The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-02-02
lIgOn, to asltats as a political issue highly
religious measured
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child of proper age should be compelled BY
law to attend church or divine service twice
on every Sunday, because such a party Of
men believe II would be so very much bet
ter for their eternal welfare TO do 30 than
to neglect IL or to do as they pleased about
IL. The most conservative Prohibtionist
must admit that the preparation for eternal
bitlon. If this be 20, and the enactment Of
law be so efficacious, why should this all
important religious question not be brought
into practical politics2 And the logic would
lose none OF its force IL the agitation should
be directed In the interest of some partic-
ulai church. because it is fair to assume
that some particular church is nearer the
true faith than some others, with the prob
abilities In favor of the suggestion that only
one church and one creed can be the true
and genuine one. 1t is no answer 10 this
argument to say that such thing could
never be accomplshed-that It is an unfair
argument-because the idea appears to be
impracticable. A large majority of the
people make the same objection 10 Prohi-
bition.
A MENACE TO Personal LIBERTY
NV object is simply 20 call attention to
the threatening menace to personal liberty
which stares us in the face when we attempt
to go beyond a given safety line in the en-
actment of laws which invade and take
away our beliefs and isms. the inalienable
and natural rights of man. The funda-
mental maxims of government enunciated
bv Thomas jefferson, the author of the De.
claration of Independence, would deny to
every Legislature, Federal and State, the
power to restrain the individual liberty oi
the citizen except in so far as that liberty
may be directly harmful to another.
Following these precepts the people OF
this country have ever maintained bold
front of uncompromising hostility to all al
tempts at tampering with their natural and
inalienable rights. Whatever freedom of
thought and conduct we enjoy to-day in
matters of personal liberty, faith and relig
ious belief are largely due to the Jealousy
and strength of our numerous conflicting
religious denominations and also to the
envy and power Of our political parties. In
considering this dangerous political condi
ton, careful distinction should be made be
tween the terms politics and party politics
All questions involved in legislation are po
litcal questions. but all political questions
are not party questions any more than the.
are moral questions
PARTIES AND POLITICS.
The mass Of legislation, civil and crimi
nal, is of such a nature as to win the sup
port and approval of all good citizens
irrespective of party; and so general anC
unconscious is this acceptance that thes
precepts and penalties possess the dignit.
of unwritten law. Party questions are sucl
as involve essential theories of construction
but party questions are not always part
issues-a party issue being a contest be
tween the people as sovereigns.
1t is the duty Of political party to plac
in offices of governmental trust men VIII,
represent in personal character, in execu
tive ability and in public policy the highes
> political virtues of its theory and system o
government. But 1t is not the duty no
the right of political party, as such, t.
; champion the growth and development o
5 poltico- moral or religious questions. 4
political party should be conservativ
s force in government. 1t should be aggres
: sivs only so far as 1t can safely go withou
, encroaching upon the ina!ienable rights q
. all the people. 1t should never forget tina
e its frat duty is to hold fast to that whic
t civilization has demonstrated to be good.
INALIENABLE RIGHTS.
u There are distinctive, il-advised force
all the time at work which would destro
every sacred inalienable right, every inst
tuition of good which has been left unto L
through peace and war. To protect ths
which now exists is the first duty of pC
i li:ical party; and no party should volunts
. rily let go of any substantial good in th
constitution and laws of its country. Ths
: the Prohibition party may soon become e,
c tnct is by no means improbable, since th
u National Temperance Society has recent
u shown itself ready to stake the whole ten
u psrance movement on the possibility {
u proving, in the face of the scholarship {
VI the world. that the drink-offerings of Il
l. ancient Leyitical system were not mad
> with regularly matured wine, and the sal
y society even goes so far as to affirm that
u this position cannot be maintained "it
l. Inconsistent for Christians to ADVOCATE tot,
D abstinence" We may well pause whe
II the total abstinence feature of Prohibitio
'e is brought into such extreme peril, AT
'r marvel at the melancholy illustration
y human falibility.
Yet 1t may be the dawning light tn,
shall lead those misguided enthusiastic Of
N of moral and political darkness into :he fu
ST light of personal liberty and unto souH
T. principles Of government.