The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-06
TIMELY PULPIT THEMES.
Discourse of Rev. R. V. Hunter on the
Arrogance of the Liquor League.
It Needs Only To Be Given Rope Enough to
Hang ItSelf-ReV. ROndthalerS Sermon
on Sympathy with the Anarchists.

Rev. r. V. Hunter preached at the Seventh
Presbyterian Church, last night, on The AFRO
gance of the Whisky League" taking as his text
Jeremiah iv, IA: ''They have polluted them
selves with blood" He said that the words of
the text were no truer when spoken of certain
classes of old than they are to-day when hurled
at the liquor interests of this commonwealth.
Possibly the rum traffic can never be wholly
rooted out, but it can be humbled. He had no
hope that it would ever be extinct so long as sin
and men keep company. All reforms grow. A
review of the temperance cause will convince
any one that this will be no exception to the rule.
1t is taking deep root in the hearts of the Amer
lean people. The day of deliverance from this
accursed bondage is sure to come, although
more wives must suffer the indignites heaped
upon them by the suffrage of this business. An
other generation of children must be brought up
in poverty and want More souls must be
damned before respectable people will unite
upon sound policy which will stamp out the
crime. But the light is breaking. Whom the
gods would destroy they first make
mad" 1t must be, then, that the
gods are hard after the liquor
interests of this city The whisky interests have
grown proud and domiueering here of late. They
have largely controlled our city. They have
been felt in police circles, driving good officer
from the force, intimidating the men on duty SO
that the crime known as the saloon business"
might flourish. The same cruel hand touched
judicial ermine until the law no longer had ter
rors for certain crimes. The same un-American,
and disloyal, and immoral influence reached out
its leprous hand and changed the tally sheets,
defeating, 70 all probability the will of the SOW
ereign people. This power scruples at no crime;
hesitates at no method which will secure its dis
loyal and dishonest ends 1t has mighty am
bition. It seeks to control both the legislation
and administration of city, county and State. 1t
any price, go to any extreme and work through
any party to gain its point. Now, what course
ought lawabiding and moral citizens to
pursue in order that this common
enemy of mankind may be overthrow?
First. do as the liquor interests do-work
through existing parties, vote for law and
order, and decency through the existing parties.
All that has been gained for the cause has been
through one or the other of these. Convictions,
courage ana independence needed Let
party lieutenants crack their whips on election
day. Vote for decencY. Second-Teach temper
apce wisely and persistently. Third-Enforce the
laws we have and as public sentiment crystal
ICES about some advanced principle, embody
that in the laws and enforce it. Fourth-Giye the
Liquor League rope enough to hang itself It
is handling boomerang now. This virtuous
spell which these people have taken is good
thing-for decency 1t is a spectacle with
amusing features. Note the character of the
creatures who are pushing it, The whisky in
terests of Indianapolis have given US Puritan
Sabbath! The joke is too good to keep.
Fifth-We should stand by the Police Com
missoners, the police superintendent, tho police
force, the courts when they do their duty, the
power will crumble. There will be no services
at its funeral Anon.