The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-07-04
pouReEE ON MErHoDlsM.
what He Thinks Of the Methodist Con-
ference and Prohibition.

ference and Prohibition.
Albion w. Tourgee, the great Repubh-
can novelist, thus writes to The Inter
Ocean relative the late action of the M.
e. Church, advising it's members to OPP
pose political parties controlled in the in
terest of the liquor traffic.
The object of Republican governments
is to secure the greatest good OF the
greatest number through the mutual CO.
operation Of individuals in shaping and
directing popular forces, removing obsta-
cles to individual welfare, limiting HARM
full influences and restricting demoralizing
tendencies. The Christian religion, con-
sidered as system Of ethics, processes
exactly the same purpose. Both
are founded on the same immutable
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ye would that
men should do to you. do ye even 80
to them" Christian ethics covers
the whole scope of human relation;
politics touches only that portion
Of this field which concerns the relation
of the citizen to his fellow citizen. Within
this limit, however, Christianity and good
citizenship are identical. A man cannot
use his political power to do another
wrong and be good citizen, or fail to use
the power to accomplish good which has
been vested in his hands by our political
institutions and be good Christian. Both
are bound by the same moral obligation
to seek the greatest good Of the greatest
number, whether it be by the exercise
Of that political privilege which makes
every citizen constituent ruler as he
puts his ballot in the box, from which
must be learned the popular will, or in
the exercise OF that care for others wei.
fare which induces him to drop penny
in the beggar's hat in the blessed name Of
charity.
It is favorite maxim Of the so called
practical politician" that religion and
politics must not be mixed" Nothing
more conclusively proves the short sighted
absurdity of this class who are so accus.
toned to boast of their own shrewdness.
The fact Is, that In republic, religion and
politics can never be separated very far
except to the decided detriment of both.
This is something more than passing on
the moral aspect Of a political question
1t is prescribing the political means which
the church SHAH adopt to cure an evil.
It is couched. It is true, In the form of
advice and coupled with an express denial
of intent to limit his freedom Of action;
but the inference is unavoidable that the
conference means to advise that the
proper attitude of Christians" is the
support of prohibitory legislation and the
defeat of restrictive legislation under all
circumstances.
While protesting not to dictate the
political action of the members of the
church, this is unquestionably tanta-
mount to an official declaration that all
flaws licensing, taxing, or otherwise reg
ulating the drink traffic" are unchristian,
and by expressly advising the members of
the church to aid in the enforcement of
prohibitory legislation, implicitly advises
that they should not aid in the enforce.
ment of laws licensing. taxing and regu-
lating the drink traffic.
By unavoidable implication it condemns
all parties except the Prohibitionists by
declaring unalterable opposition to all re-
strictive legislation which they may pro-
pose, and then expressly advises its men,
bers not to allow themselves to be- con.
trolled by such parties. :.rr.