The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1907-09-20

AOA / ny the CuUICIJ 10 extend us 90
miniOns and perpetuate its power by
invoking the aid Of arbitrary and in
/ tolerant laws and DEGREES. These
laws and DEGREES have prOducde much
/ tyranny and bloodshed. The psalm
singing COvenanteT drew his sword TO
&lay the Unbeliever; the fires of
Smithfield were lighted TO save mems
souls. and the axe has fallen that
truth might prevail Though the
church has ceased, 10 a great degree.
/ TO assume the infallibiiity Of lis own
/ theological beliefs. il has not ceased
+ TO enact other beliefs OF an equally
/ doubtful kind, Though il no longer
pTesumes 10 coerce men for their
spiritual good. il still thinks itself
called upon 20 c0erce them for their
material good, not seeing that one is
a. useless and as understandable as
/ the other. While recognizing to its
fullest extent the importance Of Cul-
tivating Christian virtues in a repub-
.
maintain that our republicanism is
prediCated on Christian elements,
4 whether one looks 10 the dOgmas or
the ethics, the theory or practice OF
Christianity. Whatever religious re-
stTaint is imposed by the state upon
/ its citizens. is done for lis own sake,
4 IL. Of
and purely on reasons OF economic OK
/ p"diency and public interest. Let Us
maintain that noble principle eStab-
. liSh+i by the fathers Of our country
the separation OF church and state.
L is manifest that this temperance
crusade derives its principle support
/ from the Protestant churches. Heaven
forbid that the history Of priest-rid-
/ den countries may ever come 10 pass
and be repeated in this blessed land
OF civil and religious liberty May
Va never be compelled in the words
OF Mr.. WatJeTson, ito live under a
rule OF modern clericausm, which, if
. II could have its bent and sway. would
revive for Us the priest-ridden sys-
TENS of the middle ages. CaIyinistic
doctrines in politics would turn our
laws into a DTacouiou moral code, re-.
minding Us OF BrOwniug's lines:
."Twenty-nine distinct plantations,
( One sure. il another fails"
I The advocates OF prohibition are
actuated by the opinion that alcohol
in all its forms and under all circum-
stances, is a positive poison: that the
use and drinking Of stimuIants is
wrong per So. and consequently deem
+ il their duty. not merely 10 abstain
themselves, but 20 c0erce their less
enlightened fellow mUrtals from using
them. There are acts wrong in them
J selves. such as the theologians call
mala per Sc: then there is another
class OF misdeeds htat are not naJuT-
ally wrong, and are known as maia
QuIa prOhibita. wrong because prOhib-
tied. These are laW-made crimes, as
distinguished from natural OF moral
crimes. In = free government this
class OF crimes should be kept as
small as possible State Interference
here except by iudiCioUs surveillance
and regulation. is The exercise OF an
arbitrary power. the essence OF which
is caprice. a tyraunical power, the es-
sence OF which i oppression and in
justice.
Is TIE use Of alcoholic beverage the
u ogre that it is depicted 20 be? II tenn
! perately used, is II not as harmless
and legitimate as other articles OF
food and nourishment: Can its mod
crate use be considered a moral OF le-
!, gal wrong
There are thousand things which
one ough; not TO do. though the right
or pr0priety OF Others TO hinder him
from doing them has no just touuda,
zion.
II it is right to decree that man
, may drink lemonade but nor beer. CT
> der hu, NOT whlssey why NOT the
equal right 10 PERM, beef and proab-
il mutton. 20 allow potatoes ana for
hid .anaa-e2 Nonawm.d forbade
s. uosa Pyfha-or.- forbade beans and
ta, H.uise~ rresar.a. f~o.- AND tr--
..an.-- a~ The only foot for r.-.aua,
ttoucrH-. ar rsa~.l TuI.t