The commonwealth., 1903-07-23
THE issue DRAWN.
WHAT Is EXPECTED OF CHRIST
IAN PEOPLE,
Full Warning to Politicians.

TT is proposed that the Christian peO-
l. pie of North Carolina shall refuse to
vote for any candidate who is not
openly and beyond all question op-
posed to the saloon.
It is proposed that such candidate
shall have made known his opposition
by aiding in the battle against the
saloon. In time OF war mere decIara.
ton is not enough. We now nee
fighters, hot takers only. And who il
rot with US now is against us. Little
good will it do us il men shall come up
when victory shall have hDen won and
offer to lead us; and as G6d shall help
us, less good shall it do th6m.
That any one should think that these
propositions are extreme, is eyldense
how far we have fallen in North Caro-
lima. It should not be necessary to
make such propositions.lhIt should
have always been taken for granted
that Christian people will not support
men who are on the side OF the saloon
or who are dallylng with the saloon
or who are for compromising with the
saloon or who are afraid of the saloon.
Christian people are opposed to the
saloon they are not afraid of the sa
loon; they have neithsr right nor rea-
son to compromise with the saloon
And now for once they demand-yes
demand-that the men that shall rep
resent them shall put them and the
rest of the world in no doubt what
ever on this issue.
To do less is not to do their duty as
Christians.
The saloon issue is an economic
issue, and as an economic issue it il
large enough and grave enough t.
oversh adow every other issue. Th.
saloon DESTROYS more wealth and cause.
more crime than any other ten instit,1
tions. 1t is, therefore, OF right the
paramount economic issue. 1t de-
bauchee politics. It undermines dem
ocratie government. 1t destroys citi
zens and citizenship. It makes gov
ernment difficult. Therefore, as pc
litical issue it is the paramount issue
The saloon iesue is a moral issue. J.
reaches the conscience. 1t raises d.
rectly the question of righ. and wrong
A moral issue with Christian people !:
always the paramount issue.
We can, therefore, compromise nf
longer. We will not hold the issre
back. Under no plea OF pretense wi !
we swallow our consciences and our COLI
yictions. We will demand that eve,
candidate, from coroner and constable
and sheriff to Governor and Senator
shall stand out high and true and bole
on this question. To the hosts &
candidates now training for the rae.
next year, we Christian people OF Nor,l
Carolina send this clarion demand
"On which side, Bezonian,
Speak or die !"
If to speak will "wreck the party,
let it wreck. Parties that are at th'
mercy of the saloon had better die am
the sooner the better. If it will wrecl
your chances, let it wreck. Politician
who are at the mercy of the salo I
had better pass, and the sooner tn
better. We are willing to draw th'
issue. If the saloons can take tb
State, let them. The sooner we knt '
it the better. If the moral forces shal
rule, let them and the sooner the bet
ter. Only in Gods name let us bav
no more half-dealiug, no more comp1o
mise, no more half-and half candidates
Never yet has q man been elected q
such a policy that did not wholly serv
the saloon. To vote for such man
to support the saloon.
From one end. of the State to tn
other the battle y on. we need me
now. The men who will come on
now to help us will be the men tbs
we can trust. 9s6e. men that hol
back now, wailiDg to see whether "
can win or not, they are selfish an
cowardly, o. their consciences are veal
And we cannot trust them, as we ca
as little use man Of bad conscierc
as one can use a man OF weak Col
science. Deliver us from weak me
as we'll as bad men.
The Anti:Saloon League has con-
to enforce the law and improve tt
law. II stands for principles and mel
It has good principles. It will NJ
trust them to bed nen. It aims
bring forward in North Carolina got
men, strong meu, true men. Let I
one misunderstood. It belongs to I
party. It Is not party itself. It
here to redeem politics everywae'