Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-21

MUMMY 70 say tues ~ S ''
A PRESBYTERIAN.
DR.. Pollard and Local Option.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Ihaye read with much interest the
apology or explanation Of DR.. Pollard
published in the Dispotch Of the 18th
for the +" ministers" engaging in the
political canvass now going on in Rich.
mond, and for taking the political quss-
ton involved into their pulpits and
churches for discussion ory.he Sabbath
day. wish / could say that
l had read the article with
as much satisfaction as inter-
est. But, alas I! the ability and
culture of this eminently-piou' and
good man have failed to vindicate the
propriety and wisdom Of the new de-
parture. Indeed, what the Doctor has
said makes more manifest the unwis-
dom Of the course he is seeking to JUS
tify. lie says that both parties put
into their respective "platforms a local
option plank:' Therefore, say the
question became political and if min.
listers could properly discuss in their
pulpits on Sunday this "plank," then
with equal propriety they could take
into their pulpits and discuss on Sum-
day every other "plank" in the plat.
form-the debt question, the school
question, &c., &c. The claim Of DIR.
Pollard that local option-or, more pro-
perly speaking, prohibition-is in any
special or peculiar sense q "moral"
question is not satisfactory. In Janu-
ary, 1873 or 10, | was in the Herald
office, and DR.. Jeter, that great and
good man, was engaged in reading
the proof-sheets Of an editorial
upon the subject Of the debt,
which was then the great politi-
cal question of State politics. He told
me what he was doing, and asked if |
would listen to his reading and tell him
what / thought of his views; " for"
said he, in his own peculiar style, 81
have done my level best upon it," |
replied that | would gladly listen. He
read it and then asked me what l
thought of it. replied " that the ar
gument was able, his statement Of
facts slightly inaccurate, and his SUBJ
iect wholly unsuited to the Herald"
lie raised himself in all the grandeur of
his splendid physique and asked, Why
unsuitsble?" Ireplied, " Because the
Herald is q religious organ and the
debt question is now intensely politi-
CAL" "Yes," said the Doctor, 4" but
it is also a moral question, and the
Herald is o teacher of morals as well as
of religion" But | replied THAT a
religious journal should teach NOR
ais through religion, and not through
the discussion Of political ques-
tons. And. besides, very many
of your readers, whom you want to
instruct in religion and build up in the
faith, will not see the moral question
from your standpoint, and will say that
DIR. Jeter is 'bloated bondholder,
and has gone into politics, and some
will write and say that as the Herald
has gone into politics it need not be
sent to Them" And so it turned out. as
was afterwards informed. DR.. Pol
lard, then, cannot claim any special
morality for his little political pet.
There is just as much morality in the
tariff question as in prohibition. In
sound morals would like to know OF
DR.. Pollard if one industry can be bur-
dened with heavy discriminating tax
in order that another industry might
get the benefit of it, and whether he is
prepared in his pulpit on Sunday to dis
cuss the tariff merely because morals
enter into it, as they do, to a
larger or smaller extent, into every
other great question Of State or
Federal politics? Then would like to
ask the Doctor why the pulpit has re-
manned so long silent upon this great
politico.moral question Have a por-
ton of the preachers just now received
a nep rerelation, or a new inspiration
upon this subject? Did the eminent
men OF the ministry who have gone
before, and who were silent in the pull.
pit upon this subject, fail IN
their ministry to declare the
whole counsel Of God" to their
fsllow-men If they did, Oh, how sad
to think Of their present state )! II
they did not fail, then why, oh, why
have DR.. Pollard and his associates en-
tered this new field of discussion?
Now, Mr.. Editor, l will close, as the
foregoing is sufficient to suggest to DR.
Pollard some Of the reasons why ant
a great many Of his religious and mora
brethren and fellow-ctizens differ will
him as to the propriety Of his course.
Permit me to say that write in M
spirit Of unfIiendly criticism. am
warm personal friend Of DR.. Pollard, {
great admirer OF his talents. his culture
and his abilities as minister Of Christ
| have listened to him with pleasur
and, | hope, with profit. | belong Il
the same great communion with whicl
he is Identified, and il have written
word that seems harsh or CRATES upo
his sensitive nature | wish that sue
expression shall be considered so mod
fed as to conform in every respect t
Christian courtesy and personal friend
ship. Thus writing, | subscribe my
self, JUsTiTIA.
Bar.ROom or NO Bar-ROOm?
l L. ~ Il