Democratic messenger., 1894-11-17
4 Republican Speaks.

.ne&srs Editors 1T is probably a
fact that no man Of strong principles
and openly expressed convictions on
any public question has ever yet raised
his voice in defense OF what he con-
sidered right without being accused OF
dishonesty; and no matter how pure
his character may he. there is always
some devilish calumniator or canting
Pharisee Ia impugn his motives and
heap imprecations upon his head. Some
persons have a tendency 10 constitute
themselves iutallible judges to pass
verdict upon those who differ with them
in politics and even in religion; and
are every ready TO question the sincerity
and integrity OF all who profess AL
herence To a different political orreligious
creed. Now this is wrong and greatly
To be deplored. Because man happens
to be Democrat he has no right to
doubt the sincerity OF an honest Repub-
lican. and the fact of mans being a
Prohibitionist gives him no license to
question the honesty OF a fellow being
who claims allegiance 10 some other
political faith. Yet on the part of some
Prohibitionists this is most noticeable
fault and even brother in the church
with whom they have clasped hands
around the holy altar. becomes, in the
political arena, an outcast and an alien
If he opens his mouth in defense or
praise of the principles of any political
party except those which they, the
members of the Prohibition party them
selves profess. Oh, what a wrong is
this perpetrated in the name of religion,
and what an incalculable amount of
harm, such lack of charity, and foolish
dogmatism must inevitably bring to the
church.
Fanaticism is never safe element
in society or in the church. When the
crusaders marched to the tomb of our
Savior through the blood of innocent
women and helpless children whom
they, in their mistaken zeal, had mer-
cilessly slaughtered, they claimed TO do
it all in the name Of christianity. What
arrogance. What blindness, What
cruel fanaticism. And vet there are
crimes committed today in the name of
religion as dark and dreadful as those
perpetrated by the crusaders ON the
sacred soil of Palestine.
We have in our community gentle
man Of honor and piety. who has for
years been an acceptable class leader in
the Methodist Episcopal Church. and
because he boldly asserted his faith in
the principles Of the Democratic party,
and would not espouse the cause of
Prohibition. was publicly assaulted in
a slanderous article in partisan
paper-his motives impugned-his in
tegrity questioned-and his profession
held up to ridicule
All men Of honesty and justice must
resent such unreasonable aud inexcusa-
bic prejudice, and must help, by out
spoken resentment, to despel the delusion
that slander can successfully clothe
itself in robes of purity, and that a
public newspaper may, under pretence
of duty, attack christian gentleman
with impunity. As lover Of justice,
uninhuenced by party prejudice, the
writer wishes TO pronounce as execrable
those principles which prompt a man,
on account Of party prejudice, to subject
fellow being to unkind criticism and
slanderous abuse. In conclusion the
thought may be added that over-zeal-
business in cause never mitigates such
contemplate conductor a fanatic is
generally either very much OF devil or
an ass. \ REPUBLICAN.