The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-05-18
Prohibition Platform of the M. E..
Church.


Prohibatory resolutions which are
embodied in and published as part of
the minutes. The resolutions place
the Church pretty. squarely on the
side of the Prohibition party, and
virtually advise its members to vote
for the candidate of that party,
which will doubtless be Gen. Fisk,
who is distinguished light in the
NJ. E. Church.
TEMPERANCE.
Believing the..cause of Temperance would
be helped by the publication, in the name
of this Conference, Of the following state
ments your Committee would respect fully
present them for your careful consideration.
l. 1t is the duty of all pastors to acquant
members of their Churches with the pro-
visions of the discipline concerning signing
applications for license; renting property to
liquor dealers and going on their bonds;
and in case of violation of the law, to pro-
coed against the offender.
2. In the election of members ofth next
Legislature, it is important that our minis
tiers and members, as citizens, should vote
Tor no candidate who will not give an I'M
qualified pledge to vote for the submission
to the people of the Constitutional Prohi.
bition Amendment"
8. We regard with gratitude to God the
recent rapid growth Of temperance scnti-
ment in the whole country. We believe
that it will continue until the triumph so
long contended for is at length achieved
The unalterable laws OIL nature are with US
and failure is impossible. The fanatic is
not he who anticipates success, but he who
foolishly thinks it possible to arrest the
majestic onward sweep of this heayen-fav.
ored reform.
4. Experience proves that the liquor
traffic cannot be regulated. Regulation is
a pledge Of governmental protection. an
assurance of preservation. The traffic
cannot exist and be other than it has been,
man destroying, law.defying aud God
hating.
8. The saloon is growing menace to
civilization. 1t is life and death struggle.
One or the other must perish. In such
conflict, Indifference seems criminal. He
who is not against the saloon, is for it.
Whoever feels no. interest in contest so
momentous is traitor TO himself, his fell
low.men and his God.
6. No patriotic American citizen can do
his whole duty to his imper1led country,
except by open and active hostility to the
saloon. Secret friends of our cause are re-
garded as allies by our open enemies.
Sentiment grows by expression; it dies by
silence. Every one who hates the liquor
traffic should speak aloud; so will we
strengthen one another. All who desire
prohibition should work for it, so victory
will be won.
7. High license is not a temperance
measure. 1t is trap adroitly set for timid
and half informed temperance men. Il was
originally offered, and is now urged as
compromise. by the influential political
friends OF the saloon. Their object is to
kill the movement for prohibition and pre-
vent the threatened annihilation of tho
liquor traffic. We pray God to open the
eyes of those who haye been deceived.
High license does net diminish drunken.
ness. II makes the liquor monopoly more
powerful, vastly increases its political in.
iuence, brides tax payers to be neutral if
not, friendly, and makes the government
UNANIMOUSLY an interested partner in the
business of destroying public virtue.
1t is net step toward prohibition, but a
long stride in the opposite direction. MANY
wealthy liquor dealers favor it because il is
a bar TO prohibition.
8. The saloon has inircnched itself in
politics. We are compelled TO 6ght on the
held ii has chosen, and it is the proper
arena.
The ballot Is the man. Where that is
deposited, there he stands in all his mean.
ness or all his majesty. When the ballots