have discovered
ways Of getting it in limited quanti-
ties. Christian religion is the accep.
lance of God as ones master and
source of strength as revealed thru
Jesus. This strength is secured thru
prayer. Religion expresses itself
thru fundamentals of prosperity-a
desire to be honest, just kindly, pure,
thrifty, Industrious and to render
true service. A religious man will