Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-06-06
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING. JUNE 6. iS1.
PROGRESS OF THE CRUSADE.

with Sucn remafkaDle peTSlSteH'. III
some places, that the newspaper press,
If it claims to be faithful record OF
current events, cannot do otherwise
than devote considerable space to its
history, nor, if if tits worthy of the name
of free journalism, refrain from express
ing its convictions on subject in which
the public are made to feel so lively an
interest. The views of the STANDARD
have been freely given on several occa-
sions. Whether they are right or wrong
it is for the public to determine. They
are honestly held, despite the severe
criticisms of those few individuals who
profess to enjoy monopoly of the virtue
and piety of the community. We are
not in the habit of Sinking a duty be-
cause it is onerous, or is likely to array
against us in bitter hostility those who
may quite as conscientiously entertain
adverse opinions. All that we have
desired has been a recognition of the
sincerity of purpose weaccord to others.
and a fair consideration of such argu-
ments as we may present for considera-
ton. We do not court martyrdom nor
fear it. Sustained by an innate con-
seriousness of right, by purity of motive,
the poisoned shafts aimed at us fall wide
of the mark. We consider our duty as
journalist paramount oall other earthly
considerations, and shall continue to
-"Hew to the line,
Let the chips fall where they may"
1t will be remembered by our readers
that this journal has been the special
champion of the churches on several oc-
casions when they have been assailed by
blatant blasphemcrs from abroad, and
has generally succeeded in directing all
the pent-up abuse upon itself, for pre-
summing to advocate the right of every
Christian denomination to worship God
according to the dictates of conscience.
The reward has been few feeble pats
on the back from those who dared not
expose themselves to the ordeal, and the
quiet JOY thatresult from an approving
conscience. No special credit is claimed
for this course, and it is only referred to
as an indication that we are not con-
trolled by any sectarian bias or preju-
dice in these comments on the crusade
in this place.
We use the word crusade, notwith-
standing a milder term is preferred by
those engaged in it. One of the rever-
end temperance lecturers last Sunday
evening, in the Methodist Church, de-
MED in most unequivocal language that
street services were intended as a cru
SADIE against the liquor traffic, and I'M
qualifedly affirmed that such an object
would be violation of the sanctity of
the Lords Day. The character of the
services this far would appear to sustain
this view, as the sermons, prayers and
songs have not borne the most remote
allusion to the liquor traffic; but the
wcll-known sentiments of the persons
engaged in it, their acts before the cam
paign was fairly mapped out and the
policy to be adopted was agreed upon,
their conduct and utterances in church
on Sunday evenings, Enthusiastically indi-
cate the spirit which prompts the move
ment. The subterfuge is what the once
celebrated Orpheus c. Kerr would have
styled " strategy" and exhibits more of
the cunning of the ward politician than
the piety of the saint. 1t finds paral-
lei in the scruples manifested by the
Good Templar who greedily swallows
"apple-juice" while he forswears cider,
although his conduct may not be so rep
rehensible inasmuch as he deceives him
self while the crusaders attempt to de-
eeive others. A cause that cannot stand
upon its own merits must fall The dis
uncuon made is unworthy of the sacred
character claimed for the work, and
seems to be the result either of CON-
promise with individual conscience, or
with popular sentiment, which is, and
has been, opposed to making prayer
medium for throwing odium upon any
of Gods creatures.
The admission that whisky crusade
by prayer and song, on Sunday, is,crong,
it should be remembered, comes from a
preacher, but one who does not partici
pate in the street exercises, even in
their sugar-coated form. In precept
and practice he may be considered
strictly orthodox. If a crusade is
wrong on Sunday, ,ehy is it wrong; and
by what process of communication does it