The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-20
A CATHOLIC PROHlBITIONIST.
An Instructive Lecture by Father COtter, at
St. Johns Cathedral.

Father Cotter, of Winona, Mimi. AID lecturer
in the interest of the Catholic Total Abstinence
Union, of which he was president for four years.
addressed quite a large congregation at St
Johns Cathedral, last night. He is an eloquent
speaker, of pleasing presence and earnest deliv-
cry. Prefacing his lecture by exalting the vir-
tue of self-denial, as was exempifed in the life
and teachings of the Master, he referred to the
many instances of it's exercise by the Irish
people in their remarkable experience
as an oppressed nation. An intellectual faith
he said, the Irish possess 1t enables them to
fully comprehend and treasure, the value of self
denial. AS an outcome Of it practiced by the
Irish for the Masters sake, sef-control, self
government and a wonderful example of pa
thence under the haunting gibes of English
statesmen. This virtue, he argued, must be the
great essential in resisting intemperance. Total
abstinence could not be maintained without it.
Speaking of the wonderful change that came
to the Irish through the teachings of Father
Mathew, he said there never was such gener
alton of peace as that which followed the one he
taught. There had Teen previously time of
free drink days of UNANIMOUSLY low license. The
worst foe of nation had set itself up In Ireland
and took possession of her people 1t was foe
robbed before 1t took from them
every vestige of manhood. We talk Of Irish
loyalty and Irish heroism on land and seaHdbut
this foe paralyzed the arm of the vctors. 1t
sent thousands to unhonored graves until the
trumpet of resurrection was sounded by that
angel of regeneration, Father Mathew. 1t is
because the Irish people are proud of his record
as one OF the greatest glories of the nation
that they are appealed to to sustain
in this land the union he founded
AT the same time warning goes forth that
treachery and defeat in the cause of temperance
are still possible. Ceaseless vigilence is the
price to be paid for the boon of human freedom
from the great curse. The world. the flesh and
the devil are stirring increasingly to enslave
man. There can be no hours of dalliance, no
days of truce in fighting the demon intemper-
ance, for ones own sake and the sake of others.
Cardinal Manning has said that for many total
abstinence is the sole. lingering hope Of saliva
ton. Many try it, and remain steadfasG to the
faith for several years, or for many years, when
they fall, because thoughtless physician o. an
unwlse friend advise the taking of a little aco-
holic drink for ills of the body. Dwelling upon
the spread of intemperance among the nations of
Europe ne said r., the cry of France to-day
is proof of it. The cry of Germany is the
same as that of France A few years ago her
Emperor sent to the Reichstag a request that
laws should be made restricting the drink habit
that was doing much evil to his people. In
England a noted American correspondent has
written that the vice of drunkenness is hid
eous, CHASTITY, universal vice. On every street
corner can be seen its baleful effects, and in his
search for public place in London where liquor
was rot sold he said he could find none, and be-
lieved there were none except Westminster Alb
hey and st. Pauls Cathedral. In the public
houses within four hours one night it was ascer-
tanned that sc, 800 women were found drinking
gin, brandy and beer. This is the testimony lot
only of the correspondent, but of members of
Parliament, of distinguished priests and laylnen.
After these public houses are closed upon their
stultifed customers, scores and scores of women
can be seen Keeling through London's streets as
drunk as their lords and masters
In the presence of this great evil, which pro-
duces s. per cent. of the crime of the day, and
the greater part of pauperism, the people have a
right to build up bulwark against it. The
measure of peoples drinking is the measure of
a peoples degradation. Expressed in dollars
and cents. it means 5000, 0O0 600 yearly spent in
drink. To that, above all things,
of daily accounts of H shtngs '0s stabb aasss
matricides, homcides, fratricides, suicides and
every species of crime. The evil can be fought
only by apostolic zeal, apostolic effort and apos-
tolic organization. But while this is being DONE
the participators in the crimes of the drunkard-
must not, be forgotten. They must
be- plead with TO forsake it
and engage in more reputable bust
ness. Despite the most respectable saloon
keeper, despite the ideal keeper his traffic
is the worst of woes. 1t fills up meretrcious
places, alluring to young and old alike, robbing,
ruthlessly robbing youth of the purifying and
protecting influences of home. Indeed the
saloon is becoming the molder of character, and
in the meanwhile sending from the gilded
palace and the lowest dram shop thousands of
victims into an ocean of rottenness and sensu-
atty.
How can this evil be stopped? Where are
Christian hearts and Christian votes2 It is the
duty of Christians. as loyal, earnest Intelligent
citizens to their vote at every election in aid
ing the government to diminish the traffic 1t
is their duty to aid the government in making
citizens do right and in making it difficult for
them to do wrong. Referring to the sectional
strife of Know Nothing days a time harmful
to all alike, to the holy religion and
co-religionists, he said the cry was mo Irish
need apply" Now, it was their opportunity to
adopt the cry, and at all times say, mo Irish
need apply for one inch of room in the liquor
traffic" This should at every election be ex-
pressed by Irish voters. The reverend father
closed with an eloquent appeal for all to join the
union, and at the close of the lecture distributed
many pledges, the acceptance of the card on
which it was printed being regarded as the prom
Use of the holder to pursue total abstinence