The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-05-29


an essay headed "Murphyism anc
Kindred Topics as Viewed by an
Outsider" Your issue of May 5tf
had an article in defense of Murphy
ism, written in answer to the article
mentioned above. BY way of explain
alton. | will say some personal friends
prominent members of Murphy 80
ciety, also of Good Templars' Lodge
at Rochester, who regarded me as q
friend TO every enterprise that had for
its object the elevating, moralizing,
and purifying of human society, bu,
knowing, as Defender says, that
didn't take much stock in Murphyism
requested me to prepare an essay EN-.
bodying my views ON the question OF
temperance. In compliance with that
request wrote the essay published in
your issue of April "a. and handed to
the secretary Of the Murphy society
rs an anonymous contribution. 1t
was read at one Of their meetings, and
loudly applauded by more than a
hundred Murphys. At the instance
of number Of leading temperance
men at Rochester, the secretary took
copy of the essay, and sent it to
your Office for publication; and if it
has served rs wet blanket to existing
temperance organizations, the secreta-
ry and his advisers are to blame, as /
had nothing to do with its publication.
In writing the essay l did as was re-
quested to do-gave my opinion Of
the past, present, and the future. of
the cause of temperance in our midst,
with no expectation of its being pub
lished; no desire to provoke contro-
versy, and no thought Of bringing on
myselfany animadversions. In regard
to this defender and his defense,
haven't got much to say. In my es-
say | said all on the subject of MUIR
phyism | wish to say on that subject.
The author of Murphyism is, think,
fair representative of a class tolera-
bly, numerous in the Northern and
Eastern States, to-wit: cheap heroes.
But then if this defender wants to
canonize him, | have no objections 10
offer.
l think defender in his citations and
quotations is somewhat faulty. For
instance, he quotes me rs saying GAS
whisky has never killed any of my
friends or relatives, have no reason
to be partial to it," The language in
my essay that he quotes at, and its
inseparable connection reads this way.
81 have no immediate friends nor rel
atives whose ruin has been wrought
by intoxicating liquors. Hence | am
not influenced ny aaJ .e.
against, nor am / biased favprably by
any Partially towards the article
mentioned, so l think l can promise
in the outset that my inference and
conclusions on this question will be
fair and impartial"
l think the ultimatum Defender
has in view is a little newspaper pub
licity; for that reason, although his
name appears conspicuously at the
bottom of his article, l have refrained
from using it in this writing, as I did
not wish to contribute anything to
that end, unless l knew Defender had
a higher regard for truth and fair
dealing than his article warrants me
crediting him with.
l have before me a letter from J.
w. Rust, formerly editor of the
Western Recorder, now President of
Bethel Female College, Hopkinsville,
KY. in which he says 81 thank you
for the copy of the essay sent me. 1t
is good production, and contains
many valuable truths" Also letter
from Elder w. c. Taylor. Auburn,
KY, in which he says "your essay |
in the main l endorse. Until some
thing better can be presented I feel
bound to co operate in the
move now in operation. Every good
citizen ought to give his influence to
the means or agencies in his reach.
Cooperation is the law of success in
everything that involves the public
veal or woe. Your essay is full of
thoughts worthy Of consideration by
all the friends of temperance" But
hen probably these gentlemen are like
nyself-have gone thus far through
life without being so fortunate as to
,ver have made the acquaintance of
Defender. AT all events, l take it for
granted they are not in communica-
ion with him, else they would have
been better informed as to the merits
# the article in question.
Defenders mild insinuations as to
ny Bibulous proclivities don't disturb
ne much. II he had said l hadn't
lrawn sober breath for ten months
Except by proxy. I might have taken
lmbrage. His story about my stealing
he cloak of Heaven to serve the devil
n, 1 utterly deny. But then a denial
II such a charge as that is altogether
for everybody knows in
hese costermonger times his satanic
majesty has so many emissaries mas
Iueradipg in that proverbial cloak
hat the supply has been exhausted
ong ago, hence 1 could neither steal
Tor borrow, and all the services l
ave rendered his satanic majesty have
,een under his national colors.
Now, if this defender is writing for
anne | congratulate him on his near
pproach to the object of his pursuit.
However, if he was writing solely in .
he interest of truth, / would suggest
o him that a willful and gross garb-
ing of matters promulgated by others
Or the advancement of truth, will
lily subserve his purpose. am like
'alstaff; never knew before that re-
luke was the reward of valor. 4,
nr--yD--