Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-09
STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER.

STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER.
sone Good Pei.ts llads By Commissioosr
Aawlinga.
To the Editor OF the Republic:
When church paper falls so far below
the purposes for which 1t was established
that It forgets Its mission and gives place
editorially and otherwise-to the expression
OF sentiments which indicate clearly that II
has entered into the field Of politics with
the purpose Of building up one political
party by tearing down Others, 1t is time to
call halt. The effect Of such practice can
only tend to evil and church division. 1t
encourages ministers in the pulpit to make
themselves unfruitful Of good, unwelcome.
obnoxious. The Methodist membership
are not in sympathy with the liquor traffic
Of the country. and look upon it as being
productive Of much evil. The membership
Of the Methodist church are band Of tenn
perance men and women-and any state
ment to the contrary Is . libel. and he who
utters II. IL in the pulpit, Is unworthy OF
his high calling, and Is not deserving of
recognition.
As sample Of the evil results Of poll
tics in tine pulpit we point to the condition
existing at st. Paris, . full account OF
which has been published in the secular
papers. 1t will result In much greater evil
II the church papers should pursue SINH
lar course.
For the purpose Of sustaining divisions
and unfriendly feeling between republi-
cans, and for the manifest purpose Of in
juring the republican party. the Western
Advocate. Of the 1st inst. makes use Of
the following editorial:
lis bolting the worst crime man can be
guilty Of? How does II happen that bolt
ers are excoriated, while certain classes of
law-breakers. such as saloon keepers, for
example, are spoken Of kindly and even in
apologetic terms? The bolter Is infamous.
The saloon keeper who keeps his place open
all night and oil day Sunday, and sells to
minors and habitual drunkards, il he only
pays his tax, Is an honorable citizen"
Now there Is no state OF facts existing
that warrants any such statement No one
Is defending the saloon keeper in violating
the Law In selling to minors and habithal
drunkards: and such statements are In bad
taste and out Of place in the Western.
1t Is plainly evident by his reference to
the ''excoriatiOn" at this time OF ''bOlters, Z"
his reference to the tax law with reference
to the saloonists that he Ia aiming . blow
at the republican party. But It reacts up
on him; he makes use of the following
language: I'VE arc certain that hundreds
Of children buy beer In saloons In Cincin-
natl. every day. and some of them are not
over five years DID," Is 1t possible that the
editor Of the Western has such
knowledge within his bosom and
makes no honest effort to vindicate
the law? Were lcertAin OF such state Of
facts. l would hasten 70 the proper author
ity and reveal the facts OF which had
knowledge, that they (the saloonists)
might be visited with the penalty that has
been provided for them. Nothing less will
discharge the duties devOlving upon good
citizen. and nothing less will answer for the
discharge Of Christian duty to one Of
Christ's children. No man can have such
knowledge Of existing guilt upon the part
salOon-keepers and not at the earliest Op-
pOrtunity give his testimony TO the grand
Jury. and still claim TO be consistent tenn
peiance citizen. The apostles Of political
prohibition do not desire any good results
from the Temperance laws as they exist in
Ohio. neither do they desire any temper
ance legislation at the hands of . republi-
can legislature. Bro. Thompson. Of the
Era, repeatedly stated he WAS opposed to
sending any petitions to the present legisla-
ture upon the liquor Questi0n-that he did
not want any temperance legislation 4
their hands, for they were not elected for
that purpose. Such expressions show the
true position occupied BY the ''saintly" 90
crew on board the ship Political Prohibi-
tion."
Consistency Is jewel worthy Of admira-
tiOn. but II Is not an element in the make
up Of . political prohibition saint; and the
strongest evidence OF any existing sense OF
propristy. Is manifested In the appropriate
ness Of the emblem adopted. by which they
choose to be known.
A consistent temperance man will en-
dcavor upon all occasions to secure the
greatest possible good under existing cir
cumstances. II we cannot secure at once
the perfect legislation that We may desire.
1t then becomes our duty TO work up ~ near
to Il a. possible. and then wait and patient
ly labor for the advancement of the cause.
and see to 1t that what restriction already
exists is rigidly enforced.
But to return TO the Western Advocate:
The same paper from which the above quo.s-
tons are made contains editorial notes with
reference TO the appointment and confrma-
tion Of Mr.. Lamar - justice OF the su-
preme court But straw may show the
course OF the wind. II this thing Is done
in the green tree, what will be done In the
dry? Mr.. Lamar holds the southern view
of our national constitution. Is this the
view which is 70 be enihroned in the su-
preme court Of the United States?
Mr.. Lamar, rs . sign Of the times. Is
ominous. Mr.. Lamar takes an oath Of idel-