The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-04-11
MANITowoc TEMPLE OF HONOR No. 50.

Manitowoc, April 8, 1878.
To the Editor of the Aanitouoc Paet:
SIR.-The members of the Temple of
Honor of this city. hitherto, had hoped that
they would be permitted quietly and uuobr
trusively to pursue the objects of their or
ganzation 10 their o,en way, and in the
manner " Inch they deemed wisest, and best
calculated to accomplish their purposes;
being well satisfied to leave the result OF
their labors as evidence to the community
for it's Judgment, whether the effects prodlcI
ed upon themselves. their families, the
surrounding neighborhood and the body
polite are good or evil.
But you sir, under the cover of your
editorial mantle, which you have briefly
worn, have seen tit, in your wisdom as
editor in chief of a country newspaper, 10
determine otherwise-as appears By a long
editorial in the last issue of your paper
| headed "The Temple of Honor" contair-
ing much bal logic and more than one
misty northumberland are evidently deter
mined to force u controversy upon the Ten
pie If you possibly can. What your motive
is in pursuing such course toward the
| Temple of Honor is best known to yourself
| We seek not to know. However, it Won
| think your structures, uncivil and untrue as
some of them are, will il the least degree
| influence the action of the Temple, or vary
the course Of single member. you have
very much. mistaken the temper and spirit
of the organization. Or, if you think that
Your arrogant assumption Of dictatoriai
functions over its members, as to how they
shall vote, ard what they shall vote on par
ticuur occasions, is acceptable to US, you
are fearfulY and utterly mistaken. For
We resent your self assumed dictatorship,
and challenge your right to direct or instruct
Us as to how We shall in any manner deport
ourselves, as Templars, in voting or what
not, as an insult to our manhood; savorng
too much of the arbitrary domination OF the
feruie. Il gross impertinence, bordering very
close on impudenee. We have the intelli-
gence, the manhood and the determination
necessary to regulate those matters for
OurseIves-and will brook no outside dc
tation, come from whatever source it maJ.
And do not think, Mr. Editor. that this
communication is sent you by the Temple
because of your rude, often sive demand that
the Temple of Honor dlsclaim, explain or
justify the action you complain of; not at
all. We deny your right to make any such
ill-considered aud insulting demand of US;
either in the character of citizen, a well
bred gentleman, or even editor of party
newspaper.
Our only, and sole, object at this time is,
once for all, to let the public know what
principles govern our organization in the
discharge of our public and private duties
as Templars.
The Temple of Honor is a temperance
organization in it's broadcast sense. It's
members not only pledge themselves to alb
STAN from drinking a II intoxicating liquors
and beverages, hut they also pledge them
selves to use oil honorable means to prevent
and restrain the manufacture and sale of
the same. This they solennly obigate
themselves to do during their natural lives
And this every man knows before he be-
comes member of the order. The organ
ization then, it will be seen, is not merely
a passive but aggressive one. The Templar
who is in full sympathy with the objects of
the order can not ba satisfied with simply |
saving himself from the demon Of strong
drink: but is stimulated by the solemn pre-
cepts of the order and the many examples
around him of men reclaimed from drum /
kcnness, disgrace and ruin, desolate homes
made happy, and sad hearts made glad
through the means used By his honored and |
much beloved Temple: and so is led to |
direct and use whatever means within his !
power to limit the sale of the accursed stuff, |
10 order that he NAV, rurchance, by so co.
ing reclaim some unfortunate to sobriety
and responsibility. In this direction the
Temple Of Honor knows nothing nor cares
nothing for party or party names. No man
is constrained in his political opinions He
may be Democrat or Republican, for hard
n oney or soft. but, be he either and seek
official position at the hands of temperance
men where the coveted post may haye an
influence for or against the cause of tenn
perauce you may rest assured that all Tenn
pie of Honor men will support the man
closest in sympathy with them that will in
any way further their purposes. And if
your party desire our support, it behooves
you to see to it that acceptable candidates
in sympathy, at least. with our purposes
are nominated for such office,. To this ex-
tent do We propose to exercise our dearest
right IA free men in the interest of sobriety
economy, good order ana humanity. And
to this extent and no further did we use
! our right Of franchise in the election Of
last Tuesday, the result of which has called
forth your illadvised and unseemly indgna'
ton. And to this extern and no further will
! wepermit the editor Of thePILoT or any one
else to make our Temple a party machine.
Our fraternal hall ha. not nor shall not be
converted into a tricky political caucus
| room for the furtherance of the schemes Of
any party, man, or set of men. Notwitbr
standing that you untruly and unjustly, by
| innuendo, charge that the members of the
Temple sought by their votes to cast re-
Election on the personal character of Mr..
Fiening, your candidate for Mayor. Moth
ing could be further from ina truth. they
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