The Signs of the Times, vol. 11
December 17, 1885
“The Everlasting Kingdom” The Signs of the Times, 11, 48.
E. J. Waggoner
THE SABBATH-SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—JAN. 9
The Everlasting Kingdom
When is the everlasting kingdom to be set up? SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.1
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” Daniel 2:44. “In the days of these kings.” These words occur at the close of the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great image. The kings (kingdoms) referred to cannot refer to the four universal monarchies,-Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome,-because these follow in succession, and it would be impossible for one kingdom to be set up in the days of each of them. The expression can refer to nothing else than the kingdoms into which Rome was divided, and which are referred to in Daniel 2:41. This division was completed before the close of the fifth century A.D. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.2
The expression, “in the days of these kings,” shows conclusively that in no sense was the kingdom of God set up at the time of Christ’s first advent. There was at that time only one kingdom-Rome-and it exercised universal dominion. There was then nothing to indicate that the proud empire would ever crumble into fragments. This fact alone is sufficient to show that the setting up of the kingdom was not in the days of Christ or his apostles. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.3
By what special symbol is it represented? SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.4
The verse above quoted says that the kingdom of the God of Heaven “shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms.” In the statement of the dream, Daniel 2:31-35, we are told that the stone which was cut out without hands, “smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces,” and that “then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them.” When we remember that these various metals represent the kingdoms of earth, which are to be broken in pieces and consumed by the kingdom of God, we know that in this prophecy, the kingdom of God is represented by the stone. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.5
Where is the image to be smitten by this stone? SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.6
What part of the world’s temporal history is represented by the feet of the image? SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.7
“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet.” Daniel 2:34. It is self-evident that the feet of the image represent the last portion of this world’s history, or, rather, of the history of nations on this earth. We say this is self-evident, because in the time represented by the feet, the image is to be totally demolished and consumed. After it is smitten, no place is to be found for its fragments, showing that from that time the nations of earth are to have no place in history. It is evident, then, that this smiting of the image on the feet is the thing to which the disciples referred when they asked Christ, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Matthew 24:3. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.8
Did either of the four great kingdoms utterly destroy, or exterminate, the kingdoms that ruled before it? SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.9
Repeat a scripture that seems to allude to this fact. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.10
In speaking of the fourth and last beast, Daniel says: “I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.” Daniel 7:11. But in direct contrast with this, he speaks of the three preceding beasts as follows: “As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.” Daniel 7:12. This shows that none of the kingdoms are utterly destroyed until the last.When Cyrus conquered Babylon, the Medo-Persian kings began to rule over the territory and subjects over which the Babylonian kings had formerly ruled. It was the same way, also, when Alexander conquered the Persians. When one universal empire succeeded another, the world simply changed rulers. Had it been otherwise, the conqueror would not have had much dominion. The characteristics of the conquered nation modified to a great extent the nation which subdued it. This is plainly indicated in the symbol of the fourth kingdom, as seen by John (Revelation 13:1-10). That beast was like a leopard (third kingdom); its feet were as the feet of a bear (second kingdom); and its mouth as the mouth of a lion (first kingdom). Besides these characteristics, it had the seven heads and ten horns peculiar to Rome, and did the same work that is ascribed to the fourth beast of Daniel 7. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.11
These facts of Scripture are in harmony with the statement in Daniel 2, that when the stone smites the image, the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold are all broken to pieces together. It is in the days of “these kings,” the ten divisions of the Roman Empire, that the smiting is done, but the consequent destruction takes in all that remains of all the preceding kingdoms. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.12
What is to be the effect of this smiting? SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.13
When will this utter destruction take place? SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.14
Daniel 2:34, 35, 44, which have already been quoted, answer question 8. All earthly kingdoms are to be destroyed utterly, to make room for the everlasting kingdom of God. This smiting is many times referred to in the Bible. God, speaking through the prophet David, says to Christ: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Psalm 2:8, 9. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.15
The prophet Habakkuk had a view of this terrible dashing to pieces of the nations, and he describes it thus: “The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by; the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.” Habakkuk 2:10-12. Compare the last clause with Daniel 2:35. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.16
Isaiah also bears testimony similar to that given by David: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots; and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, ... and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears; but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Isaiah 11:1-4. Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:8. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.17
And lastly we read the graphic prophetic description given by John: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.... And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him.... These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Revelation 19:11-21. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.18
Let the reader carefully compare these texts, and he will be convined that they refer to the same time to which Peter does, when he says: “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:7. And this is, in part, the fulfilling of the promise of Christ’s coming. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.19
But the destruction of the wicked of earth is only a part of the work to be done. Habakkuk says, immediately following the words before quoted from him: “Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed.” Immediately following the statement quoted from Isaiah, is a description of a wonderful state of peace, closing with these words: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9. And this agrees with the statement in Daniel 2:35, that, after the destruction of the image, the stone, representing the kingdom of God, “became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” This shows conclusively that the kingdom of God is to be finally established on this earth; that it is to be as real and literal a kingdom as were the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Grecian; that it is not yet set up, because when it is set up it immediately consumes the kingdoms of earth; and that it is to be absolutely universal, because it is to fill the whole earth, and no place is to be found for any opposing power. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.20
How will the earth itself be purified from the effects of sin and the curse? SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.21
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. That this results in the purification of the earth, is evident from verse 13: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.22
How will all the righteous, both the dead and the living, escape this terrible destruction? SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.23
Habakkuk says that when the Lord brings these terrible judgments upon the earth, he goes forth for the salvation of his people. Since the preservation of his people is the object, they may fearlessly “abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Resting on the promise of Jehovah, that, “Because thou hast made, the Lord... thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling” (Psalm 91:5-10), the righteous can sing: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Psalm 46:1, 2. SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.24
But the people of God are not to be left on the earth during the great conflagration which destroys the wicked and melts the elements. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. As the trumpet sounds, the dead are raised incorruptible, and the living are likewise changed from mortal to immortal, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52); so that when they go to be with Christ, and to inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34), they are equal unto the angels, for they cannot die any more. And thus is fulfilled the statement in Daniel 2:44: “And the kingdom shall not be left to other people.” SITI December 17, 1885, page 758.25
Not forever are the people of God to remain away from this earth. Says John: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:4, 5. Here the first resurrection, the resurrection of the righteous, is brought to view, with the statement that a thousand years is to intervene between that and the resurrection of the wicked. During that time the earth is in a state of chaos, an abyss, as it was in the beginning. Isaiah describes it thus: “Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.” “The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken this word.” Isaiah 24:1, 3. And Jeremiah says: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place [was] a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.” Jeremiah 4:23-27. SITI December 17, 1885, page 759.1
During this period of desolation, those who have had part in the first resurrection, upon whom the second death has no power (Revelation 20:6), are sitting on thrones of judgment (Revelation 20:4), judging the world and wicked angels. 1 Corinthians 6:1-3. They are in the kingdom of God, because they are in the New Jerusalem, the capital of that kingdom. The gates of the “strong city” will have been opened, “that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth” might enter in. Isaiah 26:1, 2. At the close of the thousand years, when “the holy city, New Jerusalem,” comes down “from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2); the wicked dead are then raised, and the prophetic declaration is, that “they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of Heaven, and devoured them.” Revelation 20:9. SITI December 17, 1885, page 759.2
This devouring is the same as the destruction described in the nineteenth chapter, a portion of which has been quoted. It is the same as the casting of the tares into the fire, spoken of by Christ in Matthew 13; and when this has been done, “Then shall the kingdom shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” SITI December 17, 1885, page 759.3
Reader, would you be one of the happy subjects of that kingdom? If so, you must do the will of God, and that means that you must keep his holy law; for only “the righteous nation which keepeth the truth” shall have a place in that kingdom. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14. E. J. W. SITI December 17, 1885, page 759.4
“Principles and Precepts” The Signs of the Times, 11, 48.
E. J. Waggoner
The word “law” is derived from the same root as the words “lie” and “lay,” and primarily has the same meaning. “A law is that which is laid, set, or fixed, like statute, constitution, from Lat. Statuere.”-Webster. And in harmony with this, the same authority gives as the first definition of the word “law,” “a rule of order or conduct established by authority.” It is a favorite saying with those who would make void the law of God while professing allegiance to his word, that the ten commandments are good, but that they are adapted only to fallen beings, and hence cannot bind angels nor redeemed saints, nor even people in this world who have been converted. Let us see how such a theory agrees with the definition of law. SITI December 17, 1885, page 760.1
We will suppose that the angels are free from law, and that redeemed saints are to have a like freedom. In that case there would be nothing “laid down” for their guidance-no rule or order of conduct established by authority. In fact, there would be no authority, and each one would act independently of all the others. There would then exist in Heaven the same thing that would exist on earth if there were no law, namely, anarchy; for that means “without rule.” But “God is not the author of confusion,” and therefore such a state of things cannot exist in Heaven, and if not in Heaven, then of course not among the saints still on earth. The case may be stated thus: 1. When there is no law there is anarchy and confusion; there can be nothing else. 2. Confusion cannot exist among God’s people, whether in Heaven or on earth. 3. Therefore, the people of God are always and everywhere subject to his law. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.1
Seeing that it will not do to claim that any beings are absolutely free from law, the enemies of the truth have invented a specious theory, with which, unfortunately, many firm believers in the law of God have been captivated. It is this: “The law,” they say, “as it exists in the ten commandments, is adapted only to fallen beings. These commandments hang on the two great principles of love to God and love to man, and it was these principles alone that existed before the fall, and these alone will be the law for the redeemed.” And some there are who claim that these principles are all the law there is now for Christians. We regard this theory as more dangerous than the one which claims that all law is abolished; for it is the same thing in reality, while it has the appearance of great deference to the truth of God. Let us examine it. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.2
It is utterly impossible for anyone to be guided by an abstract principle. Certain principles may have a controlling influence on our lives, but they must be embodied in definite precepts. As an illustration, we will relate a portion of a conversation which we once had with a gentleman who claimed that Christians have nothing to do with the ten commandments. The question was asked him, Is there, then, nothing for Christians to do? Answer-“Yes, they must love the Lord.” Very good, but how are they to show that they love the Lord? Answer-“By doing what he tells them to do.” Well, what is it that contains specific statements of what the Lord requires us to do to show our love for him? Answer-“Young man, I am older than you are.” The reader will wonder, as we did, what bearing this had on the subject. It showed that the man saw that the only possible answer was, “The law of God,” an answer which would not agree with his theory, hence he chose to give none. But the illustration serves to show that principles, to be obeyed, must be embodied in precepts. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.3
Says the beloved disciple: “This is the love of God, that we keep is commandments.” 1 John 5:3. So when we read that the first great commandment is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37), we know that it means nothing more nor less than that it is our first and highest duty to keep, both in letter and in spirit, all those commandments which define our duty to God. In no other way can we show that we love him. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.4
Suppose for a moment that a man were placed here on earth with nothing to serve as a rule of life except the statement that he must love God supremely and his neighbor as himself. He sets out with a firm determination to do his whole duty. But erelong he is found doing something which God abhors. We will suppose that he is adoring the sun and moon. When reproved for this, he might well reply, “I did not know that I was doing anything wrong; nothing was said to me about this matter. I had a feeling of love and gratitude to God, and did not know how to manifest it in any better way than by paying homage to the most glorious of his created works.” By what law could the man be condemned? He could not justly be condemned, because the will of the Creator on that point had not been made known to him, and he could not reasonably be expected to know the will of God if it had not been revealed. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.5
It will be seen by a very little consideration, that to put a man on the earth with nothing but a general command to love God, and at the same time to expect him to do nothing displeasing to God, would be to assume that the man had infinite wisdom. For God is infinite; and if a man, without being told, finds out what God requires, it can only be because he can comprehend infinity. But this is an impossibility. “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?” No indeed; the creature that could know the mind of God any further than it was directly revealed by him, has never existed. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.6
Then since, as we have conclusively proved, there must be a law for all creatures, and since this law must be definitely expressed, and since, moreover, the whole duty of man is to love God above all things, and his neighbor as himself, we are shut up to the conclusion that the ten commandments always have been and always will be the rule of life for all created intelligences. In direct support of this, Solomon says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13. This settles the matter, at least for the present time. John also says that the love of God is to keep his commandments; but it will be our duty to love God to all eternity; therefore it will always be our duty to keep the commandments of God. And it makes it no less a duty because it becomes our highest pleasure. To the natural man, duty is irksome; the object of making him a new creature in Christ, is that it may be a pleasure for him to do his duty. Paul says that God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, thus condemning sin in the flesh, in order that the “righteousness [requirements] of the law might be fulfilled in us.” Romans 8:3, 4. The object of the gospel is to make us like unto Christ, who said, “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.7
In addition to the above, we offer the words of the prayer which Christ has commanded us to pray to God: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.” Matthew 6:10. Now the will of God is his law. See Romans 2:17, 18; Psalm 40:8. We are taught by this prayer, then, that when the kingdom of God is established on this earth, God’s law will be kept here even as it is now kept in Heaven. And David says by inspiration, that the angels that excel in strength “do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” Psalm 103:20. That is, they are anxious and delight to keep God’s commandments. Duty is with them a pleasure. And when God’s kingdom comes, we also, if permitted to become subjects of it, will delight to do God’s will, and will keep all his commandments, of which “every one” “endureth forever.” We shall then do perfectly what we now are (or should be) striving to do in spite of the weakness of the flesh. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.8
This subject will be continued in another article, in which we shall consider the objection that there are certain commandments of the Decalogue which angels or glorified saints could not violate if they wished to, and that therefore it is absurd to suppose that obedience to those commandments is required of them. E. J. W. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.9
“The High-License Delusion” The Signs of the Times, 11, 48.
E. J. Waggoner
The following we find credited to the San Francisco Alta:- SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.10
“The only bulwark so far thrown up against the encroachment of prohibition is the high license. Prohibition has outlawed beer and wine in Maine, Vermont, Iowa, and Kansas. Wisconsin, with her great brewing interest, has only saved herself by adopting high license. Nebraska, with her enormous distilleries and breweries, has taken the same shelter. Southern States, like Georgia and Texas, have their feet upon the very threshold of prohibition. Will the dealers in California hear and heed in time?” SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.11
This wail does not sound much as though high license were the grand, desirable thing which many misguided temperance people imagine it to be. There is a large number of influential men in California who are earnestly striving for what they call “high license.” Will they hear and heed in time? or will they persist in throwing up this “bulwark against the encroachment of prohibition”? SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.12
The first thing to do in dealing with the liquor traffic is to determine its character Is it wholly good and beneficial? or are there some evils connected with it? or is it an unmixed evil? The first question will be universally answered in the negative. No one will claim that there are no dark features to the liquor traffic. Well, then, is it partly good? This must be answered in the affirmative, if it can be shown that the use of liquor has any tendency to make men better, or wiser, or more kind to their families, or wealthier, or that it in any way conduces to their real happiness. Not one of these things can be claimed for it. On the contrary, it is brutalizing and degrading in its tendency; ignorance and poverty everywhere accompany it; and misery of every description is caused by it. The use of liquor is a promoter of vice in every form; and it is safe to say that more murders and suicides result from it than from all other causes combined. It cannot be denied that the use of alcoholic liquors is evil, and only evil, continually. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.13
Now what about licensing a traffic that is so unmitigated an evil? What does the word “license” mean? It means liberty. To license the sale of liquor, is to give men full liberty to dispense that which will entail all the evils above enumerated, and thousands more. Why not with just as good reason license murder outright? It will be claimed, of course, that those who sell liquor do not murder anybody. No, they do not directly; but it is well known that what they sell cannot possibly produce any good results, and tends directly to all manner of evil. An apologist will doubtless say that we do not prohibit the sale of fire-arms, and men often buy them with the sole design of committing murder. The case is not a parallel one; for weapons may be, and most commonly are, used for inoffensive purposes. If it were impossible to use them for any other purpose than that of murder, we think there would be a quite general demand for the prohibition of their sale. As it is, we are not championing the sale of fire-arms. Even if fire-arms were also an unmitigated evil, the question of their sale would have no bearing on the liquor traffic; for the existence of one evil is no just reason for the existence of another. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.14
But the friends of license say we must not consider it as a permission, but as a tax. That is a distinction with no difference. We must consider it just as it is. A liquor license is simply a permission to certain men to sell that which will ruin their fellows, but with the provision that the profits of the unholy traffic are to be divided with the Government. And so, in spite of all casuistry, it is a fact that the Government becomes a partner in crime. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.15
Whether any kind of license will serve as a step toward temperance, may be easily determined by a moment’s thought. People who are addicted to the use of liquor will get it if it is to be had. Then, if the license tax be placed so high that the small dealers cannot afford to continue the business, the result will be that instead of having a given quantity of liquor sold by one hundred dealers, we shall have the same quantity sold by seventy-five or less. But since these have to pay a heavier tax than before, they will make greater efforts to increase the profits, either by increased sales, or by adulterating the liquor still more, so that nothing is gained in the way of temperance. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.16
The great argument which misguided temperance men urge in support of high license, is that public sentiment is not ready for prohibition, but that high license can be carried, and therefore we must take when we can get. True, and if they would lower the price of the license, they could carry their measure by a still greater majority. The question to be considered is not, What measure will secure the largest support? but, What measure is best? Let the latter question be settled, and then work for the support of what is right. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.17
“But it is impossible to stop the sale of liquor entirely, even by the most stringent prohibitory laws; therefore the best thing to do is to secure as much revenue from it as we can.” This is another argument often used, but it is very fallacious. There are places where the sale of liquor is absolutely prohibited, and what has been done may be done. It is true that in large cities it is next to impossible to eradicate the evil; but the same thing may be said of all crime. We have a prohibitory law against murder, with severe penalties attached; but it has never been effectual in causing murders to cease. In our large cities the law is violated daily; yet no one thinks of licensing the evil. It is very certain that there are far fewer murders than there would be if there were no prohibitory law against murder; and no one can doubt that if the law were abolished, and any form of license substituted, murder would be rampant. SITI December 17, 1885, page 761.18
When the question of the resumption of specie payments was under discussion, a prominent statesman solved the problem by saying, “The way to resume is to resume.” So the way to prohibit is to prohibit. It is true that it would take more time and a greater effort to secure prohibition than it would to secure even a very high license; but when secured something would be accomplished. Nothing is ever gained by parleying and compromising with evil. Vigorous measures alone are of any value, whatever the evil against which we are striving. We are firm in the belief that absolute prohibition is what all temperance people should labor for, no matter how impossible it may seem to secure such a result. The extract quoted at the beginning of this article, followed as it was by the statement, “We are opposed to prohibition,” should open the eyes of temperance people who are courting “high” license. We do not doubt that license is a practical measure, but we have no faith in the results of such practice. It would not be so difficult a matter to secure prohibition as it seems, if men were in earnest. But whether difficult or not, makes no difference. We are not to abandon a good measure for a bad one simply because the bad one may be more easily executed. What we consider the proper method to adopt to secure prohibition may be discussed at another time. E. J. W. SITI December 17, 1885, page 762.1