The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-10-23
PROHIBITION DISCUSSED!
LETTER FROM REV. JAS. II. jEL-
BART.
aSwcsIrg rev. Nciicy,s Article on
wby Probibitionistr DO Not
Vote rheIr Ticisei.
STANTON, PA, Oct. q, lS05.

ED. STAR beg the usc of n little of
your valuable space for the purpose of
making little comment on the three
reasons given bv Row Il. Lewis Kelley
for not voting the Prohibition ticket,
Published in the last issue Of the Fol,m-
tccr aud punxsutawney Spirit
lst. "1'hc vile epithets applied TO
christians who vote otherwise" IL Is
indeed 10 b. regretted that somo Of our
public speakers have been too apt pupils
Of old party stump speakers, and have
degraded the platform of the rCformer
with the methods Of the dcformer, but
that this should be given by christian
minister as reason for not voting this
ticket. in the light Of facts, Is astonish-
Ing, unless indeed he takes the very
small horn Of his closing dilemma and
refuses TO vote at all.
Even Mr.. Kelley will not deny that
the stock In trade Of the average old
party stumper is bllings-gatc and that
the successful campaigucr Is the one
that can most roundly abuse tho oppos-
ing parties.
The consciences OF some men must
certainly play peculiar pranlSs with
their possc-sors when they will not pcr-
NIT them 10 vote the Prohibition ticket
because their speakers use the naughty
word, hypocritc, but will permit thcm
20 overlook all of the scurrility Of old
party orators, wink at the selr-confcsscd
corruption Of old party politics. as exhib-
tied in the late contest In this county
between Weaver aud Bond, and the
moro recent fight In the state between
Quay and the Hog Combine, ana go ON
voting the ticket. Verily this is strain
ing at the gnat and swallowing the
camel with vengeance
If the PunXsutawney Spirit has cor
rectly quoted the Examiner, leading
Baptist organ, Mr.. Kelley stands In
need Of quitting the ministry Of his
church, that is il he wishes TO bo CON
sistent. II reports certain minister's as
calling prohibition candidates "temper-
ance cranks.' Calls prohibition "rag-
babyism, petticoatism, socialism and
populism, rs being an aggregate Of
| political heresy and humbug" Certain
| ly the pure mind Of our critic can not
endure this. This is as near billings
gate rs we would expect II minister to
approach. very much fear, however,
that in political matters consistency,
ON its journey from Jerusalem TO Jeri-
cho, has been set upon 10y robbers and
beatcn and left half dead, and priosty
and Levitical passers by draw their
robes about them and pass by on the
other side, leaving il TO its fate.
2nd. "rhc misrepresentation OF
facts" But. he fails TO state what facts
are misrepresented. He complains
that our speakers say the government
is Of, by and for tho saloon. We should
be happy to know that this is untrue.
But is 1t? Can a political party nomi-
nate and elect a ticket without the
consent OF the saloonY Which is the
most potent factor in determining cleo
tions in Reynodsville, the teachings OF
Mr.. Kelley and his colleagues OF the
different pulpits, or the doctrines taught
in and around the saloons? When q
campaigner strikes the town, does he
call together the ministers and leading
members of tho different churches fol
the purpose of placing his interests be.
fore the people or does he call to his aid
the saloon element?
His conclusion from this statement
viz: "that the saloon has given us the
best government, the happiest people
and the most prosperous country on the
GLOBE" is no evidence OF his intelli
gence. Our form OF government was
established before the saloon became
a factor in American politics and hence
had nothing to do with it. That We
are the happiest people is strangely out
of harmony with the social and indus
trial unrest that prevades the atmos
phere, and with the poverty and desti
tation everywhere prevalent Oul
country is the most prosperous country
on the globe, not because Of the saloor
but In spite of it. That the statement
is largely true is evidenced by the defer
ence paid to the saloon by ole partyists
Quite recently, in talking with re
publican and democrat on the subject
| asked, "Why do you not, in you
party platforms, antagonize the saloon?'
and both replied, "That would mear
political suicide"
He says: ''The ease with which they
settle all the great social and economic
questions that puzzle our brainiest mel
is appalling" But submit to an un
prejudiced public that it is not nearl,
SO appalling as the spectacle OF old part.
legislators fruitlessly wrangling owe
them, with cost to tho people OF mil
lions OF dollars. The manner in which