The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-10-16

Christian-You do not understand
our christian institutions. Only those
who pay the Dow tax can sell intoxi-
eating liquors, 1t forbids all others from
doing SO.
Heathen-But who has the right to
give such privilege?
chrlstian-oT legislature. They make
Heathen-what restriction is there on
a man who has the money, from buying
beer, whisky or other intoxicants?
Christian.-Oh, there are no such re-
strictions, this is a free country.
Heathen-Then are you not mistaken
| in saying that the Dow tax restricts the
sale?
Christian-I guess was mistaken. 1t
should be said to restrict the number
of saloons, but not the sale.
Heathen-Did you say your legsla-
ture makes the laws to give the right to
sell intoxicating liquors?
Christian-Yes, the laws are made by
our Legislature.
Heathen-Do you vote for such men
who make laws to deal out liquors to the
destruction of your people?
Christian-Yes. when they belong to
my party.
Heathen-Then you vote more for
party than for christian principle, Is
that SO?
| Christian-Yes, you see 1t is the only
| way 10 regulate this great evil.
Heathen--Is your church in favor of
these tax laws, which give permit to
deal out Intoxicating liquors?
Christian-Oh, no. All our churches
are opposed to all tax or license laws
| for the traffic.
| Heathen-How many voters are there
in Ohio who believe in your Jesus
| Christ
Christian-I cannot tell exactly, but
about four hundred thousand.
| Heathen-Then you should have about
four hundred thousand votes cast in
Chic against the Dow tax law, or any
other system of license.
| Christian-Oh, no, nothing like 1t. You
see our grand old party will not take up
this question for fear of losing the sa-
Ion vote, and you see we do not want to
throw our votes away with the little
Prohibition party.
Heathen-Then If your four hundred
thousand christian voters in Ohio do not
vote against the saloon, they must vote
with and for the saloon, or they do not
L
vote at ALL
Christian-Well, declare, that would
be a hard charge, but 1t does look that
way.
Heathen-I do not understand how
these things can be. Your church men,
bers profess to be christians and declare
against liquor selling, but vote for men
who make laws to give the right to deal
out intoxicating liquors by paying $50
a year. This appears wrong to one who
has been raised among what you call a
heather people.
!, Christian-Well, really you are right,
and 1t does appear that our churches
should not declare against liquor selling
or else have their members vote against
this wicked way Of granting a permit
to sell e.
|, Heathen-Certainly, to vote to give a
permit to sell intoxicating liquors by
the payment Of an annual tax Of $3.50 is
against your christian religion.
Christian-I know it, but 1t Is so hard
to vote against my old party that up
holds this thing.
Heathen-You told me that your
churches believed in hell. and that all
drunkards go Into this place of torment
: and yet nearly all of your four hundred
thousand christian voters in Ohio vote
to open your drunkard factories-thc
saloon. / think had better go back
and tell my heather people what you
christian people do in this country.
Christian-I beg Of you not to do that
1t is not the fault of Christ or chris.
tianty that such inconsistent things are
done. The Bible clearly says Woe tc
him that giveth his neighbor drink. :
1t is our love for old political parties
that has heretofore blinded our eyes tc
: this sin. 1 will do it no more.
> Heathen-I know that your mission.
aries that come among our people would
get many more converts than they do u
I 1t was not true that here in Ohio and ir
America you vote to give legal protec.
7 tion to the greatest enemy of christi
anity
Christian-I know that all this is true
know If all christians voted only fol
parties that openly advocated the des
l truction Of the liquor traffic that within
a few years there would be no such
I traffic in our land. I feel sure that Got
! will hold us responsible for this grea
.. sin, and unless we repent and use oui
! ballots for the suppression of this grea
= wrong, our nation will be destroyed
while you heather will rise up in th'
Judgment against us.
: Heathen-If you allow political lead
ers and party ties to keep you from vot
7 ing for what you know is right and &C
u cording to your Bible, how can you ex
pect the blessings of your God, who /,
no respecter of persons?
Christian-I confess to you, heather
' as you have been, that your arguments
), are true and l will never again cas-
= another ballot for any party that legal
!. ICES the great evil Of liquor selling fo
!. beverage purposes, but will always vot'
for prohibition of this evil, no difference
what party 1t may lead me into.
Heathen-That is consistent. Whe'
all christians do this, we will believ