THE FIGHT IS ON.

White Ribbon, Volume 33, Issue 398, 18 September 1928, Page 2

THE FIGHT IS ON.

(Address given at W.C-T.U. List riot meeting at Gore, August 17th. 1928, by Mrs Hictt.) Yes, the fight against the Liquor Trade is on. Are we equipped for it? Are we in tremendous earnest about the defeat of this ancient ‘foe,’’ as hr. Poole says, “this foe. ruthless always, always implaeable./always high-hune ed. careless of what it does in breaking reputations and disintegrating social life, as long as it can have its way. Are we equii>ped to fight to the death this foe? May God equip us and make us earnest, insistent, unafraid, to openly condemn the Liquor Traffic. When we see letters in the press similar to om* that appeared a few evenings ago, with silly babbling about Prohibitionists trying to put one over the soldiers when they were away fighting their country’s battles, we wonder at the low mentality of the one who wrote such piffle, hut to quote T>r Toole again, he said: “When people knew the facts and deliberately evaded them, and wont on talking as if they had studied them, they should be indicted for indecent mental exposure. Tt seems to me that those responsible for paragraphs sent through the Press Association about the failure of Prohibition in America might be indicted for the same. Let us equip ourselves and go into this fight with our sleeves rolled up. and realise that the only issue is Drink or no Drink. Get hold of the facts, and tell out without fear. Tell that Prohibition in the United States has relieved more poverty than all the associated charities. Tt has given the working man more credit resources than any municipal loan or Government loan could do. Tt means higher wages- Tt explains why people are buying on a vast scale those things that bring comfort to life. Tt explains the increased saving deposits, and grip this, for these are the words of Judge Hopkins, of Kansas Supreme Pourt. Tt explains the thousands of new-built and owned homes, and the millions invested in Building and Loan Associations Sooner or later the world will adopt Prohibition as a matter of good economics. Nations drunk cannot compote with the United States sober any more than a drinking man can successfully compete with a sober man. Let us tell, without fear of contradiction, that alcohol is a racial poison, de-

structive of all life; that the smallest amount taken into the system injures the organs and functions of the body; that It makes one more susceptible to disease, and less able to recover. It lowers mental and physical efficiency, and of course increases liability to death. It is a depressant, hindering the nerve that controls the heart front functioning. Just at present a man is round advocating light wines and and assuring those whose ear he gets that he believes in Prohibition, but people should be weaned gently, so light wines and beers should be substituted. How wily is Satan and his confederates. those who sell liquor. Alco-t hoi is alcohol, whatever name it goes under, and the drunkard has always commenced with light wines and beers. No one goes straight to whisky. Once get the taste for alcohol, and soon they want it stronger—something with a kick in it. Every drunken derelict was once a moderate drinker Whilst winning votes, let us be earnest, let us he on the offensive, and strike out, and strike hard, but let us also educate the young. Tell them it is an insidious poison, pretending to do what it never does. Tt pretends to he a pick me up. It always throws down. Tt pretends to bo an essential joy-maker at weddings. Dr. Hyslop, the great mental expert of England, says: “We see so many evidences of degeneration resulting from alcoholism in parents that T am strongly of opinion that the existence of the alcohol habit should be a bar to matrimony. Any person who has made alcohol a necessity, the world would be better if he had never been horn, and the marriage of such a one is a biological sin. and ought to he barred by law. Three convictions for drunkenness should debar such persons from the risk of polluting the community by bringing into the world degenerates.” Strong words from a man who knows what he is talking about. Do not be afraid to quote Dr. Hyslop’s words, and yot the future fathers and mothers think that they cannot be married with-* out having this racial poison on their wedding table. This thing that is responsible for wrecked homes, defective children, poverty, sorrow, and neglect, starvation and ill-usage of children, deformed. blind, and mentally deficient, or criminally inclined children, ar.d yet it is used to celebrate the holy' bond of marriage. Girls, women, will you speak out with conviction against this God dishonour-

inp custom? One word more, speak oUt against medicated wines, beef iron ;in d wine. l’ut alcohol with beef, and note result Beef hardened, unfit lor food. Wine is alcohol, and its effect is always harmful. us get rid of camouflage. Nr .fames Barr, that famous doctor of Britain, says: “Mediated wines are an abomination, doing .•normous harm. ’ Surely that testimony is sufficient guarantee for us. lot us urge that the best weapon is prayer. Use this weapon, hut by prayer we will feel the urge of edueat-J intr ourselves to break down the ruth 1,,, s implacable, cruel enemy, which is cased behind vested interests, appetite. prejudice, and ignorance. (tod pive us strength and fearlessness to fight on. nor think the battle lost. Tlie wave may be defeated, but the Tide is sure to win.