THE PROHIBITORY AMENDMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA.
By L. C. Chadwick
On the eighteenth day of June, 1889, the voters of the State of Pennsylvania are to have an opportunity to decide whether the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors shall be prohibited by law, or whether it shall be legalized, as heretofore. This gives a chance for every voter among Seventh-day Adventists in this State to put himself on record as being opposed to the liquor traffic, and is a chance that none of us can afford to let pass without improving. We have often been unjustly accused of being in sympathy with the liquor men, because we could not conscientiously identify ourselves with the Prohibition party and vote for its candidates for public office. Our sisters have been censured for not uniting with the organizations of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and assisting in the work along their line. These things we cannot do as long as we see these organizations joining hands with the National Reformers in clamoring for a rigid enforcement of our State Sunday law, and the enactment of one that shall be national in its character. The temperance issue in this State is now separated entirely from political issues, and from the direct control of these organizations, and is in the hands of the people, and there is no reason why we cannot use our influence from now till the 18th of June, and our votes on that day, to help put down this vile and iniquitous traffic. It is a lamentable fact that there are in many of the churches of the land to-day, men, yes, and women too, who are not only in sympathy with, but are openly working for, the interests of the liquor men. The deceptive plea for high license is heard from many persons who occupy prominent places in some of our leading denominations. May God forbid that the time should ever come when any member of a Seventh-day Adventist Church shall be found advocating any method of dealing with the liquor traffic, except its utter extermination. Let us then, dear brethren in Pennsylvania, do all that we can by our voices, our influence, and our votes, to assist in outlawing the sale of liquor in this great commonwealth. I have had considerable opportunity during the winter to interview prominent men from different parts of the State, and I find that there is a growing sentiment in favor of the amendment. Some men of good judgment, who have given the subject careful investigation, predict a majority of 40,000 in favor of it. We must not slacken our efforts in the least, however, for the liquor men are organizing in all parts of the State, and quietly but determinedly using their influence and means to defeat it. There is one feature connected with this movement that may not at first be seen by all our people. We have a rigid Sunday law in this State at present, and when we say anything about having it repealed, we are met with the argument that if this law is repealed there will be nothing to prevent the saloons from being kept open on Sundays; and then we are usually informed that we are in sympathy with the saloons. Of course we reply that we would be in favor of shutting the saloons every day in the week, but this answer usually makes but little impression on the objector. Let the prohibitory amendment be carried, and the saloons closed entirely, and we will have one of the strongest objections to a repeal of the Sunday law removed. Let us, then, as a denomination in this State, cast our influence as one man in favor of the prohibitory amendment. Williamsport, Pa., March 25, 1889.