Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-02-05
LOCAL OPTION.

/ lirSt ana easiest part VI lhc "oih 10 az
complished. Unless that majority which
voted against the saloons follows up It's
work. the election of Monday will prove
barren victory. More than that the
saloons profit by local option victories
unenforced.
/ We read in the Holy Writ, that when
! AbsalOm made war on his father David,
Ahithophel counselled an immediate
attack, by which David might have
been crushed at once. BIT the Lord.
having determined to bring to nought
the counsel of Ahithophel, gave greater
IA, or TO the council of Husai, David's
friend. ia accordance with which Absa-
/ lCm delayed his attack until David had
rallied his scattered forces. Thus Alb
salon was defeated and David restored
( to power.
The devil proGted by the lesson lie
/ learned that time. He has been pra6-
ticing the tactics which defeated Abso-
lom ever since.
Whenever the devil sees his minions
hardpressed, lis sure resource is to en-
/ list some Christian in his service 10
bring TO nouCht the counse's of those
who advise an immediate advance.
/ When Satan legions are defeated IN
/ the open field their satanic majesty
cfTectually covers their retreat by some
such simple device, until they can make
/ implegnable their new position.
Voters OF Graliot county, appeal 10
YOU as YOU love God and truth aud your
homes, let not Satan blind you at this
time by his devices. You have done
your duty at the polls, now prove your
manhood and your moral courage by
making effective the action OF last Mon
day. To complete your ballot-victory
Will mean combined and determined
effort. Let 10 man who voted against
the saloon be Tecreant To truth when
the question of enforcement comes up.
Had we been beaten, we would have
submitted. Now | propose that the
saloons be made to obey the decree of
the majority.
never saw the devil more active
IN Gratiot county than now. On cleo
ton day | heard men say, as they
dropped in ballot against the saloons,
that they did not believe it would do
any good. Such men are the DEVILS
lawful prey, even though he could not
prevent their voting against the saloons,
he will SO work OH vheir fears after cleo
ton that they VIII be stumbling blocks
in the way of enforcing the law. God
pity the man who has not backbone
enough to enable HIM to stand erect
even in tie presence Of a defeated Zoe.
The crying need of this country at the
present juncture is of men of another
spirit like Caleb and Joshua. WHO
know no fear, whose voice is ever for
advance. The only fit word at such
time as this is, LET us go forward and
drive out the saloons; for we are well
able to do it, If a man wishes TO in
sure losing my respect, and that of all
self-respecting men, he has only to re-
peat that lying statement OF the devils,
that a majority of the people OF this
county cannot enforce law which
they themselves enacted. | should
account myself a pusillanimous coward
unworthy the name of man, did for a
moment doubt that the will OF the ma
jority, enacted INTO law, could be EN-.
forced.
do not underate the resources and
subtety Of the foe, so fragrant a violat
or of the law will not scruple at means.
The saloon is devilish institution and
| it Will fight with weapons forged in
! hell. 1t will not hesitate TO resort to
subterfuge or even violence TO defeat
the will of the people. To deal with it
with tolerance is self-slIrrender. To
| have charity for it is virtual defeat.
! There can be no relenting in this war.
| for if we conquer not now, resistance
Will soon be impossible The saloons
will die hard. but by Gods grace we
must make thorough work of it, no
half way measures will avail.
But" | hear some timid, fearful
soul protest, you will drive the saloons
to desperation, would it not be wiser to
deal more gently with them" You
poor white.livered creature! what are
you afraid OF? The saloons will never
harm you. If they don't despise you
/ too much they probably count you as
friends. believe in the supremacy of
! law and in its strict enforcement If
men will not obey the law, they must
be compelled TO DO so. This must be
done by the decent, law-abiding ele
ments Of society. We must so into
this matter of enforcement unitedly-.
We must go into it with the full con.
viciion that there can be but one issue,
the vindlcation of right and the COM
plete triumph Of law. After May l,
/ - :.