Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-28

rings and dictatorial party bosses il
) rapidly passing before the uprising o
public determination
People are beginning to realize tina
they must arouse themselves an,
handle politics or politics viii handh
| them. They have had their eve,
| opened to the fact that when they ae
concertedly mountains OF vice anc
crime are swept from the path Of
Christian progress.
Why, then. should not the pastor,
| and their flocks become politically ae-
tive? Political machinery foster,
crime, while wide-open public politics
are necessary to law and good order
OF course the sneerers. in the press
and on the streets will always mouth
their idiotic "hypocrites" and ''fana-
tics, but it is compliment 10 be
called either of those by that class OF
people who subsist on the misfortunes
of appetite. passion and weak moral
fibre.
The man who depends for subsis-
tence on the prosperity of dives, baw-
dy-houses and gambling resorts. is the
worst antagonist of Christian adj
vaneement. He is the first lieutenant
of the devil and finds politics his most
effective tool He it is who shouts
"hypocrites" at workers for moral
hetterment. His newspaper mouth
piece is the one which sneers at min
listers of the gospel who take a hand
in politics 1t is from him and his
henehmen that we hear the scathing
"fanatics."
But the ministers are getting onto
their job and political perverts and
prostitutes are panic-stricken.
On Sunday last all the churches of
Lewiston and Auburn and many 9TH
ers listened to public rebuke from the
pulpit, of the shameful conditions in
certain cities Of cur State Pastors
spoke out their indignation and their
hearers We're impressed The effect is
apparent and far-reaching Let other
pastors enlist.
Augusta pastors have repeatedly
and powerfully arraigned the present
regime and demanded the laws aid in
the suppression of vice and crime
They have not minced words. but they
have been generous and sportsman
like; they have denounced those who
wilfully disregard official oath as
we'll as law, and have been tolerant of
those who are misled and who honest
~ believe that the best way to over
come an evil is to cloy old split hoof
with the product of his own mills.
At st. Michael's church, Auburn,
Rev. Arthur r. Stray said;
ut is not customary to preach politics
from this chancel, and to preach pro-
hibiti9n, at this, time, in Maine. is in
directly to preach politics. The problem
before us is not the problem of prohibi-
ton or prohibition. It is the greater
problem of law and order,
divided opinion as to the desirability and
of State wide prohibition
Of the liquor traffic, an investigation OF
the returns in the last election will
retain her prohibitory law. Nothing
save an honest, impartial, unfaltering
enforcement Of the law, can prove abb
solutely that Maine did unwisely.
I1vasions of the law prove absolutely
nothing. There is but one way TO prove
he virtue of law, and that is to en-
force it, There is but one way to prove
the lack of virtue in a law, and that is
to enforce il.
1.-The duty of every citizen with high
est good and best interest of this COM
every effort put forth to secure an hon
est enforcement of our laws as they
stand. 1t is his duty to vote on the side
of law and order"
Rev. a. T. Salley, minister at Maine
street Free Baptist church. Lewiston,
said:
There is l think, practical unanimity
of opinion among our citizens touching
the following points:
"A stable government is of measureless
Importance since il is an accepted
the mutual relations of society in bust
ness and politics and morals This adj
iustment is effected through a system of
laws. Obedience to law is therefore es-
In a democracy the persons appointed
10 administer the laws are bound by
every principle of honor. by the public
welfare and by the sanctity of their
oaths to administer them faithfully
Office holders have not had discretion
airy power lodged with them by the peo-
pie who have created the laws. The as
of such discretionary power
would throw all government into dis
order and destroy that which is funda-
mental in democracy, viz. the rule
Of majority.
ut is commonly believed that in Lew
lston and in several other parts of our
State, the laws forbidding the sale of
and gambling are openly and fiagrantly
that the officials charged with
the execution of these laws, for reasons
known best to themselves, leave them
practically unenforced.
such officials are usurping the func-
tions. of the law-making body, viz. the
legislative and those of the judiciary
as we'll For this there is no authority
or warrant The people do not want it.
Public welfare does not demand it, 1t
is bold, defiant usurpation.
Such officials are criminals in the
eyes of the law which provides adequate
penalties for their misdemeanors They
are liable TO prosecution as violators of
the law.
Rev. II, y. Hutchins of the Bates
street Baptist church, Lewiston. said:
1.-The question arises: Who is ac-
countable for this condition of affairs?
Immediately we say and say rightly
that the police and the magistrates must
"a ell 10 nat.