Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-20
CHURCH OR PARTY.
Rev. w. A. Belts Raises a Question
With the Voters.

Editor Yorkville Enquirer:
AS in the days of Joshua, there has
come a demand that we, as citizens,
make definite choice of allegiance.
The voters of this state have been
duly put on notice that IL they do not
train with the supporters Of the dis
pensary system, diligent and determin-
ed effort will be made to defeat all and
singular candidates daring to dissent,
Thus the party's lash is cracked In the
face of the Christian citizen and in
timidation avowed as the first and for
midable means of coercion to be used
by the advocates of the dispensary.
Every intelligent person ought to
know that the manufacture and sale of
intoxicating liquors for beverage pur-
poses are both expressly forbidden by
the churches, whose laws each member
has solemnly promised to observe.
Through the false and pernicious no
ton that ii would be the less of two
evils many have doubtless felt hereto
fore warranted in advocating the dis
pensary rather than barrooms. They
seem to have forgotten that nowhere Is
the Christian permitted the choice OF
one or two evils. On the contrary, he
is by the code of Christian ethics
bound always in the presence of two
evils to choose neither of them. There
is manifestly no alternative i'm such a
case else there would obviously be
completely with and advocacy of evil
a thing utterly inconsistent with Chris
tianity.
The liquor business is positively be-
fore the SovereignS of South Carolina
for protection and perpetuation, or else
for reputation. The issue was never,
perhaps so we'll defined among us.
And it lis pre-eminently a moral one.
Unless there shall come out for elec-
ton to Office efficient Christian men, a
large number of citizens will be practi-
cally disfranchised. They dare not
commit falsehood by the political act
of voting for men who do not represent
their principles.
Judge Purdy lately uttered In
GrCenville court house an eminently
Christian sentiment when he said: Il
do not think the state should stand
godfather to a traffic so iniqutous."
Upon the occasion of presenting Vice
President Fairbanks, fraternal delegate
from the Methodist church, North,
Bishop A. w. Wilson at the Southern
Methodist General Conference at Bir-
mingham, in his masterful way, let fall
such statements as these, suggestive
and weighty:
it's representatives into the legislative
halls of the country We have
taken hold of the nation to make 1t
representative of the church"
The church members of South Caro-
lima have undoubtedly a commission to
perform in projecting the principles OF
a pure Christianity into the political
life of the state, and although in no Of
fetal capacity dare they undertake to
dictate. yet through the advocacy OF
Christian measures and men in office
they must seek the well-being of the
people or else be recreant to duty. Our
Christian citizens alone. by their votes
and wisely directed influence, can rid
our beloved commonwealth of compile
ity in the crime of liquor selling.
Has not Christianity come to the
throne for such a time as this?"
Look at this aspect of the case as
George r. Stuart would present it.:
"Drunkard, what made you?" THE
dispensary over there made me-" Dis
pensary, who made you?" THE law
over there made me-" Law, who made
you?" THE legislator over there
made me-" Legislator who made
you?" "The ballot in the hands of the
churchman over there made me-.
"Churchman. did you cast the ballot
Indt 1Ildue the lIldIl lIldl llldue tic law
that made the dispenSary that made
the drunkard?" We'll. I always stick
to my party" THAT is not the ques-
ton sir. Did you vote for the man
that voted for the law that made the
dispensary that made the drunkard? ~
Yes, he represented my party, and l
never scratch the ticket" Here Is a
chain with the following links: A
drunkard, a dispensary, law, a legis-
lator and a voter-five links. Do you
see it? Let us go to the last link.
Poor drunkard where are you going?'
ITO hell" How do you know?" THE
Old Book says: No drunkard shall en-
ter the kingdom of heaven" Let us
go to the first link of the chain.
"Churchman, where are you going?"
Il am going to heaven" How do you
know"
Let every man hear this statement:
IF the lower link goes to hell and the
upper does not, If the poor old drunk
ard goes to hell and the churchman
who voted for the dispensary that
made him don't go with him, then the
drunkard can stand on the black crest
ed waves of damnation and cry, Un-
just. unjust, unjust, until he will tear
down the very pillars of heaven"
w. A. Belts.
Centenary - &