The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-04
A MATTER OF TOLERANCE.

Referring to the letter OF Rev. E. P.
Whallon, of Vincennes, and the very kind,
and possibly just, criticism of the Journal
by another friend, we desire to say that it
was the furthest from our intention to mis-
represent the General Assembly or to cast a
sheer at any one in what we said. That we
did not misinterpret the action of the AS
sembly so far as the facts at hand warrant,
is evident from the report of the Saratoga
proceedings, as appears in the New York
Tribune of Friday last, as follows:
Gas the discussion of the temperance
question was heated last night so it remained
this morning. The total abstinence men re-
fused to yield, and were defeated by small
majority. The report [of the perma-
nent committed was then adopted Amend
ments offered by the Rev. DIR. Herrick John
son had been carried declaring against prohi-
biton as a distinctive measure, but haiAng
with joy and thanksgiving the efforts to
check intemperance and the sale of intoxi-
eating beverages by the power of the Chris
tan conscience, of public opinion and the
strong arm of the law"
These were the words the Journal quoted.
We do not understand them to be decla-
AdAiOu piOLlDIIlOut Qlu VIC
so express ourselves. The resolution is
merely a declinaton to declare that one
must be an advocate of prohibition to be re-
garded as a temperance man. The action
of the Presbyterian Assembly recognizes
as temperance reform all movements that
tends to lessen and restrict the evils of in
temperance by whatsoever name they are
called or by whomsoever prosecuted. We
regarded this action as wise and significant,
and contrasted it with the assertions of those
who insist that no one can be for temperance
can be no temperance work except on the
line of prohibition. There are people who
thus think. They have appeared in the
columns of the Journal, ridiculing the idea
that such man as Dr. Howard Crosby was
in any sense temperance man, and insisting
that his influence was really on the
side of the liquor traffic. 1t is
fortunate that these are so few.
When all hope of even a trial of the peoples
judgment upon constitutional prohibition
failed by the action of the late Legislature,
the Journal urged such temperance legisla-
ton as might be practicable, asking all
classes of temperance men to unite heartily
and tremendously. We asked no one to fore
go for a moment his cherished idea, be it
what it may, and that is our position now.
The prohibitionist is bound by fealty to his
own conscience to continue the advocacy of
that plan, but that need not prevent him
from working on another plane as we'll or
at least being In harmony with others.
The Journal has no sneers for any honest
and tolerant person. 1t cherishes implicitly
questions as one of the fundamentals of
American citizenship. We believe in
tolerance and moderation and because the
Presby terrain General Assembly seemed to us
to adopt that rule, recognizing all classes of
earnest and sincere workers for restriction
of the evils of the liquor traffic as equals in a
worthy moral movement, we called atten-
ton to it In contrast with certain express
sions that had been made in this State, to the
effect that free whisky was greatly better
than any form of regulation, and that those
who advocated high license, or local option,
or anything but legal and constitutional
prohibition, were really the friends If not
the emissaries, of the liquor interest, There
Is no room for quarrel with the Journal by
I ! 4 l. L.
ever individual judgment or preference may
be on this question.
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