Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-04-15
THE PROHIBITION ISSUE
Virginian Sounds Note Of Alarm on.
Present Day Conditions :.

James L. Kilgore, of Round Hill,
Loudoun county, Va, who occasional-
:ly contributes articles to Baltimore
i,,arer, has the following to say On
the prohibition question, now the
prominent issue of the day:
Il asked some time ego if Christ
ian could be a prohibitionist? 1t was
terrible and soul-stirring question
and it remains unanswered. | would
ike to ask another question. Can a
| patriot be a prohibitionist? and by
patriot mean one who does nat
weigh consideration of self, OF party
or of sect for moment against the
god of his country.
l take it that the creates. nl:for-
tune that can happen to people IS
for it to lose respect for law and re-
ligion. 1t has often happened in times
past, ard has always been ATTENDED
with the direct consequences. lt hap
pened in France, and the horrors OF
the French Revolution followed IN it,
wake. The greatness of Napoleon was
rover more strikingly displayed than
when he recognized that a naticn cou!I
not i've without a religion ard had
he priests brought back. II h.ppene@
in England, and the wild license Q,
:.ae days of Charles II came when, tc
ruote Green, the daughters Of cmin-
mt Puritan preachers danced on the
public stage in las2ivious dances to
now their scorn Of their own father
,aachings.
Strange to say, these conditions
have been brought about, not by the
ungodly, but by the preachers of re-
ligion themselves. Forgetting their
true function and grasping at power
by getting control of the machinery
ii government, they have hurried the
world straight into infide,ity.
Gust that condition exists with us
today. Our religion: leaders have stop
acd preaching Christ and have be-
come politicians and stump speakers,
BY the irony Of chance the pu5licans
md sinners are fighting a desperate
battle for liberty and religion, ana
.hcse who should be the spir!tua!
rr;ides OF the people have allied them
elves with the darkest, the most sin
ster. the most dangerous conspiracy
rainst freedom that ever appeared
America or any other country.
"They say they will rstorm the
.vorid with the lash and lead the peo-
Die to Christ with haltars.
"Now, this is no TRADE against
! preachers. All my in tincts lead re 70
.heir side. My only brother is a preach
or. have an il,us!rious church an
cestry. l myself have always been
chur. h-goer and church-woHker
When they confine themselves to their
proper sphere they do the ncblest
work in the wcrld. But | know that
when they commence to grasp at
worldly power they are the most dam
gerous Of all people.
"There are certain days in history
that stand out from all ether days
for their peculiar infamy. On such 9
day Christ was bounded to the cross;
Charles | wa dragged to the seat
fold; Joan Of Arc was burned at the
stake; Paris ran red with blood on ST.
Bar.hc!omew's Day. All these things
were brought about through the ma
ch;nations e ambitious religious lead
crs. We viii hope that The day this
prohibition amendment IS worked into
The Con titut;on of the United States
VIII not be one Of these hlacl: days in
American history. But If that spirit Of
.utcc-atic domination that PIT II there
: rrt CHECKED NV It will he.
".Auto racy IS word ha!afp! IN
American cars. Let the spirit Of arGr-
elk AMI irfiIcli.y take hold Of hcr ans
snc IS lest. IN It's train will come i~c
and sword. rcd ruin ard the breaking
Up CT law"