The Awakening of Nations by S. B. Horton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 23, 1914

The Awakening of Nations

By S. B. Horton

S. B. HORTON

If ever evidence was necessary to indicate that almost universal war would be waged against King Alcohol, this day and time furnishes that evidence. For many years the idea of prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages has occupied a large place in the consideration of civic morals. The cause of temperance is now being given a great deal of consideration. It seems verily that the time has come to meet the issue squarely on its merits. It is not a time for parleying or quibbling. The issue is on; and, as temperance people, we have a duty we must not shirk.

This nation is being awakened as never before, and the work of noble women and patriotic laymen is being augmented by the activities of public officials. However, political leaders are not united in regard to prohibition, and the whisky question is coming to be looked upon by some as a curse to any political party which may assume parentage of it. Recently Secretary of the Navy Daniels issued an order which has stirred navy circles from center to circumference. The order reads as follows:—

"The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board of any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order."

This order goes into effect next July, and means a revolution in managing the United States Navy. The Secretary's order was based largely upon the recommendation of Surg.-Gen. W. C. Braisted, who pointed out that there "should not be on shipboard, with reference to intoxicants, one rule for officers and another and different rule for enlisted personnel," and called attention to the case of an officer dismissed from the service who "had never tasted intoxicating drinks until he did so in the wine mess on his cruises."

On March 25, Hon. Cato Sells, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, communicated to the employees in the Indian service an address to the conference of field supervisors which he had delivered on February 20, in which he said, in part:—

"I believe that the greatest present menace to the American Indian is whisky; it does more to destroy his constitution and invite the ravages of disease than anything else; it does more to demoralize him as a man, and frequently the women also. . . . If I say nothing more to you tonight that leaves an impression, let it be this one thought: Let us save the American Indian from the curse of whisky. . . .

"There is nothing that could induce me, since I have taken the oath of office as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to touch a single drop of any sort of intoxicating liquor, and this regardless of my attitude on the prohibition question."

Congress appropriates $100,000 a year for the suppression of the liquor traffic among the Indians. Referring to this fact, the Commissioner closes his letter with the admonition that "every employee in the Indian Service shall realize the tremendous importance of the liquor suppression work," and expresses the desire that "this letter be regarded as a personal communication to every employee," and treated seriously.

By the time this paper reaches most of its readers, there will have begun a series of hearings before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on the subject of national prohibition provided for in pending joint resolutions before Congress. The House Committee began its hearings on the fifteenth and the Senate Committee on the sixteenth of the current month. What the outcome of these hearings will be is problematical, but it would seem that the attitude of two leading members of the national administration, as above referred to, would furnish ground for believing that the national legislators will not treat the subject with indifference.

From across the seas comes the news that Russia is making desperate efforts to rid herself of the liquor curse. The revenues of that nation are augmented by the sum of $500,000,000 a year through the liquor traffic, and yet the czar is willing to devise some other method to pay the expenses of the government. He has recently issued an order prohibiting army commanders from following the time-honored custom of "raising a cup" to the health of the czar and the imperial family in front of the troops at the conclusion of parades and maneuvers. The reason given is that although the liquor traffic has furnished about one third of the entire revenue, the traffic

"has proved a Frankenstein's monster in sapping the vitality of the people by their debauchery through their drunkenness, which is the national vice of the Russian masses."

Scarcely a day passes by without some editorial reference to the moral and physical effect of the alcohol business. The increasing ratio of insanity furnishes a topic for the writer upon sociological problems. Nine American States have prohibition clauses in their constitutions,—Maine, Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia. Illinois recently went "dry" throughout three fourths of its territory. Besides these, there are eighteen States in which a major portion of the people live in territory made dry by local option. It will require thirty-six States out of the forty-eight to pass a national prohibition amendment.

It would seem that our people should take an active part in accomplishing results which are admittedly desirable for the welfare of the home and the nation. Petitions asking for the passage of the joint resolutions now before Congress should be circulated for signatures and sent to your senator or representative in Congress. The brewery and saloon people are pouring in petitions against these resolutions every day. Surely, our duty is plain, and as Sister White has said, "by voice, vote, and pen" we should assist in bringing about results which will make for sobriety, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.