The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-01-16
AGAINST LEGALIZING EVIL.

All Christians should say, Where
principle is, there is my party" 1t can
not be denied that the Christian churches
throughout the nation have declared
against the legalization of the liquor
traffic. Such being the case, all who are
christians should make an effort to "get
together at the ballot box on this
great question and unite with the pro-
hibition Union of Christian Men in say
ing I'm the name of Jesus Christ as
King, the liquor traffic must die" A
wise general in calling for volunteers
to go into a forlorn hope, does not in
quire into, the religious opinions of
this one or the financial standing of the
other. In building railroads, or organ
izing banks, the question is not asked,
are they PresbyteIans, Baptists, Meth
odists, or Catholics? All that is re-
quired is to have the needful capital,
and to be honest and trustworthy citi-
zens. So that in getting together
against the legalized saloon is not to
question voters as to what they believe
religiously or to inquire how much they
are worth, or even to know what polit-
ical party they have heretofore sup
ported, but are they loyal to record
their ballot against all parties that pro-
pose to legalize by tax or license laws,
the liquor traffic? If so, they should
stand shoulder to shoulder with other
voters of like opinions, no difference
whether this principle is championed by
a small party or large one, by an old
party or a new one, be loyal to principle.
Principle, not party, should be the
watchword not only of Christians, but
of all patriotic voters. No liquor seller
or saloon man in the nation will vote
for any political party that is not COM
mitted to some system of legalizing the
liquor traffic, either by tax or license
laws. Now let Christians and patriots
be just as wise as are the liquor sellers
and saloon men and say we will not sup
port any party unless said party is
clearly committed to the destruction Of
this ruinous traffic throughout the state
and nation, and opposed to all tax and IL
cense laws for the traffic.
Notwithstanding that the churches
| all over the nation have passed resolu-
tions and made strong declarations
| against the legalization of the liquor
traffic, the stubborn fact stares us in the
face that up to this time not more than
per cent of the Christian ballots have
|
great legalized wrong, while fully 81
per cent of the church vote has been
cast with liquor sellers to uphold tax
and license laws for the, traffic. In
many cases this has been the result OF
thoughtlessness on the part of the vot.
ers, while others have been such strong
partisans that they could not think o.
casting ballot that did not support the
dear old party.
Political parties are constantly chang
ing, and therefore when party that W,
hitherto have supported champions &
thing we do not endorse, while SOM
other party does take up the very thini
we want, 1t is our duty as honest mel
to be found upholding our principles
rather than our former old party. Po
litical parties are simply organization
, to incorporate certain principles in gov
ernment, and as long as party cham
, pions the principles we endorse, it
right to support that party, but whe
our former cherished party upholds
policy, or practices what we cannot en-
, dorse, then we do violence to our man
! hood and Christian character to sup
port such party.
All good men know that to sell intox
icating liquors. for beverage purposes
eveil, only evil, and that continually
therefore is not entitled to legal protec
tion. The u. s. supreme court is agains
the traffic. They have decided withou
r a dissenting voice that mo citizen {
j any state, or any citizen of the Unite
States, has an inherent right TO Sc
I intoxicating liquors at retail" Wher
g that right is attained Is by the enact
r ment Of tax and license laws for tn
Q traffic, which by the payment OF a Gel
a tain sum of money purchases sue
4 right and no political party VIII lear
: TO do right on thiS question 80 long 4