The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-01-27
What an arrairnment is thisl Can the

| COpt buut Vi B'utJi anu Soh NhA'S'A
ers fail to see that they are particeps Grim
inis9 They unite, 1t Is true, In demanding
prohibitory law, but they do net agree
In support Of men to enforce 1t or even to
enact it. They readily declare in favor OF
total abstinence for the individual and
legal prohibition for the state, but after so
declaring, large proportion of them 90
to the polls and vote the ticket of a party
that insists that the saloon shall be IL
censed. They petition earnestly for pro-
hibitory Legislation, and in most cases per-
haps vote local. option and for constitu-
tional prohibitory amendments, but when
urged to support man or a ticket that
declares for prohibition and its strict en-
forcement, large numbers of them find
some reason for declining. They adhere
to the old party and straight ticket and the
regular candidate, and then they go forth
saying, prohibition is, without doubt, the
best thing, but If we cannot prohibit we
must try to restrict"
In the month of June, 1883, the board
of managers OF the missionary society Of
the Methodist Episcopal church, in view
of certain communications received from
India missionaries, adopted and caused
to be forwarded to the imperial govern
ment of Great Britain an earnest protest
against the licensing OF the social evil in
India. Their action was unanimous and
emphatic. How strange 1t would have
seemed if some member of that board had
arisen and said, "The social evil is greatly
to be deplored, but since Great Britain
cannot prohibit 1t in India she does we'll
to regulate, to license it."
The divine word which says, Thou
shalt not commit adultery" also says,
"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor
drink, that puttest thy bottle 70 him and
makest him drunken" II we may regu-
late the latter, may we not regulate the
iormerS If we may vote for men who
favor the licensing of the one, may we not
also vote for men who favor the licensing
of the other? Neither Of them can be le-
gallzed without sin.
One OF the clearest notes from the Ecu
menical conference at Washington was that
sounded by DR.. Nicholas: "The church
can no more ignore or compromise with
intemperance and the liquor traffic than
with the social evil or other forms Of i'm.
morality"
When the mission board voted unani-
mously for the adoption of the protest
above referred to no one was surprised.
But surprise immeasurable would have
been given to multitudes II, upon candi.
dates being presented TO the members Of
said board for their suffrages, they had
voted for such Of said candidates as favor.
ed the licensing Of the social evil, rather
than for those who opposed 1t. And so,while
1t is not surprising that Christian men
should pronounce license TO beyicious In
principle and powerless as a remedy, II is
more than surprising, il is amazing, that
they should cast their ballots for any man
who is committed TO that same vicious
principle Of license.
The sad experiences Of the past ought to
teach all churchmen the lesson which sa-
loonists have learned 80 perfectly, name
ly, that men are necessary as we'll as
measures, Prohibition measures are good,
but alone they are not sufficient, they
need TO be enforced; they cannot enforce
themselves. As well might we, at the
very outset, ask that they enact them
selves as TO ask, later on, that they carry
themselves into effect. The strongest can
non may be heavily loaded and accurately
aimed, but it will never harm the enemy
unless there Is some friendly hand to ap-
ply the spark. OF what avail Is a Maine
law II rummies are 20 be elected TO en-
force iti What benefit can result from
even constitutional prohibition so long as
Christian men vote for candidates who
are out of sympathy Herewith and who
will, II elected, wink at the violation
| thereby
Saloonists will defeat, If possible, all
prohibitory measures; but II, in spite Of
them, prohibition be enacted, they will
redouble their energy and open wider
their purses for the election Of their
friends" They know full well that even
though their business be forbidden BY
law, they will be able to prosecute II jus,
the same If they can only place In Office
men who will violate their oaths and neg.
lect to enforce the law.
o for the coming of the time when The
power Of the saloon to elect whomsoevei
II will shall be challenged by the church
and when the church in the greatness Of
her strength shall march forth and tram.
pie this boastful, this wicked Gollah be.
meath her ieet When once the Christian