The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-30
HONESTY Al THE BiLLOT.
what IL Morally Wrong Can Never De
Politically Right"

Editor Of The Times: ,,..
Sir.-ln 1895 a gentleman IN LOUISE
county said TO a friend OF the san.e .ot,
". You will vote the Democrauc ti. Hi
this election, Will you not .y.h, not
h. asked because" said his friend.
'thers is so much cheating done Dy YOU,
party" To which be replied ion w"
expect honesty In politics; 40 bors
Both are the men are Church in.l,aDe =,
Seriously. THIS Is a horrible condition Oh
affairs. There has not been an hoilee.
election In Virginia since the Wal - -
one Who believes that there ma peem'
When The Tires uneartned tne -
caiify. and exrosed the crime OF the
fraudulent returns from SmtnerS ple
cincr IL dld a good work ana leserNes
the thanks OF every honest vo'er IN every
know that some Church members have
hoer guilty OF urChristian acts IN elecllon'
for their party. ] have the direct So
utonv. Knowing this and believing tlde
mcry were guilty Of violating pom tmo
law Of nan and the law Of God nave
not hesitated 70 sreak from the pulpit OF
this subject. and to characterize sue"
conduct as IL deserved. .,,.,.-
You don't expect honesty in poii'lcs'
Were to hear a member Of the Chuic h
talk In that manner. l would tell MN
that ] certainly locked lot every N II T.,
tfon 10 be forest in politics, honest ~
busi-esr and hottest eFerywnere anu AZ
~ no tine. | would toll him that God
will damn him fcr doing wrong W. MS po
liti,al party as soon as he WIN 1a, n,,
him for tho sane wrong outside OF MS
paitv would tel him that what IS NOR
al,v wroLg can never be politically rignt'
III a man be sober truthful, industrious,
honesf. and good. holding his politlcai
opir IONS cOnscleLilously anu uVius 'H
fair and honorable thing IN elections; an
right-thinking people viii respect MN
though they may differ with bin politi-
Cally They II ay not love MN, pul lney
VIII respect him. why cannot ch1llil,.sm
OF all political parties be men Of Neracity
ard strict integrity or character! Ian
Christian men engage I'm unlawiul, us
honest, and disgraceful acts Tor ule SAKE
OF their political parties2 Emphaucally'
NO. Let bribery continue, let men CON
duct their csEVsSs with Illegal and un,
worthy methods. let them buy votes ana
corrupt the morals OF the people WIN
money and whisky, and tho Government
will soon be gone, good society Will per
ish' and anarchy win prevail. let no
man be guilty Of these acts, and call nun
self a Christian. Let not his voice be
heard in public prayer untH he Iepehts,
Let him not hold an official position IN
the Church. Let Kim go out OF the Churc IN
entirely until he resolves 10 lead Chris
The old political parties are corrupt
Society is corrupt, the Government - cor
ript The Churches are suffering terri
blv: but the preachers must keep theif
lips sealed or wickedless and woridli-
ness. II done In political parties oy prom,
nent Church members or tilelF cnliui sh'
o, the shame and hypocrisy IN t he
Chuchesi Why cannot the members rise
up in the strength OF a Christian faith,
In the power OF noble MANHOOD, anu
vote for God and home and native land !
Can We not have pohucai pa -
whose leaders are honorable and noble
whose principles are IN harmony WIN
the divine government. whose ml,sion Is
10 conserve tho highest interests OF So
ciety and the State, whose nolo 49,
What is morally wrong can never be po-
utically right" and which, recognizing
God as the sovereign ruler OF the uni.
verso. seeks His guidance and blessing :
Yes thank God, We have sucu parry
The Prohibition Party IS on the siue OF
God and Truth and Righteousness. us
leaders are honorable Christian gentIe-
men. II favOrs honest elections, free
ballot. and fair count. IL Is opposed 10
buying votes, brlbing voters, ana making
false returns. 1t protests again. cor
rupting society and debauching tho COM
munity with Money and whlskey. IL Is
the only party that pledges itsst 10 ami
hilate the liquor traffic by enforced law.
II challenges the admiration OF GOOD anu
true men, and should receive the s.npa-
thy and support Of all VINO love their
Cod their country and their fellOw-mcn
Tho following appeared m a county pa
per about two weeks ago; No matter
what a mans opinions may be. there are
only two men for him 10 choose between
for the Presidency. Either Bryan or Nc
Kinley will be the next President. votes
may be east for other men, but they VIII
be thrown away.
II is time for editors and all others to
cease writing ard lttering such nonsense.
IL Is the pETest partisan teellns mat
prompts such statements. Let's put the
above IN another form.
"Either Bryan or Mckinley will be the
liz. f..H.. M
est. conscientious PrOhibitionlst. don't
vote for Leyering tho Prohibition cdndl-
date. Vote for What you do not Wish and
get that. You are ChGisuut lou
Know that II tho Democratic OF RepuO-
lican party should govern this country,
the lquor traffic would continue 10 pros
per and do us deadly and dainning ~Ork.
You know that the saloons MOuld AOuf-
lsh and curse home and Church ana coun-
try. lOu pray II at COD VIII remove TINS
great evil and stay its awful raVagcs.
And yet you will not only vote yourself
for political party that Will continue
to legaiize. perpetuate, and protect ms
evil but also advise others 10 90 the
same thing, because either Bryan on NC
kinley Will De the next President.
Shame Shame,
EXCISE me. / am a Christian. | vote
"a 1 pray: / pray that God VIII destroy
this gigantic mOloch Of iniqulty, the ac-
cursed liqt Or-traiilc. / know n Bryan OF
Mckinley should be elected, this destr ic-
tive and deyilish business would continue
10 be lrgalized. ] would yitlate >iy pray
ers. and give the lie 10 my Christian pro-
fession. and infringe upon my conscience.
we're / 10 cast my ballot cor the candl-
date OF liqaor-llcersing political party.
Throw away my vote, indeed! vote
for principle and from principle IS never
thrown away. IL IS the only vote that
does count for truth and righteousness.
IL is tie only vote that represents hon
est principles. IL is the onN vote tnat
does count in Gods sight. II is the only
vote that God will honor In the day Of
Judgment.
NV brotl er. If you knew that you would
die the day after election. and answer Tor
yOur vote az the Judgment seat OF God,
how would you VOte2 l.. y. CUTLER.
Louisa, Va.