West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-09-20
Cincinnati Conference ON Tenn.
perance.

on the issues before the people of
Ohio, showing that Ohio Method
lists stand on half the Republican
platform, and repudiate the other
half as all consistent christians are
bound to do. We copy the adopt
ed report from section fourth as
follows.
Fourth-The supreme impor-
lance of this question because of its
bearing upon all the most vital in
terests of the Church and of the
State, demands that it should have
the pre-emirence above all party
issues wherever a man is called up
on to exercise his right Of suffrage
a, the ballot box. There is no
other question affecting the State
or the nation that approximates
this in it's effect upon society, and
we submit whether a Christian
man can, without sin, allow minor
partisan issues or party affiliations
to outweigh in their influence up
on his vote the transcendent inter
ests of society.
Fifth-We are convinced by evil
dence the most overwhelming that
every true interest of our State
would be best subserved by the in
Production into the State Constitu-
tuition of an amendment prohibit
ing the manufacture and sale of
intoxicating liquors as beverage,
and we hereby declare this to be
the end which we desire and shall
earnestly endeavor to secure.
Sixth-Until this end can be
reached we must labor for and ac-
cept whatever legislation most
nearly approximates this, and will
be most likely to prove a real ad-
vance toward the higher goal. But
we feel it incumbent upon us to
affirm that we can not conscien-
tiously accept and aid in securing
measures which, while they may
be assumed and declared to be pro-
motive of the temperance cause,
we believe to be wrong in princi-
pie, and will prove harmful rather
than helpful in results. Among
these measures we mention the
adoption of a license system, or the
same principle in the form Of taxa
ton, which involves the State in
publicly permitting, protecting,
and, by implication sanctioning
traffic which is criminal, and the
greatest curse of those subjects
whom the State is obligated to pro-
tect. 1t is our conviction, also,
that to vote on any amenument to
the Constitution relating to this
question, until we can secure pro-
hibition, will retard the temper
ance cause.
Seventh-So far as we can do SO
consistently with the maintenance
of these principles, we will cooper
ate with such political party as in
our Judgment takes advanced
ground upon these questions and
stands clearly before the people as
the honest representative of law
and order and a sacred Sabbath.
Eighth-We ask the present
Legislature of Ohio to submit to the
people Of the State the question Of
adopting such prohibitory
amendment as we have indicated
in such manner as shall leave the
question untrammeled by other
and partisan issues, or by alterna
tive issues liable to divide, and thus
nullify the temperance vote,
Ninth-We heartily approve the
laws passed by the present Legis
lature for closing liquor saloons on
the Sabbath. We believe its gen
sral enforcement would result If
great good to society, while fail
ure to enforce a law so palpably
Just and beneficial can not but oper
the eyes of all order-loving citizens
to see the true character of a traffic
that defcs all law, and tramp'es or
every right of man.
Notwithstanding the principles
here announced, and the ends pre-
posed, to be eminently Christian