Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-03-15
Temperance.
THE GOSPEL AND PROHI-
BITION.

widely from the opinions therein eX-
pressed.
We must remember that there are
many men of many minds, and tho
we know that reforms do not admit
of any and every means of advance
ment, still there are many Christians
who do not consider it necessary
to forsake the cause of Christ in an
effort to forward Prohibition. By the
experience of years of waiting it is
evident at least that we cannot OBJ
tain the aid of the Government
against the curse of intemperance I'M
less we can attract attention to the
voice of the people, and that, we are
assured, can only be done effectually
by the mass of voters in favor of
this Gin some eyes) obnoxious third
party, or from any wish to defeat Ell
ther of the old parties, but because
they believe it is the right and wisest
way to further Prohibition and have
they not reason for believing this?
How much have either of the old par
ties benefited the temperance cause?
AS for all this ''high'' or slow Ii
cense," it stops the liquor traffic
about as completely as a shovelful
of dirt would dam the Mississippi.
1t is not necessary to desert the
cause of Christ in an effort to save
the minds and bodies and souls of
men, then what is so wrong in these
Christian men forming in one body
against the great evil in our nation?
How are we to effect the laws of
the country without bringing forth
our representative?
Brother B. dwells at length on Alb
clifton and its results will he or
some other brother tell us when the
slaves would have been free without
the Abolitionists having a vote in
the matter? AS for "the third party
having brought all of evil and DEATH
in that "heavenly inspired REFORM"
what was the third party but men
who we've "inspired" with enough
sense of justice and right to make an
effective movement in cause which
no man can say was not the Lords?
We cannot rejoice in the blood
shed of that terrible war, but we beg
to remind Brother B. that it was not
the third party that began that war ;
neither was it the third party that
caused that war; it was begun by re-
bellious citizens who would not be
ruled by the Government, and it was
caused by the negligence of Chris
tian people in allowing such an evil
to become so established.
But enough! Peace is with us, and
God forbid that passion should get
the better of justice and reason in
our great temperance reform, in
which let us abide by the law and
the Gospel.
But then, we cannot halt and step
back because there might be opposi-
ton. We do believe that we ought
not to work contrary to the Gospel,
and we ought to forbear from any
service that dishonors Jesus. But il
will not Gin my mind) dishonor Christ
for a man to vote against intemper-
ance and the liqnor traffic even by
a third party ticket.
If it is in politics that the evil lies,
if it is the politics that are so corrupt
will the Government or politics be-
come any purer by Christian mer
drawing back and making no stant
for the, right Will the cause of Chris
be upheld more firmly by his follow
ers stunning their duty for fear of :
disturbance? What is the nation
coming to, that a man cannot vot
for Christian principles, and accord
ing to his conscience for fear of he
coming contaminated by politics ,anC
thereby fling Christian principle t.
the winds and "provoke new DO
litical tempest?'' We have halted an,
considered In the light of Gospel AM
experience, which method of reforr
is demanded of US, and in this, on
decision, we hope and pray that tn
Lord is with US and leading us; no
Satan at our head, for Satan doe
not work TO save souls, or do an
universal good.
Yes, the time is right for temper
ance reform, and let us work togetE
er. We do not want you to brin
politics into religion, but we do thin
the nation would be benefited
there was little mole religion
politics. Right is stronger tina
wrong there, for the church ought t
uplift and purify the politics instea
of politics harming and destroyin
the church.
To their shame and sorrow it mu
be said that ''the mouths of mar
christian ministers" have seldo
been open on the subject of tempe
ance; may those that have, contin,
to speak that which the Lord puts
them, though with regret say he
that we cannot wholly depend on Il
churches for reform from their ina
ton in universal moral questit
like intemperance. We fear til
there are ministers of the Gosr
who under this cloak of "hurting t
Church" neglect their duty in tt
matter for the sake of what is in !
atty catering" to one or the 9th