West Virginia walking beam. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1879-188?, 1880-09-25

| keV. j.. u. Clath, L EeSI''cH0' e on.
Rev. w. E. Powell, Secretary. A
committee was appointed consisting
of Rev A, c., George, d. D., Rev
Robert A. Gibson and Rev. j, W
Garter to prepare and address te
the Temperance and Christian vo
| ters of the State. The following
addres, was submitted and adopt
ed:
ADDRESS.
To the Temperance and Christian
Voters of the State: 5,a
We are in the midst Of an ,excit-
ing political struggles Great CUES
tions are involved. The interests
and passions of men are deeply.stirr
r, d. The desire for partisan success
leads to strenuous exertions, and
sometimes to the use of unwarranted
means and agencies: In such heat,
ed strifes the tone Of morality Is
lowered, the cause of temperance
languishes, and regard for decency
and honesty diminishes, if it does
not wholly disappear. At least
there is always danger that such
sad results will be realized. 1t Is
because of these perils and possibil>
tiles 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 dc, the different political Or
ganizations, we address you as citl'
zens and,as Christians. We entrca'
you, therefore, to receive what WE
say without prejudice or passion,
and to give a candid consideration
to our appeal
We do not diss uade you from the
exercise of the franchise. On tho
contrary, we consider it the imper-
ative duty OF every christian to aId
in the maintenance of civil govern
ment. We believe that you ought
to vote; and we hold it to be the
consistent obligation OF every Chris
tian, to remember his principles
when be casts his ballot. We are
persuaded that there arc certain
practices and demands connected
with our important elections which
ought to be avoided and resisted,
with persistent purpose and to the
last extremity.
The increased use of Intoxicating
drinks is marked feature in every
political contest. Many reformed
men are led back again into drink
ing habits, many young men and
boys are there first Induced to use
spirituous liquors, and many mod.
crate drinkers become confirmed
drunkards. Some candidates tor
office furnish free drinks to their
supporters, the balctul habit OF
Treating" gains in strength and
frequency, and the favcr OF saloons
and rum shops is diligently cul;l
waited by certain class OF political
aspirants and managers. We insist
th t it is the unmistakable duty OF
every good citizen-of every patrl
OF. temperance man and Christian,
to set his face as Il flint against these
practices. No man ought to be sup
ported for any office who resorts to
such means to obtain an election.
We believe that it is fully IN TIL
power of sober, reputable, Christian
citizens, TO administer to such reck'
less office seekers and corrupt partl'
sans a rebuke which will prove ef-
tectual, and which will not soon be
ro.golten.
TherS is, moreover, q constant
tendency to employ at least por'
ton OF the Caristian Sabbath to ad'
vance political objects. All intelIi-
gent. conscientious citizens Will re
gard such a tendency with alarm
and will defend the sanctity OF the
Sabbath as the safeguard OF the Re-
public.
It is often demanded of temper
ance men and of Christians to sup
port for office men Of drinking hab
it's and men of notorious immoral
character, because they have been
regularly nominated and must be
elected 10 ensure party success
But such men will never be put IN
nomination by political conventions
when it is known that upright
Christian voters will not sustain
them with voice or ballot. The pre-
sentation OF the names of such can
ditates is an insult to Christian cit
izens, and ought to be resented al
the polls.
Every one who votes to put al
immoral and Incorporate man lnt<
an honorable and lucrative position
votes to male indecency respecta
tle, and dishonesty influential. H(
practically declares by such vote tc
aspiring young men that, If they
have smartness ana strategy, nc
matter how immoral and dlssolute
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