The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-02
GOING TOO FAST.

The Standard has endeavored to con sistently support the prohibition move ment in Alabama since the campaign was inaugurated some three years ago. It was at Marion that Mir. Brooks Lawrence began his campaign and formed his first local organization with the Rev. Mir Chappelle, then pastor of the Methodist church at Marion, as president, and the editor of this paper as secretary. The movement was new, and the dispensary was proving so satisfactory that MT Lawrence was refused the use of the 1 churches on his first visit, in which to make his address, and was forced to ap- pear in the courthouse The address fell flat, but undaunted, MT. Lawrence came again, and this time was given a hearing in the Siloam Baptist church. which was followed by the organization above noted large per cent of our leading citizens joined the organization, and for several months there was active work. As q re- suit the county was conceded into the prohibition column without opposition, it being almost the unanimous opinion that an election was unnecessary.
 We make this exploitation as evidence that the work of the prohibitionists in this county has been cautious and consis- tent.
 But in our efforts to prohibit the sale of intoxicants, and thereby restrain crime and build up better class of morals, it was not our purpose to sacrifice our manhood or restrict our citizenship to the dictatorship of any man or set of men. We do not believe there is county in Alabama that can lay claim to a more intelligent and patriotic citizenship than Perry. She has been the nestor of nu- merous religious organizations, and it was here many of the leading citizens of the state were born and had their train ing. That we are Americans to the man. ner born, we have proven by our patriot ism and soldiery bearing from Mexico to Santiago; that we believe in free and equal rights and local self-government- protection of life and property and the pursuit of happiness. and to worship God according to the dictates of our own con science, history has already marked in the record book from Manassas to Ap- pomattox; that we cannot be subjected by force or led by favor to yield a principle, was demonstrated during the dark days of reconstruction.
 Hence, we say, the recent movement by the governor of our state, backed by overzealous church leaders, to spoil by 1 their intolerance the work already done in a moral cause, will not receive the SUD- port of all the good people We have talked personally with many good and true men on this subject, and irrespective of creed they are opposed to the radical movement to further prohibition.
 They are opposed to incorporating in the constitution of our state police law that is yet untried.
 They are opposed to tnkering with the constitution with view to political pre- ferment, or to inaugurate measure that may prove disastrous.
 They are opposed to a change in any way in our organic law which has proven barrier against every effort at unfair legislation and an unjust enforcement of the law.
 For near 10 years this instrument has stood the test of the willy lawmaker, who when he thought he had clinched the chain of some unwise and selfish measure stood in letters like Paul before Agrippa.
 And our people are also opposed to such church intolerance as exhibited in the case of MT. McCord. It Is a clear demonstration of church against state and cannot fail to weaken, if 1t does not prove the deathknell. to the great moral issue. the success of which is now upper most in the minds of all true citizens The people will not yield the privilege of free speech in the advocacy of an hon est and economical principle even to the cloth. The moralist without a church is far better citizen in the eyes of God and man than a religious demagogue.