Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-05-16
The Kind Of Christians We Are.

Fort Worth and the enforcement OF
the Sunday law Ia now the theme OF
widespread discussion among the
Texas newspapers. The season is
very dull; the war furry is over and
that subject has been worn thread
bare; politics is too dead to engage at
tention they are afraid TO tackle free
grass; crop prospects are not definite
enough TO attract speculation; every
thing that could inspire the editorial
pen is out Of the ring, except Fort
Worth, and Fort Worth just at pres
ent is the occasion of general thank.
fitness for furnishing subject for
loaded matter,
The tone OF editorial utterances is
largely varied, according as the edit
orial mind views the matter. By some
we are condemned, by some
praised, while cautious few
express neither approval nor
disapprobation. Our effort to expel
the gamblers and close saloons on Sun
day is viewed by some as a freak of
the "unco guild" TO hasten the millen-
mum. Others regard it as a praise
worthy exhibition of pluck that should
be encouraged. Not a few say it is an
outcome of the morbid Fort Worth
craving for excitement that the town
has divided into two parties, the Saints
and the Sinners, for the sole purpose
OF having a skirmish and furnishing
diversion during the dull season, as
school-children form parties OF "Reb-
elsn and yankees and make mimic
war on one another. All agree that
the contest will be tremendous one,
and nothing but Divine assistance will
give the Saints victory over the hosts
Of Satan. This Is the common feeling,
which we are prepared to show to be
unjust and false.
Fort Worth Is not wicked. We
possess a fair share of human depravi-
ty, saved from the wreck of Adams
fall, which is brought into use on
holiday occasions, but Is not allowable
for everyday use Fort Worth is es-
sentially active, energetic, boiling
over with vitality, but is not wicked,
1t Is this extraordinary activity that
strangers mistake for Yiekedness
Dallas, Houston or Galveston people
Waiting us and seeing the unaccus-
toned sight of men rushing fiercely
about In pursuit. of their business,
with no time to stop in the shade and
mediate upon religion or talk poll
ties, imagine that they are inspired
by evil motives upon the hypothesis
that the devil, being active and alert,
therefore his children must be so.
Fort Worth Is essentially philan-
thropic, mild, large-hearted, vlrtuous
and brimful of life. This Is what
deceives people. They can't
understand how We can be
30 busy without plotting mischief
: and not understanding, they attrib,
ute 1t TO wickedness, and thus Fort
Worth has won and bears the name oil
tough city.
The GAZETTE protests against this
III other Texas towns had half the
snap and "git-up-and-gitn of Fort
7 Worth they would be twice as bad
: That goodness which Is the result o.
a an indlsposition to Go wicked acj
4 solely because 1t requires an oxertior
: Is not great virtue Goodness which
4 Ia merely the negatlon OF vice is o
mighty little account. Fort Wortf
u has now gone into the work Of reform
y with her usual vigor and dash, anC
: will carry the day while other town,
y are wondering at her audacity for evel
thinking of changing things. Wher
! we have cleansed our uneleauness anC
: cast outa few devils we will feel bet
8 ter, perhaps, but 1t won't prevent III
: being as busy and robust as ever
: Perhaps we will still b,
called wicked, but we can stant
1t, While Dallas and Houston ant
> Galveston valnly imagine that becaus,
+ they are qalet, aud there is not much
going on, and men hang about In tn,
cool places and look holy, and keel
Sunday because there Is nothing els,
to do, therefore the odor of sane
: tity hangs over those places and grac;
: aboundeth therein. Fort Worth will
go ahead with her aggressive, prose
? lytlng Christianity, and when ST
Peter gives out the admission tickets
no fear that Fort Worth will b,
}, sighted in the distribution.
u