The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-02
Letters to The Editor
ANOTHER LETTER.
Rev. n. H. Crumpton, D. D., states HIS
 position.

position.
 Belleville. Ala, Sept. 2s. 1909. Editor The Advertiser
 write once more though am so sick I can scarcely hold up my head, and have been. off and on, for more than twelve months, and am now out or the pastorate. 1 have lai congratuiations from numbers of both sides of this pending election, for candid. emphatic and conservative utterance In The Ad- vertiser some days ago.
 The strictures of The Ozark Tribune, published in The Advertiser or last Monday, concerning my former com munication in said paper, have stirred up a hornets nest, and would add wasp's nest if they were seen. among my friends and brethren.
 The Advertisers motives and my in- tegrity have been assailed. My charac- ter and charity have been the outcome of fifty years in the ministry and fifty. in few days, of married life with one whose family can boast of blood and patriotism. l wish to advise my friends to hold their ire, and notify the people that The Advertiser put me down prop erly, when 1t said, judging from my communication. After reading his let ter one Is Justified in predicting he will vote for the amendment"
 There were more exceptions taken to The Advertisers and many of Its cor respondents views than of the other; also. an effort to prove them (the amendment's friends) disconnected with politics. after saying l was not polit- ical prohibitionist. l wish to tell all people who do not know the meaning of language, that man does not mean that he is on the fence when he says, AS yet 1 am uncominitted as to con- stitutional prohibition" l was not committed by vote at any place to sup port It. nor had l stated to any man that l would support or not support the measure, nor did intend to do so. un- til | had examined critically the arti- cles of law to be injected into our con- in.. and talks so. much about church and politics. In the sense in which the framers of our consultation viewed it. they should me. never be gnitedMthat at is IS. lowed in the kingdom or government of the country without consent and sig- nature of the head of the church. also that the State must support the estab- lished church, thus forcing all dissent CTS and infdels 70 contribute tn the state church besides supporting their own.
 This Is a Christian country. and If church people must not participate in politics. l do not know where you find candidates or voters {supp porters), If all Deliver me from the prostitution of the pulpit to the discussion of political is- sues, but also, from the doom awaiting people when the ministry shall be so gagged or handicapped as to be forbid den to expose sin and reprove 1t, of course, In bounds of expediency. when the homes of people. I wish to be un- derstood as opposing many of the un- wise and inexpedient utterances, both of preachers and politicians that are other of a personal character or i'm pugning motives of men. As an old. gradually dying servant of God and the people. I warn the speakers on both sides: Let your speech be seasoned with salt"
 Our children and grandchildren are being taught by much that Is in the press of Alabama from both sides com munieations more than editorials, that the ministry and sincere, temperance be. are a set of fanatical. insane. an archistic set of folks. not worthy of re- spect or trust. Again this contest Is going to do more to disorganize De nineties did. There are breaches to- day that were made then that never viii be healed.
 ference was sincere in their utterances that this campaign is in no way con- nected with politics, because no party Is yet ripe to incorporate prohibition as one of its blanks, and believing as do that Its injection Into the constitu- ton has no more to do with sumptuary laws tHan 10 XIII OT carry a pistol or not to swear in presence of ladies and demand for pure food; and believing as I do that 1t were wise to hold a strong point after being gained, even if invasion is necessary, as with the battle of Manassas. I am going to heartily support the amendment. II would have just as heartily supported the other side could have believed 1t was perilous to our liberties to amend. No sarcasm nor criticism can drive me from what believe to be true and right.
 So, now. I wish to say, have said nothing In regard to The Advertiser, but I believed I think 1t fair because 1t has opened its columns to any one who writes with conservatism and de- cency, as much as 1 could ask of any paper. It has published many things about political leaders 1t did not like, that I thought ought not 10 have been published. but I have not been employ ed as their censor. It is good paper. gives the news and our capital paper. and I think the last editorial on the criticisms of our Bro. Crawford, of Union Springs. was of great courtesy. I do not mean to take sides on that question Bro Crawford i5 as The Ad- vertiser said, "a good man" Now I trust that no one will do me the injus- tce to garble my language or motives, for 1 am not able to write now, and have written what I am willing to meeting at the judgment tomorrow.
 NVIVr