The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-20

Is accorded to every citizen. namely. the expression of . private opinion in accordance with the dictates of my conscience.
 When expressing such private opinions. I have never gone into details and it appears that some of my | friends have misconstrued my positive and unthoughtedly given currency to my views in such a manner as to place me in a false attitude, therefore deem it my duty to state my position clearly and the reasons therefor. "It is true that have opposed the ! submission of the proposed amend | ment to the constitution from the very beginning. I have not felt that 1t was the part of wisdom to submit-dt and. | by this, I do not refer to the ex- pediepcy of the matter. but rather to the fundamental idea involved. u. e.) submission either now or at any time So long as the status of the social organism remains the same or prac- | tically the same as we now find it. The interpretation of the amendment has no bearing whatever on my posi- ton.
 An Estimate.
 "It Is immaterial whether 1t is nuga- tory, or whether the laws as they now stand be made a part of the Con- stitutson. It matters not whether the second section was written to meet decision of the court, or whether It was its purpose to make the individual a total abstainer, nor does the alleged personal ambition of any man or group | of men in any sense enter as deter | mining factor into my position. for am sure that the issue presented ap- peared, in the minds of its originators to be the natural outgrowth of past Legislation. The usual arguments about sumptuary laws, police regula- tion. private lights. sacredness of the constitution and etc. have absolutely no bearing on my position, for the constitutionality of prohibition has ! long since been settled In the affirma- tive and if 1t had not, nothing is ever settled until 1t Is settled right.
 My opposition to the submission of the amendment is based on the con sideration of facts that are so patent and potent that I conceive them to | be fundamental.
 "Ftrst-The millions who live under prohibition laws today are in nearly every case indebted to local option laws for their good fortune.
 "Second:-The ministry and mothers by education and agitation. have in- duced the majority of the inhabitants in such territory to invoke the priVl- lege presented by local option.
 | "rhird :--The time should and does come when the majority of the citizens of a state, invoking the privilege Of local option, adopt statewide prohibi- | ton as a policy.
 .sFourth: Prom the point of view generally taken, Prohibition can and should be incorporated in the constl- tuition. the majority of the citizens of @ state so declaring under the priyi- lege of local option, If social condi- ticns were ideal, such would be the | natural stages of progress, but unIor- tunately we are called upon to deal with conditions as they are and not as we would like them to be.
 1 It is the duty of the Christian 10 strive to save the world. In the eff fort to save individuals the minister | learns sooner or later that society must also be saved. At the door or every social reform stands corrupt 1 or incapable legislature. It Is the duty of the Christian to strive 10 save 1 the world. The minister recognizes that intoxicating liquor is one of the greatest enemies of mankind. He therefore urges the individual to be a 1 total ahstainer and desires to put IT l beyond the power of man to drink Ut Is the duty of the Christian to strive to save the world. but politics is 8 business. On moral issues the
  l tians to ply the trade. When they get what they want and no moral issue is involved, the minister and mothers, having other business to attend to- cease to urge all Christians to do their l duty and many cease to do 1t. having affairs of their own to look after. Those who make. a business of politics ] never cease activity and are soon found once again in control.
 Temnerance Reform,
 Up to the present time the tenn perance reform Is the only one that has served the wholesome purpose of keeping Christians actively interested in politics. that has caused them to make politics their business.
 Prom the view point generally talk en. if the whiskey question was the only one affecting the welfare of so- ciety, 1 would deem 1t the wlsest and best thing that could be done to in- corporate the amendment in the Con- stitution; but 1t is not the only thing affecting the wellbeinE Of mankind for the Legislature Is empowered to enact laws that touch the individual and society at every point. making 1t extremely necessary that the Chris tian remain In politics. Again, ill nv humble opinion the very nature of the temperance question makes II all the more necessary for the Christian to remain in politics.
 'State-wid prohibition acts powerful incentive to keep Christians at their post of duty. for so long as 1T is the law the local Whiskey interests and the national whiskey trust will entertain hope and make repeated sf- forts to repeal 1t and Christians must and will he constantly active. seeing that the laws are preserved intact and duly enforced. While so doing, they | will elect their representatives from the moral and Christian element in the community. and thus give to the State. as those who enact laws touching all things that effect it's citizenship, men
 who will he in harmony with the re-
 demptive purpose of our Master
 Without the shedding of blood thara
 is no remission of sins" Without the
 pouring out of life the flowers Of
 righteousness will never bloom in all
 their beauty. In order to save the in-
 dividual we give our ourselves our tal-
 ent. time and means and lives. We
 band ourselves together as a church,
 the Gospel is preached. Missionaries
 are sent and great sacrifice Is made and yet the migate millions of human itv remain unsaved. To save the tndi-
 vidual society must he saved To save
 society. Christians must give them selves. their talent tune and means
 They must be willing to stand guard
 on behalf of all the people and see that only the righteous enact their
 laws for government Is the supreme | authority among men. The Legislature
 Is the only creator of new rights
 the only power which can provide for
 their enforcement. All reforms re-
 quire legislation. not merely the tenn