The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-06-17
LEGALIZED EVILS--NO. 81.
BY JOHN DANNER.

We hear much these days about di-
vorce and really the hearts Of goodpeo-
pie become faint at the frequent re-
ports of divorces, granted through our
courts, but there is one divorce that
should be insisted upon, yet is seldom
alluded to in our churches and among
our best citizens. and that is the di-
vorce of the saloon from our state and
national government. II this divorce
were brought about, as 1t should be,
there would be fewer divorces between
man and wife. Statistics show that
the legalized saloon causes fully two
thirds of the divorces.
The selling of intoxicating liquors
for beverage purposes is condemned by
the Word Of God, and also by the de-
cision of our United States supreme
court but politicians, in order to OBJ
tain the saloon vote, have dishonored
and disregarded the once great Demo-
cratic party and also the grand old
Republican party espounsing tax and
| license laws for the liquor traffic, so
that when these laws are complied
with the selling of intoxicating liquor
| for beverage purposes is made to be a
| legal business
| The people have it in their power
| to demand and enforce laws that will
once and forever divorce this sinful
and ruinous business from our good
and otherwise prosperous nation.
| 1t is all mistake to vilify and ira
duce the liquor sellers and saloonkeep-
ers and not hold responsible the pol
iticians and political parties that give
the saloon legal standing in our
midst. II it were not for tax and IL
ense laws, which are upheld by both
the Republican and Democratic parties
for the legalization and the protection
of this ruinous business, the saloon
could be dealt with and banished at
once as an outlaw.
| II Christian voters would withhold
their ballots from all political parties
that uphold any form Of tax or license
for the saloon, the saloon would be
very soon banished from our midst
and be divorced from the state and
nation. God very plainly tells us,
For the time has come that judge
ment must begin at the house Of God; {;
and If it first begin al us what shall
the end be of them that obey not the
gospel Of God"
It is plainly and undeniably sin
full act to vote for any political party
so long as said party stands ready to
legalize this sinful business. 1t is not
party but principle that good men
should vote for. When the Republican
party will throw off its allegiance to
the rum power and declare that the
saloon must CO." then let all good men
support that party, but so long as it
upholds the sinful Dow tax law in Ohio
and tolerates the expectation of intox-
icating liquors to foreign and heather
nations, just that long every Christian
ballot and every temperance vote
should be cast against said party.
The same rule that applies to the
Republican party holds good in regard
to the Democratic party. So long as
either party will legalize the saloon at
any price or in any form just that long
all who love their homes and flresides
should vote against said parties.
We admit that at this time there Is
but one small and much despised pol
itical party that stands in open hostil-
| ity to the legalization Of the liquor
traffic, and that is the Prohibition
party. Whenever either OF the old
political parties shall espouse our
cause to oppose the further legaliza-
ton of the liquor traffic, we will 60 to
the support Of such reorganized party,
but not before.
God tells us plainly that judgement
must begin at the house OF God. That
means very clearly on this question
that all who call themselves Christians
must turn away from political parties
that give legal permit to dc de-
grading and riinous business and such
Is every saloon or place where intox