Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-09-01


upon the proper method. One who de-
nounees hlE neighbor as immoral be-
cause ft does not agree with him on
political question IA unjust and un-
truthful. The law OF local option is a
political. not moral law. Any county.
city or community may adopt or reject
this law, as their judgment may de-
eide. without exposing 1t to the charge
OF immortality. Much has been said as
TO whether this law, II adopted, Will
prohibit the sale OF such liquors. Some
honestly believe Il will. others that It
will not. contend that II will not.
My reasons for my opinion are many.
One Is that there never has been a
Law prohibiting any act or crime that
ever did prohibit. II IL impossible to
make Law that will prohibit crime or
sin. We have had prohibitory laws
many other crimes, and have pre-
serlbed heavy penalties and punish
ments for their violation, but the
crimes still continue to exist and al
ways will, and must exist so long as
the heart OF man is sinful. The great
stream OF sin and crime flowing from
the fount at the foot OF the throne OF
the great king OF evil, has always
flowed in steady. unbroken current
ever since the world began. and so
will flow forever All laws Will continue
10 be violated. The offenders may be
detecteu anu punished pg the strung
arm OF violated law, only to be re-
peated time and tiina and time again
til humanity ceases 10 exist. II has
never been supposed that any law ever
would prohibit, but the object OF hui
man law has been to reduce the flowing
stream OF sin and. crime TO Its lowest
possible limits How 10 do this Is a
political question, not moral one.
we all admit the evil exists and can
not be destroyed by man, but his puny
efforts are fullv engaged In keeping the
turbulent stream within narrow linz
It's and 10 prevent Its overflow. Intern
peranee IN an evil. II Gibbs and flows
and spreads or contracts according to
whether II is wisely or unwisely con-
trolled The object aud purpose OF
both local optionlsts and anti local
optionists is to control this evil and
prey emit, 20 far as We can, Its danger
Gus overflow, which threatens TO en-
gulf and drown out our moral natures,
IL 10 the duty Of our churches, and
their aVowed object and purpose. 10
build Up and strengthen the moral
nature VI sinful. weak and erring hui
maulty. 80 that Il can resist this over
now II IS the duty Of political leaders
aud those placed In authority TO bring
their best thought and greatest ef-
fort 20 bear. and TO enact laws best
calculated 70 prevent the overflow and
20 restrain the stream of Incompetence,
sin ana crime within Its uarr0wcst linz
It's the two spheres uf usefulness are
well defined and separate, hut lie near
together They touch as wings u an
gels touch but not In strife but each
iu his separate sphere should act hons
eEtly aud intelllgcntlY. and N he makes
a mistake should not be charged with
being iE league with crime and siu
their common enemy Lrt there be no
strife between church and state. Kept
fhHFm TnMfiNN
Throw them together and they destroy
themselves i am sorry 10 say that
som" ministers IN their mistaken zeal,
have invaded the territory OF political
controversy, asserting and perhaps be-
lieyine that q moral queatiou was in
VOWED. and that u was the duty ~ the
church 10 throw It's whole weight and
Influence Into the strife ] am glad to
know that the most wise. the most
thoughtful the most trustworthy OF the
ministers fOreshw the evils likely 70
result TO the cause OF Christianity and
to the influence Of the church for good.
and have Kept themselves within their
own sphere, even At the risk OF being
charged with lukewarmness or mer.
cenary purposes by overgealous and
fanullcpl brethren, do not know that
they or the church needs this defense
at my hands, but love my country
aud my people ! respect and honor the
faithful men who have devoted their
lives to Gods service, 1 love to feel
that when l am weary and worn with
lies daily baltic there Ia a sanctuary
Of rest where | eau retire, II / choose,
IN he refreshed and rcinvigornted In
my moral sentiments. / sometimes get
tired Of strife and controversy. and
desire rest and peace above ali other
things IL political battles are TO be
fought In these, our Vey sunctuaries
aud the merits and dement's Of pro-
a a. q
where N the rest and peace 10 be
fuundF Let us Keep our holy church
ana our holy nible out OF political
discussions. Leave them nt least free
from acrimonious debate Now, as we
have disposed OF the moral side, lot
us turn to thu political side OF the
question, There Is our only point or
difference How can the owl Of In
temperance DO checked or restricted
TO ltR nnrrowest puaslble llmit2 YOU
my local option friend honestly be-
lieve that this can best be done by
adoptlng a local option law for this
county. You say II haF been tried
with succesB In thiuly settled dis
trlcts, and small towns, and that YOU
see no reason why u law that has been
tried and found beneficial In the coun-
try and town shuuld not prove equally
40 In city or AN entire state.
and those who stand with mo be.
heve that to adopt local opium for the
county and city VI Fort Worth Would
IN no way dlmlnlsh the ~ n OF In
temperance but would sc IL to
spread and overflow TO the great dan.
ger OF our people, We think that il
would doprccihte property values In
crease the burdens Of taxation, cu ton
our revenues. lniure our trade. stir up
STRIFE retard improvements throw
many OF our laboring men out OF em.