The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-07-05
National Reformer.l
Satan's Half-LOaf.
BY REV. T. j. BISSELL.

b1 REV. L. j. BlSSELL.
"A HALF LOAF is better than none"
was the consideration which friend,
equally jealous for his church and his
party, recently urged in support of
the limited high license policy. Il It
seemed to be the end of the argument
to him. What brand the loaf might
bear, what might be its composition
or what its cost, seemed to be wholly
ignored. To secure a particular re-
suit, in itself very desirable, which he
assumed would follow the adoption
of this policy, was for him, apparent
ly, enough. II see a half-loaf in it
and therefore favor it."
1t his argument is correct, it oc-
Cured to me what pity his professed
Lord and Master did not recognize it
when famishing in the wilderness.
A certain person, claiming high posi-
tion in political affairs, showed him
how he could get not merely half-a-
loaf but bread in abundance, but the
Christ persisted in clinging g to the
fanatical idea that no bread is to be
preferred to that which bears the
brand of Satan and is purchased by
the sacrifice of principle and disloyal-
ty to God. "To do evil that good
may come" has been the longtime
policy which that pretended owner of
the kingdoms Of this world and dis
penser Of its official power always
commends as last resort to the long
suffering children of God; but if it
has ever received the sanction Of the
Almighty or been adopted as proper
element Of the Christian system, we
fail to recall the circumstance. If
our memory is not at fault, or if there
has not been some revision Of the di-
vine code unknown to us, this is Gods
law: Woe unto him that giveth his
neighbor drink; that puttest thy bot
tie to him, and makest him drunken
also"
In the presence of such manifes-
tation of Gods attitude toward the
liquor traffic, for professed Christian
man to give the sanction of his citi-
zenship to this traffic; for him to en-
courage the powers that be or those
that desire to be, in giving, upon any
terms, such an accursed business
legitimate place among the great
commercial interests of the people;-
or, by even the consent of silence to
be numbered among the supporters of
a policy which practically says, ''you
may, the Almighty to the contrary
Notwithstanding, for x pieces
Of silver, give your neighbor drink,
put thy bottle unto him and make
him drunken also;" for such man
to do such things and on the plea
that he expects good to come out of
it, is to us moral phenomenon utter
ly inexplicable.
1t is not a question of one, of
few, or Of many such heaven-defying
Permits which is primarily to be set
tied Is the traffic in intoxicating
drinks wrong? And if so, ought
those who will persist in it to be
treated as enemies Of God and man
and branded as outlaws, or, if they
will divide their unrighteous gains,
shall they be removed from the dis
grace and perils of outlawry, placed
in the ranks of good citizenship and
clothed with the robes of government
tai sanction? And if their ''crime of
crimes" is to be legalized and these
"poisoners general, as John Wesley
called them, are to be allowed to car
ry on their horrid work under the sa-
cred shield Of law, why not adopt the
same policy respecting other crimes
and other evil doers? We challenge
the advocates and apologists of ''lI-
cense for the liquor traffic" whether
high or low, limited or unlimited, to
produce a single argument in its ia
vor which will not give equal moral
sanction to licensed gambling, IL
censed prostitution and every namable
abomiuation.
With such a policy no word or
principle of the gospel can be recon-
ciled. Indulgence" once brought
much gold to the Papal treasury, but
forever blackened the name of those
who gave the coveted sanction for ey-
il doing. And of all conceivable IN
famies, special indulgences to those,
and only those, who are able and will
ling to pay great prices for them, are
most Infamous. And this, after all,
was the essence of our friends policy.
Its wrong, it's evil results are i'm
measurable, but favor giving the Ii
cense to few, making them pay a
great sum for the privilege, as the
best we can do. "A half-loaf is deter
than none.'" How much gold he
thought would turn the scales of JUS
tice in favor of these evil doers is not
yet spoken! For such a policy we
have nothing but antagonism. Bet
ter ten murderers branded as outlaws
and contributing by their number and
boldness to the arousement Of DOR
mant consciences and the unsheathing
of the sword of justice for their ex-
termination, than one murderer gen.
eral" who carries on his bloody work
with our consent and assured of i'm
munity from punishment because he
has divided with us literally the spoil.
We want no bread bearing the devils
brand. "He that biddeth him God
speed. is partaker of his evil deeds"
The Platform.
The Democracy of Ohio, in Conven-
tion assembled, hereby reafirm the