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Chapter 3—Removing the Temptation
The Dark Blot Remains
—Notwithstanding thousands of years
of experience and progress, the same dark blot which stained the
first pages of history remains to disfigure our modern civilization.
Drunkenness, with all its woes, is found everywhere we go. In
spite of the noble efforts of temperance workers, the evil has gained
ground. License laws have been enacted, but legal regulation has
not stayed its progress, except in comparatively limited territory.—
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 29
.
Fruitage of License Laws
—For a paltry sum, men are licensed
to deal out to their fellow men the potion that shall rob them of all
that makes this life desirable and of all hope of the life to come.
Neither the lawmaker nor the liquor seller is ignorant of the result
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of his work. At the hotel bar, in the beer garden, at the saloon, the
slave of appetite expends his means for that which is destructive to
reason, health, and happiness. The liquor seller fills his till with the
money that should provide food and clothing for the family of the
poor drunkard.
This is the worst kind of robbery. Yet men in high position in
society and in the church lend their influence in favor of license laws!
And why?—because they can obtain higher rent for their buildings
by letting them to liquor dealers? because it is desirable to secure the
political support of their liquor interests? because these professed
Christians are themselves secretly indulging in the alluring poison?
Surely, a noble, unselfish love for humanity would not authorize
men to entice their fellow creatures to destruction.
The laws to license the sale of spirituous liquors have filled our
towns and cities, yes, even our villages and secluded hamlets, with
snares and pitfalls for the poor, weak slave of appetite. Those who
seek to reform are daily surrounded with temptation. The drunkard’s
terrible thirst clamors for indulgence. On every side are the fountains
of destruction. Alas, how often is his moral power overborne! how
often are his convictions silenced! He drinks and falls. Then follow
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