Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-18
Temperance Convention in Parksrsburs
Address to the Voters
Correspondence Of the Register.


ell, Secretary. A committee was APP
pointed consisting of Rev. A.C. George,
d. D., Rev. Robert A. Gibson and Rev.
j. w. Carter to prepare an address to
the Temperance and Christian voters Of
the State. The following address vas
submitted and adopted:
address
To the Temperance and Christian Voters
of tie Stat:
We are in the midst of an exciting
political struggle. Great questions are
involved. The interests and passions
OF men are deeply stirred. The desire
for partisan success leads to
exertions, and sometimes to the use of
unWarranted means and agencies. In
such heated s~trifes, the tone OF morality
is lowered, the cause OF temperance
languishes, and regard for decency and
honesty diminishes, ii it does not
wholly disappear. At least there, is al
ways danger that such sad results will
be realized. 1t is because OF these per-
lis and possibilities that We now address
YOU. We do not speak as ~partisans, and
we seek no political ends. Our aim is
higher and nobler. Representing, as
we DO, the different political Organiza-
tons, we address you as citizens and as
Christians. We entreat you, therefore,t to
receive what We saw without prejudice
or passion, and to give a candid cOnsid-
Grafton to Our appeal.
We do not dissuade you from the ex-
ercise of the franchise. On the con-
trary, we consider it the imperative duty
of every citizen 10 aid in the mainten-
auce of civil government. We believe
that YOU Ought to vote; and we hold 1t
to be the consistent obligation OF every
temperance man and every Christian,
TO remember his principles when he
casts his ballot. We are persuaded that
J there are certain practices AMI demands
connected with our important elections
which ought to be avoided and resisted,
with persistent purpose aud to the last
extremity.
The increased use OF intoxicating
drinks is a marked feature in every po-
litical contest. Many reformed men are
led back again into drinking habits,
MANY Young men and boys are there
first Induced to use spirituous liquors,
and MANY moderate drinkers become
confirmed drunkards. Some candidates
for office furnish free drinks to their
supporters, the baleiul habit oil treat
ing gains in strength and frequency,
and the favor of saloons and rumshopS
is diligently cultivated by certain class
of political aspirants and managers.
We insist that it IS the unmista6able
duty OF every good ~Citizen-o. every pa
triot, temperance man and Christian, to
set his face as Il flint against these praC-
tees. No man ought TO be supported
for anv office who resorts 20 such means
10 obtain an election. We believe that
il is fully i'm the power OF sober, reputa-
BILE, Christian citizens, TO administer TO
such reckless Ofice-seekerS and corrupt
partisans a rebuke which will prove ell
i~ectual, and which will not be forgotten.
There is, moreover. a constant ten
dencv 10 employ at least a portion OF
the Christian Sabbath to advance poll
cal objects. All intelligent, conscien-
tious citizens will regard such a ten
dency with alarm, and will defend the
s%anctitv of the Sabbath as the safeguard
OF the Republic.
10 is often demanded OF temperance
men and oil Christians to support Tor
office men OF drinking habits and men
of notorious immoral character, because
they have been regularly nominated and
must be elected TO ensure a party sue
cess. But such men will never be put
in nomination 10y political conventions
when it is known that upright, Chris
tiaa voters will not sustain them with
voice or ballot. The presentation OF
the names OF such candidates is an IN
suit to Christian citizens, and ought to
be resented at the polls.
Every ore who votes TO put an m
moral and inten perate man into an
honorable and lucrative position, votes
TO make indecency respectable, and dis
honesty influential. He practically de-
clares by such vote, to aspiring young
men that, If they have smartness and
partisan strategy, no matter how I'M
moral and dissolute they may become,
il will not prevent their political adj
vancement. The general prevalence oil
such a sentiment would destroy the
foundations OF morality, and would re-
duce representative government, sooner
or later, to hopeless wreck and rum.
We, therefore, urge all good citizens to
refuse their ballots to Incorporate ana
immoral men, aud to all candidates VINO
resort 10 corrupt and de!iterious agen-
cies and influences TO secure nomlna-
ton or election to any office or position
of truth, whatsoever.
We DO, moreover, respectfully, re-
quest all ministers Of the Gospel TO
preach on the duties OF citizenship, n
~ pracG on fhair haa rarg fhn nhlIr1fInn
OF regarding God and his law, in all their
relations and engagements in life. And
We implOre all citizens, who desire wise
and worthy rulers, the maintenance OF
social order, the promotion OF public
!. morality, the preservation oil cohstltu-
tinnal liberty, the right trainingOf Young
men as to the duties and responsibilities
of the franchise in a Republic OF law and
i'm a government by the people, and the
slccrss generally OF righteousness and
temperance i'm all our borders, to hold
ND the hands of such faithful ministers,
and to cooperate diligently, with them,
in a testimony and work, so humane,
patriotic and religious. .
We also appeal to all conductors ot
public journals, TO remember, in the
beat and tempest of partisan strife, that
the highest is always the best, that the
success which is deservedis the only gen.
uine success, that it is better for a party
to be defeated than to be demented ami
debouched, and that scruPulous moral:
~ in Mi public relations is the safety Of
the Republic. as it is the glory OF a po-
litical organization.
Let all good citizens unite in demand
ing and maintaining sObriety, honesty,
purity in partisan warfare, integrity in
private life and in official trusts, and
interrupted franchise, the solemn du.
ties of citizenship discharged in the fear
of God, the ]reprobation OF bad men and
their dismissal from all offices OF profit
and honor. and the perpetuation oil
good government, grounded on the
teachings and doctrines OF the Holy
Scriptures, as a priceless heritage to our
/ children, and to all future generations.
A. Z. GEORGE,
Il. A. GIBSON. Committee
l.. W. CARTER