The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-25

and many phases Of II propose moth
ing less than the Communication Of all
property By connscation. Some Of them
even propose the abolition Of tho fam
lily and all IL stands for in the purity
Of womanhood and protection of child
hood. How readily can we see In much
of this proposed paternalistic legisla-
ton. on which the prohibition move
ment 10 based. this ofilcious informed
ding with private rights. the prepa-
ration for its repetition against relig-
ion, should its adversaries gain power,
by way of retaliation. for what they
deemed the injustice Of 'religionists'
when they had the ascendency.
"But when granting that this lie
visionary. there IL yet stronger
ground upon which ] oppose Statewide
prohibition.
Must ne Co-operation.
1T is against the genius OF Chris
tianity to legislate men into conform
ity with its principles. Almighty God
himself will put no other compulston
on men than that OF moral suas!on TO
induce them TO obey His laws. Come.
let us reason together is the invita-
ton He extends to all who would know
and adopt His ways. He knows that
an obedience extorted by an outwardly
applied and Irresistible force mas no
moral virtue in It; on the contrary. IL
makes men despise the power that en-
force their unwilling obedience.
This is the very lesson God Is try
ing to teach the world at the present
time. We are praying every day. Thy
Kingdom come. Thy will be done on
earth as It is In Heaven but God won't
raise His little finger to make 1t come
save by our willing cooperation with
him. The only true Kingdom of God,
in fact, is q republic, composed of free
men who have voluntarily chosen Gods
service because of Its essential nobil-
ity and its purpose to redeem and up
lift humanity by bringing men INTO
willing and loving obedience to Him,
who is mans true King. because the
kingliest of them all. in all true king
ly qualities: whose very name Is love;
the royal law of whose Kingdom Is
that His people shall love one another
and do unto others as you would be
done by. To resort to the civil author
tiles to supplant the law OF love with
a law of force IL to confess defeat.
II Ia to form an unholy alliance with
the State which has ever been detri-
mental to religion, whenever or wher-
ever adopted. since the days OF Con-
stantine to the present time, and 10
nearing It's death In every nation where
| II has long held sway.
The Quintessence OF this evil OF the
union Of church and State eliminated
in the Inquisition Of Middle Ages; when
men condemned for disobeying the law
or even the subtle metaphorical doc
trines Of the church, were turned over
to the civil authorities to receive phys
zeal punishment for mental opinions.
1t is a mistake to suppose that the
church inflicted the penalty: the church
only applied the instruments OF tor
ture to enforce confession: the State
alone. in this CHASTITY co-partnership.
applied the torch or welded the heads
mans axe.
, Principle Turks Here.
The same principle turks in this pro-
posed legislation Some of the church,
es, through their well-drilled cohorts,
decree that certain indulgences, mark
you, not in opposition to the Holy
Scriptures, not in violation OF apostolic
precept; nay, more, not contrary to the
practice of the Son of God, Himself.
whilst on earth. must be stopped. In
order TO effect this purpose 1t Is pro-
| posed to pass laws by which II shall
be made impossible for men to pro-
cure these articles of consumption.
without subjecting themselves to fine
and possible imprisonment. This. /
say, is a return to the universally rep
| obated methods of the inquisition
and this in this enlightened Twentieth
| Century.
| '"The evils of the American saloon
permit of small apology. even by Its
friends. of whom certainly I am not
| one. Minimizing these evils by wise
| legislatfen to the lowest point, or, II
this be impossible, Its absolute extinc-
ton is one thing and certainly quite
a legitimate subject for earnest discus
sion, and l am free to say that II the
/ saloons win not obey the laws I am
I'm favor OF closing. them. as can be
dong Ssrndet the local option laws. which
1 approve i '4..
: 7 Borders ON Tyranny.
| ''T do not Approve Of the rural dis
| tricts attempting to regulate the So
| cial customs Of the city people. But