Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-05-11

that regard should be had 10 public
sentiment, not because IL is public
sentiment, but because il is right
sentiment. Because it is in harmony
with the eternal and unchangeabie
principles of truth and righteousness,
which are the foundation OF all just law
and just government. 1t is in accord
ance with the law of God, which shall
stand, though the visible heavens
and the earth pass away-and by
this law judges and officers, as well
as other men, shall be tried and re-
ceive their final sentence And it is
on this ground. especially, that we
claim that regard should be had 10
public sentiment (when it Is right) on
q question like this, of granting Ii
cense to sell Intoxicating liquors.
Drunkenness is o sin which brings
ruin to the body and death to the
soul. The word OF God classes it
with the most heinous sins, such rs
idolatry, murder and adultery. and
expressly declares they who do such
things shall not inherit the Kingdom
of God" Then, since drunkenness
is sin, the drinking customs Of men
are sinful, because they are the direct
cause of drunkenness. Aud since the
drinking customs are sinful, the
whole liquor traffic is sinful, for it is
the base of supplies for the custom.
And if the traffic is sinful, toen it is
sinful to legalize it by granting Ii
cense to conduct the business Thus,
by stern and unanswerable logic, we
arrive at the conclusion that the
whole system of license is essentially
sintul--a system of iniquity-evil
aud only evil, in its results. And as
we said in our last report, so we say
agaiu: alt is an assumption Of pow.
er, which the Supreme Lawgiver oi
the universe has never delegated To
any government on earth, to author.
ize one class of citizens TO work the
destruction of the rest, and TO protect
them in that work of destruction
The revenue derived from it, whether
it goes into the Golfers of private in
dividuals. or into the public treasury,
is the "price Of blood" and sooner or
later it brings tne curse after it. And,
therefore, nothing but the divine judg.
ment, manifested in the corruption OF
public morals, the increase of disor.
der and crime and pauperism, and
the ruin of families and individuals,
can reasonably be expected TO follow
where the system prevails. This is
shown by the whole past history Of
the system. instead ofrestraining and
preventing the evils of intemperance,
they have steadily increased from
the beginning of the system until
this day.
And now, if any professedly Chris.
tian magistrate should be placed in
position where he would not have
discretionary power to refuse the
granting of license, his duty seems
to plain. Let him "obey God rather
than man." and at once resign a posi-
tion SO fraught with evil aud escape
the responsibility. But such is not
the case with our judges. They
have discretionary power. The
former law gave it to, them, the Su-
preme Court upholds them in its ex-
ercise, and the last law recognizes it,
and even requires them to exercise
it.
In section I of the act we read,
"The said Court of Quarter Sessions
shall hear petitions from residents of
the ward, borough or township, in
addition to that Of the applicant, in
favor Of and remonstrances against
the application for such license, and
in all cases shall refuse the same,
whenever in the opinion of the said
Court, having due regard 10 the
number and character of the petit
tioners for and against such applca-
ton, such license is not necessary for
the accommodation of the public and
the entertainment of strangers a1d
travellers. &C." Here is disc,etiona-
ry power plainly conferred, and its
exercise enjoined by law.
WHEREAS, The Court of Quarter
Sessions of Butler county has licens-
ed number of houses for the sale of
intoxicating liquors-in several cases
utterly disregarding the lawfully eX-
pressed wishesof the moral respectable
and law abiding citizens of the sever
al districts, thus exercising a discre-
tionary power under the law fcr the
increase rather than the prevention
of vice, aid crime and misery ia our
county, therefore,
Resolved, That Presbytery look
upon this act of our Court with deep
sorrow and regret, in view OF the ey il
consequences which naturally result
from such action.
I'd, That We regret it as q ,Histak.
en- exercise of authority, and a great
injury done to those whose welfare
the Court, in the proper exercise Of
its authority, should guard aand pro-
tect
81, We tender our hearty commen-
daton aud encouragement 20 the no.
BILE Christian women OF the various
Christian Temperance Unions, both
old and young, who have labOrcd 50
faithfully and practiced so much self
denial in this good work.
4th, We renew our recommends
tion to all our pastors to keep the
subject prominently before the people
in their pulpit ministrations. and in
the instructions of the Sabbath
school. and to parents in their family
instructions, that the children and
youth may be trained up in habits Of
sobriety and shielded from the dan
gers of this destructive vice.
5th, That, in reliance upon the d.
vine blessings, we will persevere in
faith, in prayer aad in labor. assured
that our labor shall not be "in vain in
the Lord" 1t is the cause of light
against darkness-of God against
satau-snd the divine promise Sc
cures the victory.
Respectfully submitted by the
Committee.
S. WILLIAMS, Chairman.
Unanimously adopted by the Pres
bytery and ordered to be published
in the papers of the county.
The HOG