Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-12
5RoUoHToN WRITES APPEAL
IN BEHALF OF GUERRY

To the Editor Of The Journal:
Since IL is absolutely beyond possibility
for me to respond to the many invitations
coming to me every day to make address,
es on the Moral and Immoral Issues of
the Present Political Campaign" I will
avail myself of your kind offer to the pub
lie to discuss the various phases of the
present political situation. My position as
a minister of the gospel, I am glad to say.
makes me interested in the present issues.
If II were simply a campaign on purely
political lines" l should not be taking
such a prominent interest but the great
est moral concern to the people of this
state is involved. Politics makes our law,
law makes our atmosphere. and atmos-
phere has much to do in forming our life.
The devil is greatly concerned In the pres
ent campaign. The great question of le-
galized saloons in Georgia As hanging in
the political balance. You may say what
you please out every saloon keeper in this
state knows that on the 9Th day of June
they go up or down. Mr.. Guerry's election
means the downfall of the saloon. If
they do not believe this why are they so
solidly lined up fighting him? Any man
in Georgia knows that Mr.. Query is hon
est, intelligent, strong and able, I have
never yet heard a man deny but that he
had all the qualities needed at this time
for the governorship of a great state.
Why are the saloon men solidly fighting
him? 1t is because they know he stands
for their overthrow. To elect him means
to say to the saloon men OF Georgia and
to the democratic party, This state IA
vors state prohibition" That verdict the
saloon power of this state is determined
shall not be made IL they bcan prevent 1t.
This is why Mr.. Guerry's nomination is so
vigorously fought by them,
This is the reason have lined up in the
column fighting for his election. The
other day ! was on my way to fill an en-
gagement to speak for Mr.. Query. Two
ladies sat in front of me. discussing my
mission. One of them, speaking evidently
so I could hear her, said: He has no
business messing with politics" The 9TH
err said: But this is a great battle. 1t is
a fight against the saloon power. don't
see how any preacher can keep out of II.
And, perhaps, II you had a drunken son,
as / have, you would pray God to put
every preacher in Georgia in this fight"
felt she was right. I believe 80 now.
do not pass judgment upon any of my
brethren who differ with me- but before
God / would suffer my right hand cut off
before l would turn my back upon the
man today who stands upon every plat
form and says, 81 am opposed to the sa-
loon power of Georgia and in favor of
state prohibition" L.I
If my brethren in the ministry can look
this square in the face and support any
other men I have nothing to say. con-
fess cannot do IL and then go before my
people and urge them on Sunday morn
ings to pray the Lords Prayer every day
of their lives. They kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth as it is in heav-
en-" There are no saloons in heaven.
They have prohibition up there. Gods
will done on earth would mean prohibit
ton down here. If I pray that, 1 must
vote II. There is no local option there.
His will done here would give US no local
option. IL the devil today should offer the
courts of heaven ten thousand worlds like
this for a license to put up one GROCERY in
heaven he would be treated as Jesus
treated him when he tried to buy him on
earth. To pray that prayer means to ask
God to enable us TO have a condition of
things here that will be In keeping with
the things in heaven. To pray that and
vote differently is worse than sounding
brass and tinkling symbols"
In the forum in ancient Rome, so the
legend goes, there yawned a deep and
dangerous chasm that had swallowed uT
some Of the best of RQme's men and
women. The people had prayed over the
awful chasm and had begged the gods to
close 1t up. They had poured thousands
and thousands of tons of dirt into il and
had hurled thousands of huge stones into
the yawning hole. but still 1t remained
open. Finally an oracle was consulted,
which she held most dear the chasm
would close. Men then poured in their
money. Women poured in their costly
Jewels and beautiful robes, but still. like
the mouth of hell. the chasm yawned and
cried for more. Finally. young Curteus
mounted a prancing steed and came rid
ing toward the chasm. Rising in his stir
rups and lifting his hand. he shouted,
Unless the spirit of old Rome is dead she
holds her brave sons dearer than all the
money and jewels of the world" Then,
with a shout of victory, he spurred his
steed ana leaped into the open jaws of the
chasm of death. And as men and women
stood with glaring eyes and bated breath,
they saw the dreaded chasm close above
the daring rider and his noble steed.
Oh, comrades of the cross, let us learn
the lesson today. Before us is the awful
chasm of sin. II is made up of skepti-
cism. simple unbelief, infidelity and heath
enism. Even at our own doors we can east
ly see 1t. What can be more threatening
to the life and spirituality of our people
than the organized saloon. power of this
country? May God give us the spirit Of
the Roman knight. May we lay aside ev
cry other consideration and give ourselves
for the next few weeks to the closing UP
of this awful chasm of death.
LEN G. BROUGHTON.
man Mn