2^ FROEIBITION. 



hnno- M-irv Dyer. The blood still tells. In other states it has a fee. 

 ble existence/and is used as a foil for the God-in-the-Constitution 



^'now whatever be the side issues, or the party name, we know 

 that there is but one line of political eyolution. and that is in the 

 direction of liberty. We therefore hail our prohibition friends, as 

 co-adiutors in that cause. We would not have them suppressed, by 

 •mv means ! Tliey will succeed, but in a way altogether different 

 irom what they expect. The good which their agitation will accom- 

 plish will be because of its educational influence, not because of its 

 leo-al bearing, because they are temperance men and women, not 

 because they are prohibitionists. Instead of getting God into the 

 Constitution, they will finally effect the complete divorce of Church 

 and State. Thev will show to our "liberaF' friends the unsound- 

 ness of introducing any other than a defensive function, under the 

 province of government. And as for these devoted women, so zeal, 

 ously attached to the church, what can be said for them ? We warn 

 the priests of the dangerous character of the liberties they are 

 concedino- For, no sooner will these women have exercised then- 

 new fled °ed wings in one direction, than they will begin to use them 

 in another : must not this divide your power ? Already, a leading 

 woman, in a leading article, in a leading magazine, discounts the 

 baneful influence of Christianity upon her sex.* Therefore vve wel- 

 come "prohibition" as an adjunet in the cause of civil and religious 



^' *" When one looks back over the history of the church, and in- 

 quires in what respect she differs from other religions, we arc im- 

 pressed with the intolerance growing out of her "plan of salva- 

 tion The hypothesis of its "divinity" does not permit a doubt. 

 For if it is divine, and the only one, what becomes of the sinner 

 wliile in doubt ? He is irretrievably damned. (iuite contrary to 

 this is the first postulate of science, that a thing is not true until it 

 is proved. Science says, if you do not doubt, you are damned. 



Now there is not a Christian clergyman, to day, retained in his 

 place, first and foremost, because of his character or attainment, 

 lie may be very wise, and pure, and lovable, yet if he hoUls o no 

 nart of this "plan," he cannot be an ordained clergy-man. There- 

 lore intolerance and arrogance are their cardinal characteristics. 

 These celesiastics, by nature, never lead the life of '^^y^^; ^^^^ 

 • It IH with innnito sorrow that I see carncnt wonu-n wasting so much enthnsl- 



lion." whercvi-r they ftnd it, whether in church or slatc.-itfr«. EhzaOeth taay 

 Stanton, in the North American Review. 



