Pennsylvania Prohibitionists and Religious Legislation
The Pennsylvania Prohibitionists' Platform smacks more of National Reform sentiments than ever before; in fact, it is National Reform. Their platform starts out by "acknowledging Almighty God as the source of all true government and accepting the declaration of the Supreme Court of the United States that this is a Christian nation." They never knew it was a Christian nation before, it is to be presumed. But that is not strange; nobody else did, save a few learned ignoramuses who know not Christ. They admit the woman suffrage plank, suggest that public school funds shall not be used for sectarian purposes, and then declare that the Sabbath must be preserved and protected as a day of rest by the due enforcement of present laws and the enactment of such other laws as may be necessary for the preservation of the same inviolate. If this means anything, it means the most rigid regulation of religious observation of the sabbath, by which is meant Sunday. It is the religious term that is used, and it must be preserved "inviolate." None are exempted. Pennsylvania lost all mercy in this respect when the rule of the Quaker passed. There are probably honest Prohibitionists who are yet training with the party but who do not believe in religious legislation, and who, strange to say, do not believe that the party would commit itself to it. How far will the party have to go before these men believe? What more evidence do they need to know that the party is committed soul and body to religious legislation?