The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-15

| statement, but we know that heredity | and environment are both against his being able to pronounce 1t THE
 But we would not attempt to excuse or apologize for the statement We | platform and hesitate not to declare that the best interest of our State de: | mands that we contend earnestly and | without apology for the acceptance of its truth. | Do The Advertiser and other papers protesting against the statement of MT the right of the church people to rule | In Alabama? We ask them, If the Church does not rule who wills
 It is amusing to see how The Advo- cate shows its sensitiveness as to the possibility of Mir Carmichaers mean ing the one church organization to which he adheres. His speech as whole showed very clearly that he did not mean any one organization, but 1t also showed with equal clearness that he did not mean church people as in- dividuals He spoke of the specific ac- tion of two leading organizations in endorsing the prohibition movement. ! ana IauQeQ Lnelr atLlluO0.
 It is also amusing to see The Advo- cate change the issue in such an un- conscious way. Nominally 1t snstains Mir Carmichaers position. but really 1t shies away from the organization idea and defends the right of all church people. as individuals. to control poli- tics.
 Now The Advertiser has no obiection whatever to church people. as citizens in their individual capacities. exercis- | ing their normal functions In poli- tics. That is not merely their privil- ege: 1t is their duty. But Mir Car michael defended 8 totally different | proposition. He spoke of the church in its organic capacity. He held up the official action of two great church organizations for admiration. There Is where The Advertiser parts company with him. and also where apparently The Advocate itself gets sensitive Plainly 1t doesn't relish the idea of the Methodist Church trying to rule the State.
 For hundreds of years the Protest ant denominations have been fighting the rule of the State by the church, by any church or by all the churches. in every way, shape and form. This Is particularly true of the fathers who founded this government. They, or l onA Ia nd and Ireland. where they had shed much blood over this question. because of their disgust at the rule of the State by the church. They preached this doctrine on this side for years be- fore the Revolution, and finally, through the instrumentality of many of the Virginia compatriots Of Speaker Car michaers Scotch ancestors. influenced Thomas Jefferson to take his stand for the principle of entire separation of | church and State. Virginia and Mary land were potent in their influence to sngraft this idea into our national gov ernment. and nobody since has dared try to change the written law on the subject. For years. even American Romanists have subscribed to this principle, and 1t is very improbable aEitate for a change.
 Here in Alabama. however. a self constituted Protestant Pope. with the blood of the narrow and intolerant New England Puritan. has come and set himself to chanRe-the law?-oh. no, but the fact. Rev, MT Brooks Law renee has for several years past gone throughout Alabama and in the pulpits of most of the denominations he has preached their coalition into his Anti Saloon League. for the purpose of rul- ing the State. And he has been so successful In his radical undertaking as to secure the official sanction of the highest bodies of several of the great denominations. Many righteous min isters in their zeal for cause. as a result. have lost their heads and have literally plunged into politics They have helped bring all sorts of political pressure in their counties and here in Montgomery They have not only begged and persuaded, but they have assisted in political trades and have systematically frightened with tho church vote they have claimed to have behind them. They have put the church, their churches, into the dirty uire of politics. and some of them have bragged about 1t. There has been talk of putting men out of churches. who did not bow to their priestcraft The question has been ask ed in the past week by some of these zeaIots why one of the editors of The Advertiser has not been dealt with by his church.
 Where Is all this to stop? How can the church. or churches, be benefited I kS. nk,