The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-04-11
PHILADELPHIA METH
ODISTS.
They Declare For Prohibition
and Brand High License As
Bribery.
A Ringing Report AU Through.


At the recent Philadelphia Con.
terence, M. E. Church, the follow
ing ringing report on Temperance
was adopted:
/. 1t is the duty of all pastors to
acquaint the members of the
churches with the provisions of the
Discipline concerning the signing
OF applications for license, renting
of property to liquor dealers, and
going on their bonds, and in case of
violation of the law to proceed
against the offenders.
2. In the election of membe of
the next Legislature it is import
ant that the ministers and MEM
beers, as citizens, should vote for no
candidate who will not give an un-
qualified pledge to vote for the SUBJ
mission to the people of the "Con-,
stitutional Prohibition Amend
ment."
8. We regard with gratitude to
G I'd the recent rapid growth of
Temperance sentiment in the
whole country; we believe it will
continue until the triumph so long
commended for is at length achieved.
The unalterable laws of nature are
with us, and failure is impossible.
The fanatic is not he who antici-
p4tes success, but he who fOolishly
thinks it possible to arrest the ma
jestic onward sweep of this heaven
favored reform. .-, r..
4 Experience proves that the
liquor traffic cannot be regulated !;
regulation is a pledge of govern
mental protection, an assurance of
preservation. The traffic cannot
exist and be other than it has al
ways baen-man-destroying, law
dying, G 'd-hating.
g. The saloon is growing men
acc to civilization; it is a life and
death struggle, and one or the 9th
or must perish; in such a 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 fellow-men and his
God
6. No patriotic American citizen
can do his whole duty to his i'm
perilled country except by open
and active hostility to the saloon.
The secret friends of the cause are
regarded by the friends of the sa-
LOON as friends of theirs. Senti-
ment grows by expression; it dies
of silence. Every one who hates the
liquor traffic should speak
aloud; so shall we strengthen one
another. All who desire Prohibi-
ton should work for it, and 80 vic
tprv will be sure.
7. High license is not temper
anoe measure it is trap adroitly
ST. 70, timid and half informed
temperance men. It was original
!, off red and is now urged as
npromise by the influential po-
l,sical friends of the saloon. Their
o jant $ to kill the movement for
p Ambition and prevent the threat
enAd humiliation Of the liquor
II flic. We pray God to open the
ewes of those who have been deceiv-
ell. High license does not diminish
arunkrnness; it makes the liquor
monopoly more powerful, vastly in
G. Asses its political influence,
hr oes tax payers to be neutral if
II : friendly, and makes the govern
nont infamously a partner in de-
STRIVING public virtue. 1t is not a
s;@p toward prohibition, but long
s'r'de in the opposite direction.
NJ Any wealthy liquor dealers favor
IL - Il bar to prohibition.
8 The saloon has intrenched it.
self in politics, ard we are conn ell-
ed to fight it in the field it has
cnosen. The ballot is the man !;
when that is deposited, there he
Sands in all his meanness, or all |
h. majesty. When the ballots of |
a. good men shall be cast directly |
against the liquor interest, it will |
be driven from its stronghold to
perish from the land forever.
8 We cannot hope for the full |
e. dorsement of prohibitory laws in
S}ofo ~ loco fho oo1o 80 Is-.o.