Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-04


debt. And the Press declares that this great
democratic official should be impeached.
Perhaps he has adopted the theory that ma
tional debt is national blessing and ought
not to be cancelled Possibly the payment
OF debts is not democratic doctrine.
We ought to consider, seriously, the sug-
gestiou that new democratic legislature
might possibly send Allen q. Myers to the
United States Senate. With kid legisa-
ture, saturated with petroleum, the possibili-
ties in such direction would be great. That
it would not do its worst would not be at all
likely. Allen o. Myers is disliked by very
many decent, homes, democrats, and his con-
duct at Columbus, last winter, was round
ly denounced by promnet men in the
party and by number of dem
ocrstic papers. But Myers is in the coal oil
combination; be has been renominated for the
legislature by that portion of the democ attic
party which secured, by hook or crook
principally bv crook-the control of the
Franklin county democratic con ventions; ana
he is therefore vndlcated from the democratic
standpoint, and the democratic party has
taken his iniquities upon its own shoulders
And II Myers faction should be dominant, in
new democratic Legislature, why shouldn't
it do its worst and send him to the senate?
1t is quite possible, If not probable, that the
real question is whether We shall send John
Sherman back 10 the senate or replace him
with Allen O. Myers The very idea is
enough 10 give a crockoiile the nightmare.
The Msthodists and the Partisan Prohi-
bitionists.
DR.. Leonard having smuggled through the
late general conference some resolutions ap-
proving of the principle Of the prohibition
Of the liquor traffic, jumped to the conclusion,
after his nomination, that he could persuade
or possibly bulldoze the Ohio branch of The
list church into his support. The idea
was wild and senseless The Meth gdist
church can properly declare itself in favor of
moral and political principles, but should
1t declare in favor OF any political party
it would disrupt itself DR.. Leonasd
by entertaining such an idea showed his un-
fitness as a moral or political leader, and his
disloyalty to the best aud the vital interests
OF the Methodist church-that is to say
that he was as poor Methodist as he was
a politician
But the Methodist church has a right to
protest against the demoraizug of a great
moral reformation by the attempt to drag it
into the arena of partisan politics, and we
are fully justified by demonstrated facts in as
setting that the leaders of the Methodist
church-in all portions Of the country
bishops, secretaries, editors, and prominent
lsymen-are almost unanimous in expressing
their disapprosal Of DR.. Leonard's course in
accepting nomination for Office. Dr. Curry,
editor Of the Methodist Review, and one of
the strongest men in the denomination; the
Rev. DR.. r. N. Hatfield, of Evanston, Illinois;
and, indeed, several OF the official journalistic
organs OF the church, have openly opposed
the attempted use Of the church to promote
the purposes Of the prohibition party.
Hence, it ia easy to see that
Bishop Merrill, in his long and
able letter to the Inter Ocean, of Chicago, in
which he takes a stand against efforts to pro-
mote the cause of prohibition through a sep
arate political party, occupies a representa-.
tive position. The Bishop ia strong prohi-
bitionist, and In his letter draws the distipc.
ton between statutory and constitutional
prohibition. Statutory prohibition, be says,
is liable to be affected by legislative amend
ments or subject to repeal, and constitutional
amendment can only be secured by the con-
sent and approval of the people, and then
cannot be enforced in opposition to public
sentiment! This is a simple statement of
fact that can not be overthrow! The bishop
then declares that there are two methods of
procedure open TO the friends OF prohibition
one with and the other without seperste
political Organization, and then says that the
method which promises permanent success in
the shortest time ia that which should be
adopted. "If," he continues, 1--WE adopt the
party method we must adhere to il and make
II successful by party methods, or we must
fail. There is no such thing as securing the
sympathy and cooperation OF the good men
In the other parties without inducing them TO |
abandon their party affiliations and jon the
new party which we propose Tor them. 1t
needs no argument to show that this is an
undertaking Of such magnitude that genera
rions will be required to accomplish it,"
This puts the whole matter in nut shell, |
concissly and compactly, and it is unanswer-
able. and it, by itself, settles the whole ques-
ton OF the folly Of trying to promote the in.
tsrsst Of moral reform by partisan political
effort.