The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1907-05-30
THE BIBLICAL RECORDER AND
STATE PROHIBITION.

Mr.. J. w. Bailey, president of the
State Anti-Saloon League, recently
contributed paper to the Atlantic
Quarterly, in which he committed
himself to the local option system,
saying that state prohibition is a
failure.
Mr.. Bailey had been editor of the
Biblical Recorder for fourteen years
and made this contribution to the
discussion of temperance just before
selling his interest in the paper to
Rev. C. w. Blanchard, who a few
weeks ago assumed editorial control
of it.
Many of the temperance people of
the State, and a large part of the
Baptist people of the State, believe
that Mr.. Bailey gave the cause Of
temperance heavy blow by publish
ing his paper against state prohibi
tion;for it was accepted by large ma
jority of the temperance forces, we
believe, that state prohibition is the
ultimate aim of the Anti-Saloon
League.
The great temperance forces of the
state widely differ from Mr.. Bailey
in his declaration against prohibition
in favor of local option, and many
are free to say that he has done the
cause great harm.
Rev. C. W. Blanchard, the new
editor of the Biblical Recorder, in
the last issue of that paper, declared
that while he thinks without ques-
ton that Mr.. Bailey believes he is
right, Mr.. Bailey's views do not
commit the Recorder to the local
option system against prohibition.
Mr.. Blanchard rings clear as to
his position concerning Mr.. Bailey's
views and the policy of the Recorder.
He says:
81 do not for a moment question
his candor nor his motives in his posi-
ton, but | have never for one
moment agreed with his conclusions.
do not intend to write an editorial
discussing the matter at length now,
nor to set forth my reasons for the
stand l shall take. 1t would not be
wise to do so, perhaps, while clear
discussion of the matter is going on
by Mr.. Bailey and others in the Re-
corder. But, l want to add, that
my views are not just maturing on
this subject. In 1881 when the
people of North Carolina were in
the midst of a campaign for consti-
tutional prohibition, began the ex-
ercise of my franchise by casting my
first ballot for prohibition by
Constitutional Amendment. be-
lieved then that the manufacture
and sale Of alcoholic drinks were
evils that never had any right to
legislative existence, and have had
no reason from any consideration
have ever seen to change my views.
The Constitutional right to protect
the business in any form must come
from a divine right, if it shall stand
the test of final appeal. This, to my
mind, renders the case helpless and
impossible. Believing that absolute
protection by law, Constitutional,
State and Federal law. was the end
to be desired, and the only condition
that would serve the need of a civil
lied people, and the will of God,
have let no opportunity pass for
rendering the cause a service. be-
lieve we have delayed the time of
our absolute deliverance from the
curse and re-opened battlefelds that
had been fought and closed out by
not bringing the strength of the
temperance forces of North Carolina
to bear upon the late General As
sembly to give us vote upon a con-
stitutional amendment for state pro-
hibition. | have said this much to
let the readers of the Recorder, who
have been anxious to know my posi-
ton, know where l stand on the
question. The fuller reasons for my
position | reserve for another time.'
Il,