West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1886-04-21
THE WAR IN MARION.
A New Goliath COmeth Forth to
Battle and Is Demolished by
MariOn's Prohibition Da-
vid.

The West Virginian having COL
lapsed in its undertaking to ami
hilate the Prohibition party of
Marion county and country at
large, has seemingly turned the
lob over to party lieutenants,
among whom Mr.. B. F. Martin. Jr.,
Greenbacker, Republican, &C.,
makes a bold sally through the
columns of the West Vsrginian.
MARTIN, VS.. MARTIN.
Mr.. Martin starts out with a
bountiful supply of charity for all
who differ with him. l would like
to reciprocate, but how can under
the circumstances I have in my
possession his emphatic endorse
ment, Gin black and white, over
his own signature) of sentiments
directly the opposite of his present
position. These sentiments were
written by him very recently, just
before he had a conference with
Republican partisan politicians.
Directly contrary to his late ex-
pressed opinion, Mr.. Martin now
says:
Prohibition is not a political
question any more than are Faith,
Hope and Charity, political ques-
TONS"
He should Ego one BETTER" next
time and say, Polygamy is no more
a political question than Repent
ance and Regeneration.
PROHIBITION STRIKES AT THE TRAF-
FIG, NOT THE DRINKER - AND
WHY.
He asks "Is the abuse of liquor a
matter of politics 2" He is evil
IDENTIFY confused. Prohibition
strikes at the traffic 1t does so be-
cause the traffic affects public or
der, public health and puolic de-
cency. Because the traffic increas-
es taxes, imperils property and en-
dangers life. Because it is by con-
fession the prolific source of crime,
poverty, disease and death. Be.
cause it is open, public and notori-
GUS, and not private nor limited
within the realm where individual
rights may assert their claims. If
society has claim for protection
from any evils, that right extends
also to these. With this basis
which no man can controvert, there
is no way imaginable to make the
prohibition of the liquor traffic any
thing else than political.
Politics is that branch of ethics
relating to the government of the
people, so as to secure pros
perity, peace and safety to society.
In common parlance, it implies the
course of the Government, and re-
lates to measures which the Gov
eminent should adopt for the best
interests of its citizens.
WHEN THE STARS ARE KEPT OUT OF
THE HEAVENS, KEEP PROHIBITION
OUT OF POLITICS.
Now look at this traffic. 1t i'm
pairs values, imposes taxes, engen-
ders crime, and blights material
and social interests. 1t touches 80
ciety at almost every point where
legislation has province. Because
of its very nature it enters into
questions of property, of taxation,
OF sanitary conditions, crime, pau
perism and police-questions that
Government cannot exist without
considering.
Keep Prohibition out of politics,
indeed! When Mr.. Martin can
keep the stars out of the heavens,
we will give him the Job of keep
ing Prohibition out of politics.
THE MORAL SIDE AND THE POLITICAL
SIDE.
The fact that drunkenness is NOR
al@.question Gas well as crime) is
only one side, and on that side men
and women who believe in Prohi-
bition are trying by the only sover-
eign remedy, the agency of the
Gospel, to bring the drunkard back
to himself. But there is another
side of 1.-THE liquor traffic side, the