LIBERTY-OR BONDAGE.

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 398, 18 September 1928, Page 1

LIBERTY-OR BONDAGE.

L)V OLIVE E. ELLISON

Acknowledgments to “Everybody s Weekly.') Webster’s Dictionary defines Liberty’’ as “.State of tact ol being free person, exemption from subection to the will of another claiming wnership of the person or services; reedom; opposed to slavery, seitlom, bondage, subjection, < tc. Therefore we see that liberty is he exact opposite of bondage; and is such, is the heritage and birthight of every man, woman, and child >f a free country, where everyone is irotecUd in the enjoyment and wercise of his rights, and where no ndividual or class is privileged to jenelit itself by the injury of others. As the Liquor Tarty has taken the word “Liberty" us its catch-cry, to justify itself as upholding the people s light and freedom, let us reason it out and see whether Liberty used in Lhai sense is true Liberty. We all know that it is not the use of anything, but its misuse, that is harmful. Therefore, liquor in itself has its proper uses, if it is used at the right time, and in the right proportions. ltut just as “fire is a good servant, but a bad master, so is liquor harmful, if a person s craving for it becomes such an obsession that he is unable to resist it. If his willpower is thus weakened or destroyed, he is no longer a free agent, and instead of having his liberty, he is a slave in bondage. Life is one long continual light between a man’s higher and his »ower natures, right and wrong, <«od an.l Hie Devil. And a man’s character is

the proof of which side lias gained the mastery, it takes a stronger, mote courageous man to answer to the dictates of his higher nature, than to give way to his baser instincts; just as it is harder to climb a lull, than to slip down an incline. Therefore, lack of self-control, whether it be of thought, word, or action, is the root of sin and evil. If every man were strong enough to he able to resist temptation, then there would be no such thing as the dire enmity existing between one section and* another on the liquor question. It is only because there are so many people who are so weak in chaiactei as to be unable to resist what is harmful to them, that a “Prohibition Party” ever came into existence We must all answer the question, “Am I my brother'B keeper? And, it lie is too weak to help himself, then it is necessary to try' to help him. What sight can be more pitiable than a man who has become so degraded through the influence of drink, that he is lower than the boasts! Are we to believe that such a man is a true example of a man who has his liberty? Is he not rather —in bondage to his lower nature —and a slave in bondage to “The Trade?” A man only has true liberty when lie is in the full possession ot all his faculties, is able to think clearly and reasonably, and to spend his money to the best advantage in what will give him lasting Benefit. Has a man true liberty' when his brain is dulled by the effect of liquor, and not able to function properly? Is he a free man, if, Instead of spending his money on improving his home, and

on healthy enjoyment for his wife and family, lie earns money but to put it indirectly into the pockets of those who have made him what lie is, and deprived him ol his liberty And as they encourage him to drink, and thereby befuddle him the more, “Liberty!” they shout; “don’t let the wowsers deprive you of your liberty!” which is indirectly saying, “don't let them prevent you from giving us jour money!" In the “Triad" of August Ist, 11)2 5, an hereditary alcoholic made a confession of how he was enslaved by drink till he realised that lie was simply spending his time earning money lor .Mr if ooze, and had the strength of will to give it up. In the course of it, he says; “1 became hopelessly in debt to people who had always counted on my word as my bond. All this time, l repeat, 1 never once was discoverably drunk. From good flat to cheaper flat, from that to a room in a slum area, down, down, 1 went. Vet every morning I was on the job again, earning good money for my friend, Mr Booze." And is it those who flaunt the flag of this so-called “Liberty.” who are the first to come to the aid of such a man, when lie is in dire distress and want? Are they not the first to laugh at him, and make coarse jokes, instead of putting out a hand to help? It is bad enough to see such dogradation in a man; but is it not far worse to sec it in a woman? It is not the man who helps a woman on her downward course, who will try to pull her up again. If she fails to resist temptation, lie will In* the first to point tin* finger of scorn at her. If she fall*, he do**s not want her for

his wife, for the woman he will marry must be above reproach! Yet, although we hear a great deal of those who lack strength of will and self-contiol as to sink to such degradation and debauchery, it does not prove that the majority of people are on the downward course, any more than because we see the account of a murder in big headlines in a paper, that the majority ot people must be therefore murderers. In bis book. “The Re-creation of Brian Kent,” Harold Bell Wright says: “No matter if every woman you ever knew has proved untrue, virtuous womanhood still is. No matter if every man you ever knew has proved false, true manhood still is. If every friend you ever had has betrayed your friendship, loyal friendship still is.” The fact that, for the most part, the United States of America votml for Prohibition, proves that the majority of people wore dominated by their higher natures, in that they were willing to deny themselves to help their weaker brothers. Tim Liquor Party boasts of the sly-grog selling, rum-running, and boot-legy ing. But it is not anything for them to boast about. It is. in fact, greatly to their discredit, as it flaunts tin* fact that in spite of tlm law, and wishes of the majority of the people, they have illegally supplied it. thereby showing themselves up in the worst light possible. Yet. in spite of all they can say or do. the fact remains that under Prohibition in America there has been less crime, less disease, and less destitution. And it is because the Liquor Party know that Prohibition is a success that they are so afraid, and do an l>ey can to make the most of big headlines to the contrary'.