The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-21

best solution of the liquor evil we can hope to have and because 1t Is a hun- dred times better than the open sa- loon, which nearly all the enemies of prohibition desire to hasten upon us again. Like Sam Jones. I believe that when you want to infiict a real person al punishment on vicious dog by chopping off his tail, the only thing worth doing Is to cut the tail off close up behind his ears.
 The way to undo the cruel work of the boy who persists in catching the song birds in traps is not to set the birds free, but to smash all the traps. ''The prohibition movement may not be, in all respects the most desirable form of smashing the traps. If knew of a better I would gladly adopt 1t. but so long as I am able to judge 1t will come nearer getting rid of the aw- full curse of drink in Alabama than any plan I know of. And when look at the vast majority of the men who oppose 1t I am encouraged to believe that in favorlng prohibition am fight ing Satan and his gang. There are few good Christian men who are for various reasons. opposed to prohibition. do not denounce any man merely be- cause he does not believe that plan Is the wisest for getting rid of the sa- loon power If he Is only down in his heart the enemy of the saloon and ob- jects to prohibition simply because the method I approve do not commend themselves to his conscience. I'll be patient with. I can afford to bear with a whole lot of bad logic and mis- takes of judgment which even gooo men sometimes fall into. But l must deplore his judgment and feel sorry that he can be content In the crowd with which he is associating. But If bot Ia Aa- loon, and can not be bought by the liuuor men, then he Is my brother, however badly I may think he Is mis- taken.
 A Solemn Mockery.
 "Of all the solemn mockeries ever enacted the most ridiculous Is the ap- parently painful concern of saloonists and their apologists and allies TOT tne misguided preachers who are drag ging the cause of Holy Religion down into the mire of politics, and this, be- cause these preachers are far get ting rid of saloons. and some of them actually have the nerve to say so Tn plain English from the pulpit. Their edict Is that the one great mission or the church is not to do or say any thing in the pulpit in order to pre- vent drunkeness. They may denounce drunkenness in audiences of nice la dies who don't need their advice and teaching. but they must not try 10 tell the young men in their audiences now to discourage and avoid the bad hab- it's that lead to drunkenness. Their only business is to go and hunt up drunkards lying in the gutters in front of saloons already ruined and damned by drink. and get them bathed and decently clothed and furnished warm meals and advised henceforth to be good In other words. as pr. Parkhurst said: They want the church and her pastors and workers to spend their time going around cleaning up after the Devil prefer better work: would try to induce young men to let liquor severely and ever iastingly along, and I would use ev- cry honorable and lawful means of securing legislation to rid this world of the drink that is damninE at least fifty thousand people every year in this country.
 What a mighty host that Is! Fifty thousand drunkards marching on ev- cry year to the drunkard'sN grave. and men who call themselves lovers of sobriety and morality and religion. in- dulging habits in the home that in- evitably swell those ranksi In the meanwhile they quibble about the the Saviour of men on the side of the saloonistsi Over against all that wretched sophistry I write this one scripture--LovA worketh no i'll to his neighbor. therefore love is the fulfill ling of the law honestly believe that this one verse of Gods Word. en in connection with others in the Bible, if honestly interpreted and car ried out in our daily conduct. would stink to the lowest hell every saloon in this world and would place in every code of laws in the world such re- strictions and safeguards in connec- ton with the liquor business that such an infamy as liquor saloon like those We have known or the sight of drunken man on the streets would be absolutely unknown.
 "rhe Law of Love inwrought in human hearts. and given expression in human conduct-that is the one sovereign. divine and effectual remedy for the debauchery of drink. When 1t does gain full sway the death deal- ing OK that stays its millions will be unknown and human greed that now makes thousands willing to debauch and damn our fellowmen for money will be outlawed in all this world. Until that Law Of Love and its &C., compartment. The Love of Law does gain full ascendancy in our world our plain duty Is to practice abstinence ourselves and labor to secure good JAWS that VIII nelp to mdk0 OtneF men able and willing to do the same. The OK is doing his deadly work today in all our streets, goring and mang- ling our sons and husbands and fa- thers and I say let us put him out of the way!
 "The electors of Alabama are soon to vote on a question that vitally re- lates to the dangerous wild beast Of which I have spoke AS your pas tor I will say first. that 1t Is your duty, if in your power to cast your vote as conscientious Christian. beg of you to vote for what you sim cerely believe will best further the cause of religion, morality and civic well being. Both sides cannot be right. I beg of you to settle for your selves what course will best help the cause of Christ and morality. I have nothing whatever now to do with the schemes of politicians or the wisdom of political issue. I have only to do with helping you, if in my power. to make an honest effort to vote in favor of that side on which Jesus