The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-21
JOHN B. COUGHS TEMPERANCE WORK.

10 the Editor of the India napois journal:
Mrs. Livermore's address on John B. Coughs
early life, and subsequent temperance work,
suggests some further thoughts on that work.
The statement is occasionally seen in print that
he was not an advocate of prohibition. And it
was pr bal bly, true to certain extent, while the
reason is obvious to the thinking mind, who
is in the habit of looking upon human nature as
it is Circumstances alter cases with the aver
are man, and so it was with Mr.. Cough. The
prospect of immediate and utter ruin of soul and
body was the all-moving cause of his reforma-
ton. Enough of the reasoning powers of the
mind were left undes;roved In the general wreck
to enable him to SEQ the inevitable with him
should he continue in dissipation: and those
powers came to his reason and saved him. Then.
after his own salvation, the natural impulse of
his mind was to use his energies to persuade
others in the same danger of destruction to re-
form. History shows that he was eminently
successful, and that his persuasive powers of ell
oquence soon gave him a world wide reputation
orator, and which, after many demon
stration of that grand oratory in behalf of the
unfortunate victim of strong drink in our land,
carried him across the waters TO Europe. as Mrs.
Livermore mentions, where bis achievements
were equally successful in reforming the inebri-
ate and infusing into the spirit of the people,
strong and deep, the same principle and action
In DenaI OF the temperance cause That was al
ready begun In this country. And, unfortu-
nately, right here 1t may DO said that while
those grand Oratorical efforts were SO success
full in reforming the inebriate, they were also
giving him world wide reputation for general
oratory that could not escape the attention of
''the lecture bureau" The great work he had
done, both by his energy and eloquence how
unselfsh had been his purpose. could not
otherwise than cause q selfish congratulation in
his own mind. And just here is where human
AiA vpHic 70 teal in fho, f,,l
hitherto apparently unselfish mind of John r.
Cough. He had presented himself before the
wo rid. however unintentionaly, but none the
less effectually, as candidate for popular favor
upon the lecture stand and the pride of that
same nature yielded to the demand of that pop
ulace, while the money of the lecture bureau
placed and fastened him upon that stand IL
cannot DO saying aught against his good name
when say he laid down the first and great
work OF his life-the reformation of besotted hu.
manity-for that more popular work for filthy
lucre. He did not betray that work for human
ity's sake in accepting the other one for the gilt
tering gold there was in it. He still retained in
his bosom the love of that cause and often
pleaded for it from the lecture rostrum but the
motive for that pleading was changed, as it did
no longer spring from a disinterested one; then,
naturally, the same interest was not there, and,
consequently the same results did not follow,
simply because-whils the cause was yet in his
heart-money was before him, the price of his
words. That change in Mr. Coughs early life
work was about the time the prohibition CUES
ton was first mooted and when his mind began
to be occupied with subjects with which to
please the masses always, however. with the
great principles of temperance, a powerful ele-
ment in them-if the writer's memory serves
him right--he did at some period in mis- lecture
life, incidentally, espouse the prohibition serti
ment; yet. when treating the subject at ALL it
was from the same stand point and in the same
connection moral suasion-as when laid down
at the outset of his lecture life.
Great refor ms in the interest of general hu-
mainly are not brought about By men whose
minds are enerossed with the thought of gain of
filthy lucre; so when Mr. Cough laid down that
work for God and happy home and took up that
for filthy lucre, sthat interest in the reform for
general humanitys sake anguished in his
bosom, while the untold sufferines of that hu-
manity will only be revealed in eternity No
tongue can tell, nor pen picture, the happy re.
suits OF life time spent. as he began for the
reformation of the drunkard; and had not that
human nature IN its greed for gain allured him
from that unselhsh loves work for those suffer.
with his former self. Then is it strange
can it be. that with the almighty dollar before
his eyes. and through which. las q glass dimly,"
he could not see the unpopular. but necessary
prohibition principle, though the cause, while
yet In his heart. sufferedl A. S. KINGSLEY.