The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-16
Brother Haney..' Takes Ride on the
Temperance Rail

Editors Argus: ss
/ must confess was somewhat surprised
to see the following two items 10 the Union
of this morning. supposing them to refer
to BRO. Haney's" pompous explosion at
the temperance meeting in Moline last
Sunday night:
Brother Haney says he is a temperance
man, but he doesn't believe in going about
with red ribbon 10 his button hole.
Brother Haney is not alone in this, though
rcd ribbons are immensely popular here
abouts just now" #f##
A second item says:
Brother Haney ought to have fair play.
Being called upon, almost forced to speak,
he declared his sentiments. They may
not have suited DR.. Reynolds, aud they
may not have suited the audience. 1t was
easier to have fallen in with the popular
stream, but Brother Haney had ideas OF
his own and the courage to assert them.
The over-grown gentleman whom the
Union so sffectionately calls BRO. Haney"
is the pastor in charge Of the Moline
Methodist church. 1t seems, however,
that this humble calling is not to the am
bilious liking of the Union's Bro and
that he has lately betaken himself to the
more promising field of politics, in con-
necticn with the Nationals. A few
months ago he succeeded in securing his
election to the office of Assessor of Moline,
and more recently his organ" brings him
out as the candidate of that party for
a representative 10 Congress.
| Brother Haney," as Methodist min
lister, processes to be a red hot radical,
uncompromising, a1ti-hcense temperance
man; but he evidently knows enough OF
current politics to know that success IN
that line of business requires a counter
balance in the way of little factious
opposition to popular and practical method;
for securing temperance. 1t is only thus
that the good Brother" as a candidate
for congress can maintain foothod OF
which to rally the liquor element of hi
party,
| When Dr. Reynolds came along las
week be supposed, of course, that "Brothe
Haney" would throw his ponderous weigh
on the side of the good cause-not knowing
that the Brother" occupied the Qua
position of minister of the gospel an
prospective candidate for congress-. II
attended several of DR.. Reynolds meet
ings and had every opportunity to inform
himself of the Dr.'s plans and method
E for advancing the cause of temperance
On Sunday evening Brother" II. pcrau
bulated himself into the pulpit of th
Congregational church and sat down on i
! When the proper time came, DR.. Key
nolds invited several ministers and other
to make short addresses, among the nun
Der he invited being BRO. Haney." Coz
J sidering that he was in the pulpit of Brt
minister, attending temperance meeting
the audience naturally supposed that 'Brt
Haney" would give his endorsement
the cause in one of his characterist
Examinations against saloons, license, an
hquor drinkers. But be didn't. He DIRE
long breath and launched out with Fl
and voice in general TRADE against d
Reynolds method of advancing tempe
] ance, ridiculing the red ribbon, sneering
, the idea Of a temperance man like hi
needing pledge and generally intimatir
that the Reynolds movement was n
sufficiently orthodox nor sufficient
e radical OF course, BRO. Haney'
+ splurge was surprise to the audience.
practically ruined the meeting for Il
evening and threw temporary damperl,
the temperance movementin Moline. III
effect, however, has rebounded and Il
!, temperance cause has gained earne
u friends at BRO. Haney's" expense.
# Nobody cared whether BRO. Hane.
e believed in going about with red RIB
10 his button hole" Nobody denied hi
-, fair play" Nobody forced him
( speak" And when the Union intimat
VI anything of the kind, or attempts
n apologize. for his absurd, uncourteous a
o unchristlan conduct 10 the Congregation
church last Sunday evening, 1t simI
IL arrays itself against the feelings and t
10 judgment Of almost every person in t
d large audience present.
], BRO. Haney" may be good preach,
y He may be a good politician. But {
IS intelligent people of this community ha
ID made up their minds that there is
enough of him to play the double charac
with success. Let him try to maintain
reputation by devoting his gigantic intell
ID to one or the other of his chosen calm
~ AUDITOR
Rock Island, May 18th, 1878.