The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-09
THE PULPIT AND THE SALOON.

ton of all kinds have run riot. The issues
were plainly and sharply drawn in the cleo
ton of Tuesday last--the contest was be-
tween the moral and the immoral forces and
tendencies of society-the one represented
by the pulpit and the other by the saloons,
the gaming houses and the bagnios The
Democratic party, with its unerring instinct
espoused the cause of the latter, and by the
force of an alliance, the influence and power
of which the people of Indiana know some
thing about, the moral, law-abiding law-up-
holding elements of society, so far as they
were aroused and exerted, were overborne by
their opponents, and Carter Harrison, the
Thug of the Slums, reelected to the position
he has so signally disgraced The result goes
far to demonstrate the truth of the aphorism
that cities are the plague spots of civilization
"a statement finding its proof elsewhere
than in Chicago.
But the sheer of the Times is that the pull
| pit is out of its sphere" and is correspond
ingly and properly without influence, when
ever it steps aside from the illumination of
theological distractions and boldly
talks in the concrete and for definite
and distinct things. This cry is a common
one. 1t is heard on all sides about election
times, and it is always heard from those
who are plotting against the best interests of
| society, and wagng political warfare in
behalf OF agencies that for hundreds of years
have been under the ban Of law and of
morals. 1t is all right for the saloons of a
city or of q State to combine together in
political action. They do not step out of
their Sphere" when their owners and
attaches and concomitants all unite in the
advocacy and election of some particular
ticket OF candidates which may be judged to
be friendly to them and their business, or
combine for the success of a party whose
| principles are regarded as in accord with the
prosperity of their trade. This is all right
and never word of protest is heard. But the
moment church or preacher or numb
of them, in the interests of public morality,
which is the substructure of the religion
they are in the world to advocate, and in the
absence of which religion cannot live, and
in the decadence of which the church,
therefore, has most lively interest, dares to
say a word, or to unite in opposi-
ton to the candidates of the party
i'll favor of which the saloons are ex-
erting every possible effort and contributing
every possible exertion, then the air is vexed
with these criticisms upon the pulpit and
these cries that the pulpit has abandoned its
proper sphere. The theory seems to be that
it is right and proper for eyil-minded men to
associate together for any purpose even the
most detrimental, but ii is a wrong and an
improperly for moral and religious people
to put forth united effort for the advance
ment of the public good.
Put in this shape, it is an offensive ar
raignment of the pulpit and what the pulpit,
in its broadest relations and significance, may
be held to represent, and challenge in the
interest of the saloons generically and what
they represent. AS between the pulpit and
the saloons the Journal is for the pulpit
crime They are the exciting cause of
nine .tenths of the criminality the pauper-
ism and the expense of government. They
are the dens out OF which issue the murders
and the assaults and the disorders which en-
ploy our police, give occupation to courts,
and fill jails and penitentiaries, They are
the places where women and children are
despoied of their heritage, and to counteract
the evil influences and results of which re-
formatory and charitable institutions are
forced to be maintained at such great cost of
pains and money. The saloon increases taxa
ton and depreciates the value of property in
its vicinity. If there be a necessity for its
existence, if it contributes an iota to the pub
lie good if it adds to the material wealth and
prosperity of the nation, the saloon interest
itself has as yet failed to point it out. What
is to be said for the pulpit? The pulpit
represents no such category as that which
follows inevitably in the wake OF the
saloon. The church is the conservator OF
peace and good order Its influence is in
favor OF sobriety, industry and good citizen
ship. 1t is the conservator of public moral
ity, the direct promoter of thrift and indus
try, and the guardian of healthful business
and honest wealth. The church enhances
values; every steeple is better than a po-
liceman for the protection Of life and prop
erty, and in the assurance OF moral health
and peaceful security. If any interest in the
land has the right and is under the duty to
combine for what it conceives to be proper, it
is the pulpit. For the pulpit and the church