The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-08-13

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temperance associations, next by
police enactments, while they have
all been good in purpose and Of edu-
cativs benefit, have proven so
thoroughly insdequate-to accomplish
the great ends they propose, that
they have become finger boards point.
ing to the one only source ofvictory.
In States where Prohibition is found.
and in these alone the last official
liquor report shows decrease in beer
consumed. in these, too, the State re-
ports show q decrease of crime; in
these alone taxes are on the decrease;
In these the greatest aggregate in
crease o! capital is to be found in the
last ten years. In these alone drunk
en- men. .ibald jest, and foul oath
are unseen by children and unheard
by women.
As plainly as God called Moses
to the freedom of Israel; as truly as
John pointed to Jesus as che need Of
the world; as certainly as God babe
Luther unbind the Bible; as surely
as that Gods providence called John
Knox to assert the rights OF the peo.
pie in government, and led our fore-
fathers to embody those rights first
in the Mecklenburg Declaration of
Independence in ITS, and later in
the declaration Of l7s6; as certainly
as God intended by the results Of the
war between the States 10 obl,terate
slavery from q place in our Christian
civilization, SO certainly does he
now Call upon every true man and
woman, to do that thing that he has
pointed out in his providence as the
only thing through which this curse
liquor ia to be swept from our land
AS plainly as the pillar OF cloud by
day and the pillar OF fire by night
was guide to lsrael's movements,
so the star of prohibition, rising
above the murky gloom of oar present,
proclaims by Its fruits the God Or
dained method Of our deliverance.
Alter . half century of experiment.
We have arrived definitely at a point
of agreement as to the right remedy.
We know well that the paid Or
gans ofthe Liquor Dealers AssOcla-
ton sne.r at the ida thst the
churches shall turn from the lipe of
moral suasion TO the use of tue ballot.
With long drawn signs. and solemn
faces they tell us We are admitting the
failure of the gospel of Jesus Christ
to work out human redemption. For
the first time they have shown an in-
tenst in tue gospel and its work, for
the first time have become guardians
Of the pulpit and its Dc ctrines. AS
the field Is new to them we Can afford
10 laugh at their mistakes.
II Is full time that people both in
and out vi the church should come to
know that the kingdom of heaveo,
as proclaimed by Jesus OF Nazareth,
Is not bounded by church Organiza
tions rs VIC know them. Governmsnts,
with their necessary powers Of con
troI; educational institutions, with
their bsnefcient results, as we'll rs
pulpits, preachers and churches, are
u part of that kingdom. Jesus of
Nazareth and his apostles alike gave
ready recognition 70 :he peculiar and
necessary functions Of the state.
The gospel has reformed much Of
state methods; it has no purpose TO
obliterate its necessary functions.
Our laws protecting divine service,
defending the sanctIty Of the Sabbath,
punishing bigamy, adultery and rape,
fOrbiddiug murder and q score Of
other crimes, are part Of the gospel
plan Tor mans elevation. These laws
are fruits which grow on the gospel
tree; they proclaim its progress and
victory, and are in no sense indica.
tions Ofits failure. The constitution
al amendments which gave the final
touches 10 the abolition Of slavery
proclaim tue poser, not the weakness,
Uf the gospel VI Jesus Of Nazareth.
When ne therefore appeal TO the bal
lot 10 prohibit the manufacture and
sale Vi liquor, II 10 q recognition that,
moving along gospel lines, led by the
Spirit Of the Cross, our nstion is ready
tU crown Christian progress with an-
other wreath OF victory.
The day that the ballot shall give
US ProhlUlIiOn will be a day Of gospel
triumph, not abandonment
What 10 the mint, anise and cumin
which hinders Us from moving for.
ward 10 this righteous endl Fearful
and .imid men have said that success
10 not possible, He who stands face
" face with q great National sin and
refuses 10 believe In the possibility OF
il exlirpation has denied Cots pow.
Or. IL there Is o God, there must be
destruction Of the liquor traffic. Ans
other, processing faith in Prohibition.
gives his ballot 70 one Of the old par
ties with q full knowedgs that moth.
ing but the ballot can give US Prohi.
bilion. and that the old parties are
Al