The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-10-28
OUR POLITICAL COLUMN.

OUR POLITICAL COLUMN.
~~.~~O~->~O~O~.~O~~Oo~o~o
EDITOR STAR
/ wish to take advantage Of your
courteous offer, opening your columns
TO the discussion of political creeds, and
add our mite to the chorus of jangling
voices.
We believe the greatest economical,
and only moral, question before the
American people to-day, is the aboli-
tion OF the liquor traffic. BY as much
as humanity is greater than commerce
and man greater than money, is the
platform adopted by the Prohibition
party at Pittsburg, greater than any
other or all other platforms adopted for
this campaign. But let 1t be understood
that in making plea for humanity, for
American homes, for the recognition Of
moral questions in government, we do
not ignore nor underestimate the indus
trial or financial needs OF the hour. On
the contrary we hold that the annual
wastage OF more than billion dollars,
required to pay our drink bill, turned
into legitimate channels Of trade would
immeasurable stimulate business and in
no small degree relieve the stringency
OF the times.
We demand the absolute, uncondi-
toned abolition of the liquor traffic.
In making this demand we have perfect
regard to the legitimate rights Of every
man. As party we have nothing to
do with mems personal habits, but our
relation to the saloon is that of antag-
onists to a pernicious public policy. 1t
is not our wish to infringe any mans
rights or interfere with any Legitimate
branch OF business, but we hold that
the liquor traffic has not the slightest
shadow of an apology for its existence.
II creates no values, contributes no hap
piness, supplies no normal want, con-
serves no legitimate interest. It is the
browning evil, the supreme iniquity,
the greatest crime, the most pernicious
factor in our American society and poll
tics. 1t is the open enemy to peace,
purity order, law, home, State and
church. 1t Is civilizations beast Of
prey, fattening itself on the poverty OF
helpless women and children. 1t is the
mother of vice, the destroyer Of home,
the corrupter of politics, and the slayer
of Justice. 1t is, to use the language Of
DR.. Herrick johnson, "A waste of vat-
n hpaaIa,- of l,ct hatbal Of int
guilty, a constant menace TO peace and
good ORDER, and an unredeemable nui-
sance." However II we exalt the saloon
to place co-equal with other branches
OF business, and grant the 100000 sa-
loonists a respectable place in society,
then the mischief wrought, the misery
superinduced by the traffic would demand
its abolition, inasmuch as public good
always supercedes individual rights.
We have become indignant, and
rightly so, over the slaughter of Armen-
ian Christians by the "'Unspeakable
Turk" do not hesitate to assert that
If his future power and place among
nations, depended on the American
vote, he would be annihilated. The
Turk has succeeded in butchering a
possible $4,000 in the last quarter of a
century. We have in our midst legal
lied institution that murders thousands
more than that each year, and the
knowledge Of the fact fails to stir our
people from their apathy. Minis
ters, bishops, editors and statesmen
have gone into Mysteries over the pros
pect OF debased currency, but the de-
basing of American manhood goes
serenely on without protest.
1t is repeatedly urged that government
has nothing to do with regulating mems
personal habits. We have already
shown that this is not our demand. But
government has to do with public evil
and public safety. Now the govern
ment has already recognized and dealt
with this evil in the adoption OF the
license system, by which, we assert
common sense is cruciied and Ameri-
can craftsmanship put to the blush. II
it is in the province Of government to
license an evil. does it exceed its prerog-
shve In prohibiting it? If it is wrong
to drink liquor, it is wrong to sell it.
II 1t is wrong to sell it, it is wrong to
grant TO another the right to sell it. II
the individual may not be justified in
wrong doing. shall we justify the State
10 wrong doing? Can that which is
morally wrong be made legally right
without compromise Of conscience and
disregard of Gods law? "Woe unto
him individual or State) that giveth
his neighbor drink, that putteth the
bottle to him and maketh him drunken
Also" "Righteousness exalteth a ma
tion but sin is reproach to any people"
We commend the principles for which
Messrs. Levering e. johnson stand as