The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-19
X REFORMS.
The Trouble with Them When They Are Put
Into Partisan Politics.

"Gath's' New York Letter.
The great trouble with the cold water ques-
ton in the United States is its disproportion to
the general purposes of a nation. Very few of
the great reforms of this worldhave been accom-
plished through politics. We will suppose,
for the sake of argument, that the German
Reformation of Luther was a benefit. 1
think tnat most of the tolerant Catholic his
torians now recognize the fact that the Prot
estant was followed by greater
attention to morals and public opinion in the
older church. The politicians. for the main
part, Kept out of Luther's reformation alto
gether. The German politicians were some
what Jealous of the Italian politicians, and
for a little while encouraged the monks and
theoiogians to raise a row. Luthur's only sup
part came from a comparatively weak German
prince. When the politicians did take hold of
TINS they tore Europe all to pieces,
to religious purity. The Protestant princes, like
Gustavus Adophus and the King of Denmark
and Elizabeth, invaded Germany, and by mutual
exhaustion were these religious concessions
made, which, had that subject been kept out Of
politics, might nave happened long before.
The English reformation of John Wesley, one
of the most remarkable in all history, had no
politicians whatever in it. He saw that the
English people were getting depraved
IN speech in habits and in their
thoughts. He never seeded from his own
church, but resolved to produce a revival of
morals in England, and the organization he put
on foot was so far independent of politics that
when the American Methodists took part in the
American revolution, old Wesley Numbered at
them for bringing politics into their piety.
So it is with Temperance. 1t might be a sub
lime spectacle for the angels to see sixty mill
ions Of people suddenly stop the importa-
ton, exportation, manufacture and con-
sumption of all kinds of fluids, but it would
greatly derange the affairs of men. It would
have to be followed by an inquisition into
private habits, which would destroy liberty
itself. The whole essence Of this Temperance
question is that the next man to you shall not
take a drink. The true way to have temper
ance is for each man who feels it nee
essary for himself to stop his liquor and
be an example. But l maintain that he
IS not a temperance man who gets
himself nominated for President on the
ground that he is better than somebody else, and
is the only correct example for his times. Tenn
perance largely consists in liberation. Intern
perance is the abuse of moderation. OF what
avail would it be for this country to elect
a President, for example. devoted to ne idea
two weeks when we would have a foreign war.
What would become of his temperance the mo-
ment he called for troops4 And suppose he had
divided his country on this cold water question,
so that it would not be aroused for the invasion
of the country2
The simple fact is that a regulation of private
morals is. not a large enough subject for a great
nation to handle. When Martin Luther
achieved his reform of worship and of church
abuses he almost Immediately found such
fanatics as. John of Leyden starting out on the
question of baptism, followed by ten thousand
women, most of whom he married,
and in a short time asserted that he was the
Messiah. 1t was such a great scandal that near
ly all the princes in Germany had about resolved
to march hack to Rome for safety. But they
made a campaign against John OF Leyden, put
him in a wooden cage, hoisted him to a proni-
nent elevation and put him to death slowly. He
was one of the earliest reformers who had cold
water in his eye.