The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-03-15
A New Temperance Organization.

A New temperance Organization.
The Christian Advocate, New York,
one of the leading organs of the
Methodist Episcopal church, contains
in its issue of February 14th, an arti-
Gle by Charles Roads stating the pur-
pose and principles Of a most impor-
tant organization. 1t is called :'I'he
Mems Christian Prohibition Union"
and was organized in New York, Sep
tember 20, 1893. We called atten-
tion 10 it at the time, but was to en-
phasize its existance and Importance.
The unio:, proposes to crvstalize into
effect the resolutions of the general
conference of the NJ. F.. Church and
those Of similarly legislative bodies of
other churcnes. As Mr.. Roads will
say, the platform of principles enun-
ciated by the last general conference
will require no new plank nor ma
terial improvement however the con-
alct may thicken. The resolutions
referred to declare total abstinence
from intoxicating beverages to be the
duty of every individual, and relent-
less hostility the only proper attitude
for Christians against the liquor
traffic We hold that no member of
the NJ. f. Church can constantly con-
tribute by voice, vote or influence to
the perpetuation and protection of
that traffic. After declaring in the
most unequivocal language that the
liquor men and their Supporters should
not receive the commercial patronage
or the suffrage of Christian men and
denouncing license as wrong in prin-
ciple and impotent for good, it con-
clades with a paragraph on political
action Of which the following is the
final statement: 1--WE do not pre-
sume to dictate the political conduct
of our people, but we co record our
deliberate judgment that no political
party has right to expect, or ought
it to receive, the support Of Christian
.men SO long as it stands committed
to the license policy, or refuse to put
itself ON record in an attitude of open
hostility to the saloon,'
Surely if these resolutions could be
carried out in action by the members
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
alone there would sooh he no liquor
traffic to fight. Commenting upon
them Mr. Roads says: "The new
union holds as fundamental to any
effective wo:k the unconditional adop-
ton of Christian ethics IN voting"
We do not want the church, to indorse
any particular political party, and our
new union does not require a pledge
to any party. That it requires certain
ethical tests to he met by the political
party asking for the Christians vote
is also what the general conference
demands. Liquor interests are solid
and uncompromislng vote. They
make demands which are granted,
however reluctantly. because all men
know that the liquor men will not
vote for any issue until their issue is
secure. Christian voters also make
demands for prohibition which are
refused, because all men have come
to believe that as rule they will
vote the ticket anyhow. Politicians
regard them us among the easiest
element to keep in line.
1--WE must find the real present bat
tie field. Non bipartisan or pe:itioning
methods are now etfectually blocked
by the liquor traffic in most Of the
states. In several states the liquor
power is rapidly overthrowiny what
non-partisan methods have laboriously
and imperfectly constructed. This
formidable power declares its purpose
to restore license even IN Kansas and
Maine by brow-beating the political
parties" "While Christian
men regularly vote their party ticket,
triumph is impossible w any method
To adopt an organization which ex
cuses or sanctions this kind Of voting
is to surrender before you have fired
the first shot. The liquor power has