The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-13
ns,. CRuMrroN AeAIN.


 It is not surprising that Rev. Dr. Crumpton finds 1t necessary to write The Advertiser another letter. He sees only one side of the question. and cant be reasoned into admitting that he has made an error.
 The Advertiser does not propose to argue at great length with him: the public would be bored by controversy. But he makes some assertions that cannot be lightly passed.
 He alleges that The Advertiser is notorious for harsh, intolerant lam guage. and that it does not become us to criticise others for that He cites the campaign against the perpetuation of the Gerald regime in this city. It is a curious anomaly to find Dr. Crump- ton arraigning The Advertiser for anything it might have said then. But as a matter of fact, absolutely no ep- ithet was used by this paper about anybody in that campaign. Nor does The Advertiser ever use epithets in criticising anyone. It always confines itself to facts and arguments. with A very limited use of adjectives. II is astonishing to find pr. Crump- ton so willing to distort the Scripture record as to say that Christ made and used unfermented grape juice. The Greek word ''oinos,' is used constantly for the liquor that ''maketh glad the heart of man." Of the wine made by Jesus at the marriage it is written in John ii. 9-10. "The governor of the feast called the bridegroom and saith unto him Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have we'll drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now"
 Dr. Crumpton also attempts to dis tort The Advertiser into tfavoring all the evils of the liquor traffic, notwith- standing we expressed ourselves most strongly in favor of minimizing them with the firmest administration of re- strictive measures against all individ- uals who violated sane laws, or injured themselves or society by excesses.
 Again pr. crumpton is not fair and frank, when he asserts that "prohIbi- ton laws make a legal place to pur- chase liquors" Not so the Alabama law. The druggists are so restricted, that faw of theFn salI a aIoobo1 auap o, the prescription of a physician, for the purpose of sponging a fever patient, unless the alcohol is compounded with other ingredients.
 pr. Crumpton says that eff man is Christian, he will for the sake of others deny himself" Very true, if his conscience so dictates But his own self-denial does not authorize him to force everybody else by law to deny himself. The Scriptures plainly teach that in this matter every mans con- science is the law. The prohibitfonist insists that the consciences of tho majority, frequently an emotional and unstable force, shall rule the con- science and life of the minority.
 When it comes to the Scriptures the prohibitionists are absolutely without ground for their extreme stand sol- omon. some of whose Proverbs pr. Crumpton tried to distort into A com mand not to touch liquor, does not all ways preach against 1t. In his older years probably, when he wrote the last chapter of his famous book, he said.
 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
 Let him drink and forget his pow erty and remember his misery no more"
 The Scriptures everywhere show much more breadth and charity on this liquor question than Dr. Crumpton tries to write into them The drunk ard and habitual drunkenness are in- deed deDounced ip the strongest terms. but the temperate use of intoxicants, the manufacture or proper sale of them, Is nowhere put down as moral |