The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-11
ACCUSED OF COWARDICE
Topeka Methodist Ministers Not
Fairly Representative
Of the Great Body of Ministers
In Kansas,
Says Rev. Richard Wake of the State
Temperance Union-A Protest
Against Prohibitionists
Voting for Morrill,


To the Editor of The State Journal.
Allow me space for a word of criti-
cism on the political utterances of the
Methodist preachers meeting as re-
ported in the Journal of Tuesday. Du-
ties in connection with church interests
prevented my attendance, so that
could not be there to protest against
the intense and deplOrable partisan
ship of the leaders of the meeting. The
declaration of the essayist of the Occa-
sion that it is a religious duty to vote
for the gold standard reminds US of the
time when prO-SlaVery preachers sol
EMMY affirmed that slavery was a di-
vine institution. History repeats itself
and as mistaken good men then sup
preachers today uphold the money
power.
But it is not the NcKinleyism of the
brethren that calls forth this letter but
the evident readiness of some leading
preachers to sacrifice prohibition on the
altar of party. If the utterances re
ported may be taken as representing
the Methodist preachers of Kansas,
then the day of doom for prohibition is
at hand.
Let US look at the facts. Some young
ministers asked what they ought to do
in reference to supporting Governor
Morrill,, seeing that he had been nomi-
mated in spite of earnest protests of
temperance men; that he is now the
favOrite candidate of the Mystic
Brotherhood, an organization that ex-
lists solely to secure the return of the
saloon, and then he has harmed the
cause OF prohibition as has no executive
since the law was enacted. Seeing that
no Methodist conference has met in
the state for years without declaring
for prohibition and the vigorous en-
forcement of the law, they had a right
to expect that they would be earnestly
eXhOrted to oppose the election of Gov.
Morrill,, man who has not only con
ntved at, but has brought about the
reOpening of the saloon in all the cities
of the first class except Topeka, and
here he has been hindered only by the
strength OF the local sentiment. They
had the more right to expect such
counsel because OF the action taken no
longer ago than last March by the
conference to which all these preachers
belong, when it passed the following
resolutions by the vote, or with the
silent consent of these very men:
Against the establishment of the
saloon, whether by constitutional con-
vention, resubmission, or the conniv-
ance of officers of the law. or the Wit
lated sentiment of a locality, we here
by record our emphatic protest and
pledge our united opposition.
once more we lift up our voice
against those political organizations
and sworn officials which seek the suf-
frages Of the people upon platforms de-
claring for the prOhibitory law or up
on promises of its due enforcement
which are not performed. Our duty to
the present generation, especially to
its youth to preserve it from harm and
to promote it's religious social and tenn
pOTaI welfare is immeasurably greater
than any debt due to party organiza-
tons"
Yet now that the time has come for
carrying these resolutions into effect
what do these valiant defenders of
prohibition say? The o. NJ. B. is
coming to US, I see no objection to hav-
ing them vote for our candidate says
the chairman of the meeting. If he
meant by the o. NJ B. is coming to
u.s. that the order is coming to pro-
hibttion, he stated what is palpably
untrue He knows, or if he does not,
every body else does, that the sole OBJ
ject of the order is to overthrow pro
hibition, and that if they vote for Gov
Morrill, which they probably will it
will be because they know he will fur
Their their plans. So this language can
mean nothing else than that at least
one Methodist preacher proposes to
join the Mystic Brotherhood in the
support of Morrill,, whatever may be-
come of prohibition. Another speaker
said that ''as between Leedy and Nor
rill he would choose Morrill,, who is a
better man both morally and political
~" The P. z. said: Better choose
the lesser of two evils, and it was ac-
cOrdingly better to vote for Gov. Nor
rill than to talk of organizing a new
party which would do no good etc.
All this goes to show that prohibition
is to be sacrificed in order that our
candidates. may get the Offices To
keep out the saloon is not so important
as TO keep out the Populists. Party
supremacy is the first consideration.
The proposition to place Governor
Morrill, a second time in the executive
chair by prohibition votes is nothing
short of monstrous. 1t is as if after
a certain great historic event it should
have been proposed to elect Judas to
the chief apOstleship
A vote for Morrill, can mean nothing
less than an Endorsement of his anti
prohibition policy It is to reward him
for the re-eSta bliShment of the saloon
wherever he has had exclusive power.
1t must be interpreted as an abandon
ment of prohibition and a triumph of
the saloon. That his reelection will
bring resubmission, or what is worse.
a general disregard Of the law, nobody
can possibly doubt.
The only excuse for this is that the
alternative to another term of Morrill,
is the election of Senator Leedy. Pos
sibly; but what of that, as viewed from
the standpoint of prohibition? To be
non Ommittal is better than to be com
mitted to the wrong side. If of two
evils we should choose the lesser" then
we should vote for Leedy, for, as he
cannot be worse, he may be better. At
any rate we should be saved from the
Inconsistency, not to say crime, of sup
porting a man who has hagrantly VIC
lated his oath of Office and whose cleo
ton will be invitation for the return
of the saloon.
But we are not shut up to this alter
native. The better doctrine and prac-
tice is: "Of two evils, choose neither"
There are Prohibition candidates in the
field for whom we may vote form
of protest against the subservience of
the Republican party and its candidate
to the saloon power on the one hand and
the apparent indifference of the fusion
party on the other.
To the preachers who propose to
fraternize with the friends of the
saloon in this campaign, I com
mend a renewed study of the
book from which they take their
texts and read again such passages as
BE not partal1ers in other mems sins
Have no fellowship with the works of
darkness" Come out from among
- FL,