Evening journal., 1903-04-23
SPIRITED DEBATE
IN PRESBYTERY
Religious Body Refuses to
Denounce Bribery and Cor
ruption in Elections
STRONG RESOLUTIONS OFFERED
They Also Condemned Governor Hum
for Not Signing Voters Assistant
Repeater, But Were Defeated BY a
Close Vote.

Repeater, But Were Defeated BY a
Close Vote.
Resolutions offered by the Rev r. A. /
Elwood, OF this city, during yester-
days. session of the New Castle Pres
bytery at Princess Anne, Md, de-
nouncing bribery and corruption in
elections and condemning Governor
HUM for refusing to sign the Voters
Assistant repeater, We're defeated after
a spirited debate. The resolutions
were as follows:
In view of the awful and widespread
corruption existing in the political life
of our State. and the terrible effect of
such corruption upon the moral and
spiritual condition of our citizens, we,
the members of New Castle Presby-
terry of the Presbyterian Church, for
the honor Of the fair name of our state,
for the sake of righteousness in our
civil life and for the glory of our Lord
and Maker Jesus Christ, do place our
selves on record in the following reso-
lutions viz:
First. We deplore the unlawful use
of money in our elections. and cah
upon all honest citizens to refrain from
countenancing any such means of cleo
tioneering, both by refusing allegiance
TO any person or party making such
illegal use of money. and by working
strenuously to defeat any such person
or party so doing; and to the accom-
plishment Of this end we pledge our
earnest cooperation by our prayers,
our powers and our votes.
Second. We condemn the action OF
Governor HUM in refusing to sign the
because we believe the repeal of this
law would have tended to righteous
ness, whereas, the retaining of it will
work iniquity; therefore. we call upon
all honest citizens of the State to make
the repeal Of this law an issue in the
next State election. and to work for
the election of only such candidates TO
the Legislature and goNernorship as
will openly pledge themselves to vote
for and sign such a repeal. and to this
end we pledge our hearty support.
Third-The action of the majority Of
the Legislature in refusing to grant
the constitutional right to the electo-
rate Of the State. to vote upon the
question of the continuance of that
monster iniquity, the saloon. in our
midst meets with our unqualified con-
demnation; and whereas, the Governor
had recommended the granting OF such
rights and thousands upon thousands
OF the electorate had petitioned for it;
therefore, we urge the temperance
voters Of the State to vote only for
such candidates for the Legislature
and Governorship as will openly pledge
themselves to grant this right: and to
this end we pledge our cooperation in
time and money and votes.
Fourth-We believe the Bible
teaching: when the righteous are in
authority the people rejoice,
but when the wicked beareth
rule the people mourn" Prov. 29 2
and we hold that when men of known
wicked character are exalted to politi-
cal office either in state or nation. that
it tends to debase our citizens. corrupt
our youth, work injury to our homes
and bring reproach upon our Christian
religion; therefore. we call upon the
Christian voters of our Commonwealth
to carefully ascertain the character OF
candidates for political preferment ano
TO support only those that hold honor
above gain, righteousness above self
patriotism above party. whose only
dictator will be a live conscience ano
whose only master will be God. To the
accomplishment of this end we pray
now most heartily God save oui
State" and pledge our earnest CO.
operation both i'm pulpit and vote.
The Committee on Resolutions re
ferred TO reported unanimously in IA
vor of them. but the Presbytery by q
close vote, laid them on the table.
The Revs. j. l.. Irvine. Of Lowe
Brandywine, and j. $. Estlin. o
Smyrna. and Elders r. II. Hodgson, o
Rock Church, Nd, and w. o. Lank
ford, of Princess Anne, Nd. were elect
ed commissioners 20 the General AS
sembly.
The Rev. j. r. North. Of Princes
Anne. has been chosen moderator 70
the coming year and the Rev. J. II
Milligan stated clerk for three years.
Last night the missionary meeting
was addressed by the Revs. w. f. I
Lewis w. II. Logan and J. b. Turner.