Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-03-06
DIR. WEST, AND THE GAZETTE.

picking up a copy of that
ieIectable sheet the Gazeite-my eyel
rested on an article headed "Persecu-
tion"-evidently, should think, the
legitimate fruit of a brain suffering
from . violent attack of Bostorygm; a
similar instance occurred i'm Balaam's
time. IT is not my intention to volun-
teer any defense Of you Mr.. Editor
surely you need no help in contest
with the Gazette, but l desire to say a
word in the interest of justice and
Presbyterianism. Heaton says in the
article referred to-"There is some
honesty in the party (Repub.) in the
rural districts"-and as hail from that
region claim to be heard. l was as
tonished to hear the sentiments ex-
pressed of DR.. West, and his case by
men, who in the light of recent events
should at least have learned to "pre-
serve their lips in silence" We in the
country are rot by any means disinter-
ested observers of passing events in
this contest of DR.. West with the mis-
erable clique who essay to crush him,
as we believe, alone because he, in the
exercise of his Christian manhood, re-
fuses to bow to that infamous Baal-
"the Whisky Ring of st. Clairsville. :"
The people of the county know full well
how the issue stands. 1t is usual with
Christian Ministers and people wneu a
brother errs or is unfortunate, with
Ckristida Ministers ana ,s.Tpie say, to
extend helping hand 10 the wayward
and endeavor to win him back to the
ways of holiness what is the course
of the church worthless of st. Clairs-
vile, (admitting for arguments sake
DR.. West has sinned.) Do they in a
spirit of Christian charity approach
this erring brother and say, my NJ iter
Isays-"though he sin seventy times
seven yet are we to forgive him." no,
we answer emphatically, NO! Wehear
Of no such spirit, but on the contrary
in spirit of violent partisanship, the
street corners are made to echo the
boast, "We will take advantage OF
every technicality to convict him;''
"He has not friend in the town; I'VE
dare him to attempt an appeal )" "He
cannot take an appeal our records are
perfect. Lord what code of ethics
the Presbyterian Church must have il
DR.. West or no other aggrieved mem
ber can take an appeal from the decision
of a fragment of a church session BEN
on the destruction of good man-anC
their Judgment to be final because on,
of their number claims it is "peIJect.
Whenever the Presbyterian Church
polity is discovered to be the ipse dixi
of man passing upon the justice ant
perfection of his own Interpretation
thereof, without any reference to an.
principle of justice or right, why fo
{ one, 1 am more than willing to raz
! her foundations quickly. But, thank
to the great head of the church no sucl
condition exists, that we are aware G
| at the present, outside of st. Gairsville
The grand old Presbyterian Churcl
guarantees to every member "equa
and exact Justice" this DIR. West, W
have no doubt will secure, despite tn
, rulings of the savans in st. Clairsville
f When Jack Sheppard condemned hi
, victims to death, have no doubt h
, regarded his decision "perfect"-it q
least secured its end-more than som
church decisions will do. And the
for the st. Clairsville Gazette to Sc
| itself up as an apOlogist for the church
f reading homilies on Christian duty i
t 'rolling away stumbling blocks fror
the sanctuary of the most high tha
, his children may walk therein"-au
again-"although the agents of tn
spirits of the demand may literally lin
their pathway with Satan's artillery
3 they should never hesitate to do thel
Y duty" Now this is good advice, CON
, ing even from the Gazette, but why d
: you Mr.. Gazette with your aiders an
< abettors in church and out of it, perse
cute and seek the ruin of DIR. West fo
l doing this very thing? "Aye there
: the rub. 1t was because the DIR. ha
bent his every energy of official an
= otherwise, to squelch the ''spirits" an
Q their "agents" that essayed to "lin
v the pathway" of the people of 81
f Clairsville with Satan's artillery,
thatis the real head of his offending
/ 1t is useless for you Mr.. Gazette, or an
: of your sympathizers to ATTEMPT t
deny this fact, we of the rural dis
2 tricts understand it fully-and are to
s "honest" not to say SO. And then, MI
editor, I really must ask the priviIeg
of saying word personal to yourself
4 The Gazette undertakes to weaken tn
force of your argument by saying yo
are just from the atmosphere of Wash
r ington where no honesty dwells wit
!, the dominant party. Of course thi
!, proves that the fragmentary sessio
: did right in ousting DR.. West, an
i that the Grand Jury was-well Johnn
don't know what to think, as the thin
q didn't work right. 1 believe you cam
y to Belmont County, Mr.. Editor, abor
the time of the unearthing of the Den
e ocratic vIlainies and thieving that ha
s been going on for years-till Tamman
!, !, blushed and threw up the spong
v When the rotten carcass of BelmoI
Democracy, under the leadership
Heaton, Charlesworth, ct. al, was di
+ emboweled in the presence of an indi,
q nant public. Oh what smell W,
J. there nv countrymeni And vet. fo