The Newtown bee., 1889-08-30

now, in our form of government, as the < State is the will of the people expressed through their representatives, so the peo- pie become directly responsible for the acts of the State. Therefore the crime of licensing q traffic, which God has de- nounced in most terrible judgments, falls back on the individual citizen, who has voted that it should be so, He will be individually held accountable to God, of ! giving his neighbor drink and of making him drunken. We cannot deceive God, whether we vote directly or indirectly sponsible for our no small part in the crime. Neither shall any man escape his responsibility to God by shirking, neg lecting or refusing to do his duty as sovereign citizen. It will do no good to try, like Pilate, to wash his hands of this, when not doing his duty. It is written, 'sWhen thou sawest thief, then thou consentest with him." Psalms l., 1S.) ssAnd if q soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is q witness, whether he hath seen or known of it, if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity." (Iev. V, 1.) That is, silence or inaction involves us in the guilt. In no way can any one escape the guilt of the wicked traffic, but by an open, manly and persistent opposition to the whole business, morally and politically.
 Now God, in His all-wise providence, has brought this matter before us in q
 special manner. It is His work, even if | He used tricky politicians to accomplish 1 it. He has so ordered it that every citi-
 zen shall be compelled, this Fall, to re-
 cord himself either for or against the
 traffic. As have said, there can be no
 escape from the responsibility before God, inaction makes us responsible for
 the guilt of the traffic. As Mr Wanna
 maker said in Pennsylvania, s'Just as the
 saloonkeeper must answer for every glass
 he sells, so we must answer for voting
 for liquor, Cor not voting against it. It
 is simply q question whether we are in
 favor of the saloon. The quibble that
 prohibition does not prohibit has nothing
 to do with it. The laws against stealing
 do not prevent stealing. It is our duty
 to make it as difficult to get liquor as it is to get poison. So I may add, we have
 no right to ask, Will the amendment sue
 eeed? but, Is it the right treatment of the
 traffic? Is it what God requires of us as
 moral citizens? You all know that it is
 right in the sight of God. Not to sus- | ;t h, fo; oe
 moral obligation before God. Not to
 vote for the amendment will be to give
 your sanction to the liquor traffic.
 The Chicago Times Ca Democratic pa
 per) in an editorial speaking of the elect
 ions in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island
 says, "These have not in the slightest de-
 gree affected the principle that lies be-
 hind prohibition. The difference between those who believe in prohibition and
 those who believe ill license is the diff ference between right and wrong. The
 wrong may triumph, but it is none the
 less wrong. The right may fail, but it is none the less right
 Now, my hearers, if I can read my 1 r countable for the sin, who help the wrong to triumph and also those who, by indif. : ference or neglect, let the right fail What is especially needed in these days is more moral backbone, so that men vii . be honest to their convictions and dt l There is great need of q toning up O
 
 ' the moral principle, both in the chureI l and nation.
 e How terribly inconsistent for Christ l ians to pray, ssHallowed by Thy name,
 and then vote to license and so to perpet e Gods name to be daily dishonored ant | continually blasphemed. To pray, "Th, t will be done" and vote that the devil n work may be helped and protected i against the will of God. To pray, s'Giv f us this day our daily bread,'' then vot a that our neighbors and perhaps our owl e children may be robbed of their dail ,, bread to enrich one of the devils agent k for the destruction of the souls and bod d ies of men. To pray, sIead us not int l. temptation" then vote to place tempta $ tion on every street corner and in tn |, path of every man, woman and child If To pray, sDeliver us from eyir' and vot g to surround our homes and that of otl 1. CTS with the greatest and every kind C e evil possible. To pray, sThy Kingdom t. come,'' then vote to enthroney Alcoho e king in our land. Brethren, think yo ,s God can wink at such conduct. I tel y you nay.
 e If on your account, either directly 0 } indirectly, the right should fail, this Fa Q and the wrong triumph, God will hol Is you responsible. l also would advis tt you never to attempt to use the praye T. Jesus taught his disciples, lest you moe a God. pray you also to think of th Fe moral responsibility that rests upon 70 d in regard to the coming generations. a Will you do what you can to surroun e, them with the snares and traps of deat h and hell, prepare temptations of the mo
 fatal kind to cause them to fall and pc n ish2 Or will you do your part, by God st help, to save them from this terrib n- curse of the liquor traffic? My brothe Id if you think you arc strong against u le temptation and have no children in da Y. ger from this terrible evil, let me pra nt you to think that by voting to continl st the curse of the liquor traffic, you a ", making the temptation to destroy som