The Somerset reporter., 1900-08-23
A Methodist View.
I Boston Journal. ]

Zion's Herald, the congratulated
organ Of New England Methodism, has
been called upon to express itself with
reference to the voters duty in the
present campaign, and 1t does so with
accustomed plainness OF speech.
Upon the general issue which the
Kansas City platform propounces para
mount" lions Herald remarks that the
startling events of the last three years
have not been altogether of our own
choosing. 1t believes that 1t was in the
order of Providence that the United
States was led to intervene to free Cuba
from Spanish cruelty; that Dewey was
led to Manila, and that the Philippines
came into the possession Of the United
States. In the extraordinary upheaval
In China, also, 1t sees the workings of
| Providence, and 1t urges that IL ever
there was time when the Governments
of Christendom should heed the admo-
milton that they bear not the sword in
vain, this is pre-eminently the time.
The great nation must hear It's part
with the other nations of the world In
this awful responsibility. There is now
at the head of the nation wise, careful,
calm, far-seeing Christian statesman,
whose courage las been proved on
many battleflelds, and who has had large
experience In State and national legsla-
ton. and as chief executive of his own
State and of the nation. "The question
for the voter to consider says Zion's
Herald, sis whether, 10 the present stress
of affairs, it is wise to make a change in
the administration Of affairs and to ex-
change the man at the helm of State for
an inexperienced pilot" The editor
concludes
"Of course, we do not forget the great
moral and social and political dangers
which threaten our nation. But we can
not do all things at once. We believe
that the day Of municipal reform Is to
dawn, and that the time Is to come
when communities will combine to re-
strain and exterminate the liquor traffic.
But that Is not the supreme question at
the fore In this momentous hour. The
present all-important duty of the voter
10 national affairs Is to see that no un-
warranted change is made in our admin
istration; that no financial risks are run
and that no halt Is made In our expand
ing history. This is no time for men to
stay away from the polls; this is no time
for good and true men to throw away
their votes. This Is the hour above all
the hours of the past when the voter
should be true TO his fl sg, to his country
and to his God.''
In another article, answering specii-
cally the inquiry Of reader who wants
to know what a Methodist ought to do
in view of the declaration Of the Bishops
that no political party should receive the
vote of Christian men so long as it stands
committed to the license system, and of
the fact that both the leading political
parties do sustain these Objectionable re-
ations to the traffic, Zion's Herald ex-
plains that the utterance of the Bishops
sets up high standard which II Is really
impossible at the present to realize. 1t
declares that the effort to found party
whose only or main issue Is the prohibit
ton Of the liquor traffic has humiliat-
ingly and hopelessly failed. At the
present time the way of duty seems to
the editor perfectly clear:
sit Is plain that either the Democratic
or the Republican party will succeed
either William j. Bryan or William Nc
Kinley will be elected President of the
United States. The editor can not vote
for Bryan because of his financial views
and his policy toward our new island
possessions. SO pronounced are we in
our convictions on these points that we
could not vote for and with the Third
Party, because vote so cast would help
to elect Mr.. Bryan"
This is good advice given with refresh
ing clearness.