The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-09-09

parties, where the mortal characters of
the government rests upon the fOunda-
ton of right-where the enduring ele-
ments OF Christian civilization chrysta.
lie in organic law-and to that broader
realm of essential right this question Of
prohibition must come.
Another serious objection to the party
features is that it renders it inexpedient
and improper for the churches to take
the active part in the advocacy of the
cause that is desirable. When the party
is organized, with candidates in the
field, the conferences, synods, assOCia-
tiOns and conventions of the churches
can not and will not give Endorsement
to the measures proposed. There are
excluded by the nature of the Coustitu-
ton, and must stand aloof, as ecClesias-
tiCal bodies, whatever individuals in
their COmmunions may think or desire.
1t also silences the pulpit to a very great
extent. Ministers who regard the
sacredness of their calling will not turn
their pulpits into electioneering ros-
trums. They can not do it in good con-
science, nor ought they to be expected
to DO it, While prohibition stands upon
its merits as a question OF essential right,
affecting individuals, families, society,
and the public welfare, with no party
machinery attached, it is open for free
discussion in pulpits, churches, con
ferenCes and synods, where the whole
power of the moral sentiments of these
agencies may be brought to its support (;
but the act of narrowing it down to a
political party contest cuts Off all these,
or requires them to go out of their
sphere, and risk division and strife and
the loss of much Of their influence in the
endeavOr to do in an undesirable way
what they would do heartily in the
absence of the party entanglements.
1t is also in accordance with preCed-
ent to expect that as soon as the party
gains 4 little standing, so as to promise
to hold the balance OF power" it will
be overrun by class of men whose in
tluence will not add to its reputation or
moral standing. Disgruntled politicians
of every grade will drop into it. Ambi-
tiOus OfiCe-sCekers will rush for the
leadership. Modest men of moral
worth will find themselves OverbOrne by
the clamorous zeal of political bank
rupts, who have nothing to lose and
everything to gain in whatever fortune
comes to the party.
In word, then, the writer, after forty
years of active work in the temperance
cause, and as an advocate of every meas
ure that promises restriction to the
! liquor traffic and looking with grateful
appreciation upon the growth of that
moral sentiment which promises consti
| tutional prohibition, deeply regrets the
efforts to remove this great question
from its proper place in the churches
the homes, the schools, and the unparti
san gatherings of the people, and -
Identification with a political party
where his own, and hundreds 0
thousand of other voices must be hush
ed or unintluential for good. He pro
tests in the interests of the cause itself i
a cause which has been sacred to hin
from childhOOd-a cause which is highe
and hOlier than any party, and broader
than any political platform. He woulC
never ask any existing party to adopt i
as a party measure, and would never
cucumber it with party organization
Hundreds of thousands in both the ole
parties will vote for prohibition, but viii
not go out of their parties to do it. Wise
management will hold it where appea
can be made to men to support it, re
gardless of party, on the broad grOunC
Of morality, humanity and public utility
remembering that two-thirds of the rea
legislation of the country is non partisan
in its character, and that it is q mistake
to suppose that this great measure mus
have a political party behind it to maxi
it successful. S. M. MERRILL.