The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-08-23
REPLY TO TILLMAN.
DIR. c. 8. GARDNER HITS BACK.

DIX. &. 3. GARDNER HITS BACK.
The Greenvil1e Minister Answers Sena-
tor Tillman's Speech About Him.
DR.. G. s. Gardner has given the fol-
lowing to the press
| am very sorry that imperative en-
gagements, formed long before Senator
Tillman's announced purpose to reply
to my sermon in Grecnville, compelled
me to be absent on the occasion Of his
speech there. Some Of his remarks Gail
for roplY, which | can make, though
not present, as | have stcnographic
report Of what he said.
The Senator refers to me as a man
who went into the pulpit to make po-
litical speech. That is something which
! never did. / preached morality and
righteousness, and propose to continue
in that business; and have no idea OF
asking Senator Tillman to choose my
themes for me or to mark out for me
the limits Of my ministerial functions.
have o notion that I understand my
business a little better than he does
Whenever it comes to the point that
cannot lift up my voice as q minister of
the Gospel against the liquor traffic,
by the State, shall leave the pulpit as
unworthy to be a preacher Of righteous
ness. When politicians lead the State
into an "unholy alliance" with the whis-
key power, yes, into y business that is
manfostly immoral and degrading there
will be found great host Of preachers
who have respect enough for their office
to condemn it. OF course there will be
a host Of politicians who will cry them
down and malign them for it. But what
difference does that make ? When the
Gfotn 1otn off fnp l,of rn
specifically moral in their character,
matters that Immediately and powerful
ly affect the religious welfare Of the
people, shall the appointed moral and
religious teachers Of the people suffer
their mouths to be padoCkcd by the
politicians Hardly There is freedom
Of conscience and religion in this coun-
try yet. I'll tell you what is the matter
with Senator Tillman. AS between pro
hibition and tho dispensary, the preach
ors are against tho dispensary. If they
had preached In favor Of his pet liquor
traf1ic, he would never have sneercd at
them as going into the pulpit to make
political speeches. They are not &C
cepting his dictum in tho matter tha,
is whore the shoe pincheB
| agree with Senator Tillman that 8
political preacher is very offensive
character. He is apt to make fool OF
himself in fact, do not know Of any
character that Is moro utterly silly ant
foolish than the political preacher, OK
cept ono. That is q politician who un
dertakes to interpret the Bible, as Sena
tor T'llman is doing. He says tht
preachers have set him to studying the
Rible-well, he needs to. I earnestly
recommend that he start to Sunday
school and join the infant class. I assure
him that he has much to learn, judging
from tho use he is making Of the Bible
in his speeches. If there were twelve
year old boy in my Sunday school wht
could not beat him in the Interpretation
and application Of the Scriptures,
should feel discouraged about the child
The Senator quotes Pauls advice t.
Timothy to take little wine as q medi
cine and attributes the language to Solo
mon, and draws tho inference that be
cause an inspired man recommended