The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-06-04

/
ocratlc tariff reform paper will 60 right
| on working against the party which pro-
| tects the great Industries that have rev.
| olutlonlZed the spirit OF progress in the
| South.
Inc Methodist Bishops and the Third
| Party.
Attention should be called To the ad-
! dress of the bishops of the General Con-
| ference of the Methodist Church, now
IN session in Omaha. This address is
| influential in the great Methodist
Church. 1t is signed by all the bishops,
and is properly regarded as the most
| ulgnlflcd announcement which the
church can make of its position and
| policy. 1t need hardly be stated (be-
| cause SO widely knownl that the church
! is pronounced in its advocacy of total
abstinence and the prohibition of the
| liquor traffic. At the last General Con-
| ference, in the bishops address, with
reference to the liquor traffic, these
| words occur: 1T can never be licensed
without sin." Some persons had con-
| strned this statement as declaration
that any man WAS a sinner who voted
! with any other than the Prohibition
| party. The words afforded to
the Prohibition party a weap-
on which they mercilessly used
toward all Methodist Republicans
in the states where the Republican par
ty did not stand for prohibition. SO
much concerning the address of the
bishops four years ago needs to be
known IN order to appreciate the pres
eEt declaration of the same body. 1t
will be noticed that on the question of
| temperance the bishops reatiirm their
adherence to prohibition, and say: I've
- 4
the attainment of these ends" Also:
we exhort our people to encourage
every repression and limitation Of the
business, and to keep steady eye to its
total extlrpation." Under the head of
"poitics," the bishops further say:
The attitude of our church is strenu-
| ouslv non-partisan and non-sectional;"
ant also: when moral issues are be-
fore the public, our people are invaria-
bly, found on the side of the highest
standard, but even then they choose
their own party affiliations and refuse
to be dictated to as TO the matter of
their vote
While these words of the highest dig
ntaries in the Methodist Church do not
mark any departure in its policy, they
may properly be construed as a rebuke
10 those persons who have attempted
TO coerce all Methodists to vote the Pro-
hibition party ticket. They also Justify
the argument for -partisanshlp
which has been SO vigorously made by
many temperance people.
II is fortunate that this utterance has
been made. The following are the
paragraphs referred to:
Tempcrancc.-Th attitude we hold to-
ward the drink habit and the saloon re-
mains unchanged. Drunkenness and
Il vi Hin 70
God and rlunouS to man. Moderate drink
ing. SO-calied, is the Dane of society and
the chef support of the nefariouS traffic.
" hold with unabatcd tenacity to the Oft
repeated statement that total abstinence is
the only safety for the individual. and that
complete legal prohibition of the traffic is
the urgent duty OF the state. We rejoice i'll
every step OF progress toward the attain
ment of these ends. In our judgment. the
saloon is an unmlXed evil, full OF diahol-
ism, a disgrace 10 our civilization. the chief
corrUnter OF political action, and contil-
ual menace to the order of society. and to
the peace and purity of our homes. We cN-
hort all our people to encourage every re-
preston and limitation of the business, and
to keep a steady eye to It's total cNtlrpa-
ton.
Politics. With regard to politics. the
attitude of our church is StrenuouSly nom
partisan and non sectional. 1t acknoWl-
edges no allegiance to any political creed
or association. 1t urges all its members
who have the right TO vote to discharge
that duty. but 1t leaves every voter ahSo-
lutely free from ecclesiastical interference
To determine for himself for whom his bal
lot shall be east. The right of suffrage, or
the franchise, we regard as great and re-
SpOnSIhic trust, which should IN all cases.
ecclesiastical and civil. be exercised con
scentiouSIy, but III absolute personal free
DEM When moral issues are before the
public, our people are invariably found on
the side of the highest standard, but even
then they choose their own party affilIa-
tonS and refuse to be dictated TO as to the
matter of their vote.
This should make an end of the claim
that the Methodist Church is committed
in any manner or degree to third-party
prohibition.
Another story Told by the Deadly s'ar-
aIci.
There is nothing that plays such hav
oc with the predictions of the free trad
crS or those theoretical tarlif reform
ers than the parallels from history.
Many of them have been given in these
columns, and here is another of some
historic value:
Pass the tariff as re- On a general survey
porred by the commit we behold cultivation
tee and you palsy the extended he arts
nation. Pass it. and tlourishing; the face of
where will you any the country improved;
longer find occupants our people fully and
| for your costly piles of prohtably employ d;
stores and dwelling the public countenance
houses Pass il. and exhibiting tranquility,
who will be exempt coutentment and hap
from its grinding oper- piness: its public debt
atioup of two wars nearly re
Tho poorer classes. deemed: and to crown
espcciaIiv must feel its all the public treasury
effect in paying an adj oyerfowiag If the
ditiouai price for every term of seven years
article of clothing they were TO be selected of
and their families wear the greatest prosperity
M / every article they which this people has
out or drink save cold enjoyed since the es-
water; and to that Will tabllshment OF he T
they ere long be re- present constitution II
lI,c,,i = N,5r York EreH-iwould be exactly that
~, pIst hin 1924 period of seven years
which Immediately fol-
lowed the passage of
the tariff of lS24.-HCn-
m TfIU Spc,rh in The