| Show A HUGE BLOT CHRIS ENDOM IT has been said frequently in effect by skeptics that rum and religion go together with the spread of christian civilization it is certain that where ever the white race obtain an entrance into the dark domains of the earth the vices of civilization are planted as well as the seeds of sectarianism firewater fire water was offered to the indian tribes of this continent simultaneously I 1 Y with the creeds of the churches and while a few of the dusky sons of the forest have been won to the faith of the pure nazarene multitudes have gone down to degradation and destruction st through toe tile debasing inala ances of intemperance and other evils introduced by the superior race attention has been drawn to this great sin and shame by the free introduction of intoxicants into congo an attempt was made by a number of the i powers in 1884 5 to prevent this evil A congress was then held in berlin for this purpose unfortunately it proved a failure since then strong drink has poured into the state of congo in streams from many quarters all adl the leading christian nations contribute to these channels of death germany and holland were the two chief defeaters def eaters of the prohibition movement at berlin but now the evil traffic is free the united states england italy france belgium and the rest of the commercial countries compete for tile the trade and king alcohol seems to be holding high carnival on oa the congo cong germany stands first on the list of the debauchery debauchers debau deban chers of the blacks on the coast of africa in 1886 she sent there gallons of spirits brits holland sent gallons gallon sj the he united states in 1885 poured 19 w gallons and pious boston the centre culture the hub of advanced civilization as an pani ment to the bibles and prayer bloke in the hands bands of its missionaries ltv gallons in a cargo altogether ge er about gallons annually form the libation of nineteenth century christendom upon the shrine of bacchus in the free state of con congo the general demoralization which h has followed this business may be easily imagined it is described as terrible in the extreme the blacks crave the fiery liquid as soon as they become familiar with the taste or of it the chiefs are becoming drunkards and their example is followed by the people they refuse ref use the formerly fl Dri coveted articles taken in exchange I 1 for ort their ile I 1 ivory ivor palm p in oil 0 and an d other products ro ducts aud and clamar m r for liquor 1 in place e of cotton cotto a goods and other auf manufactures ac c carried there by W white cipher te merchants to the credit of some of the christian associations notably the national temperance society in this coun arya strong effort has as been made against this traffic both in england and america the senate committee on foreign relations has been urged to present to congress a law prohibiting the export expert from the united states of intoxicants to congo wind nd the islands odthe of the western pacific it is argued that power to do this is had under the authority to regulate commerce conferred by the national constitution but the root of the evil lies in the greed for gain which is stronger than re respect act tor for religion borregard or regard forthe for the W welfare e sf fare of mankind the spirit of the world is selfish the spirit of the true christian faith has small place within the forms of christendom men who distil dastil the liquid death and dispense it to the multitude supplying home markets or shipping it to the heathen go to church on sunday drawing near to god with their mouth and honoring him with their lips while their hearts are far from him and pray for the souls of the heathen when their liquid damnation is working woe and destruction st to both body and soul and their coffers are filled with the gold gained from the traffic that leads down to hell it would be unjust to charge the introduction tro of rum ram to the blacks and opium to the chinese upon the religious denominations that have sent christian preachers to convert the people who become demoralized by christian intoxicants but it cannot be denied that the nations which boast of their christian character and institutions and whose power and wealth and civilization are the theme and admiration of those preachers and evangelists cairy carry to the same races which are the objects et ef missionary nary enterprise ter prise the vile corrupting and debasing vices that curse the populous cities of the world and that virtue and temperance fade from the lives of the savage tribe iribe in proportion to their con tact with the so called christian nationalities commerce no doubt is a mighty and there should be f free ree communication muni cation among all peoples upon the globe and a free interchange of beneficial products but it does seem that there should be a restraint upon such traffic as carries destruction and death wherever it goes and sufficient christian influence in nations that claim to be christian to inspire legislation that would ar rest the evil the liquor traffic with the heathen to say nothing nettling of the busin business essat at ho home meiss is a standing disgrace to the leading governments of the world and in tie th e sight of heaven must appear as a glaring mark of hypocrisy upon the brows rows of the peoples who send to the heathen bibles and barrels of rum preachers and liquor merchants the forms ot ol salvation and the agencies of damnation together in singular companionship all under the regulation and protection of the great powers of christendom A day of reckoning will surely come and nations like individuals must reap the harvest of their own sowing |
