The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-05
INTERVIEW WITH MIR. BEEcHER.

Labor Troubles and Sunday Observance.
The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher received q
Journal reporter at his hotel, last evening, and
in half-hours conversation referred to the
pleasure ne always experienced in visiting Indi.
annapolis. Here his early successes in the min
istry were achieved. "But my church, as were
nearly all the others. was on the Circle. forty
years ago." said he Now find them moving
uptown"
Have you had the pleasure of meeting many
of your old friendsl"
IA few only. They are being rapidly thinned
out. call to mind some families who were in
my time active in church affairs that are still
here"
Indianapolis then, appears to you to have
undergone marked changes9"
Yes When / was here last year had to rely
on friend to point out the places with which
was once so familiar"
'sYour old church, the Second Presbyterian.
believe, is to celebrate its semi-centennial this
year?"
II think so. I have partly promised to be
present on that occasion, but if it is i'm possible
for me to come will certainly send to the church
letter My stay at this time must be necessa-
rlly brief. leave tomorrow night at III O'Clock,
after the lecture. for st. Louis thence | go to
Springfield, Peoria, and other cities, ending. as
far as | know, with my Chicago engagement.
But of this | am not certain as all business ar
rangements are left solely in the care of another
person"
''Have you observed in your travels hither-
ward. any marked effects of the Missouri and
Southwestern strikes"
81 find general interest among all classes of
people in that trouble. But the hopes and faith
of the people are with Mr.. Powderly rather than
Mr. Irons Mr. Powderly is smart and wise.
Mr. Irons is smart and not wise. While
| feel the greatest interest and have an earn
est sympathy for whatever concerns the work
ingman, | deprecate the action of the strikers in
spirit and purposes as exemplifed in Mr.. Irons's
leadership. No good can come from such action.
On the other hand, workingmen, by organiza-
ton and combination, can be carried to higher
level There Is in organization for them that
higher civilization for which all of us are striv-
ing. But all this can be negatived by hot-heads
who throw aside reason and resort to force. The
boycott is terrible tyranny. 1t is worse
than that of the Gar Mr. Powderly expresses
higher aims, and his advice and leadership will
undoubtedly, if not overbaauced by destructive
elements within his organization elevate all who
may come into its membership. In the East
the streetcar strikes have been, so far, the only
disturbing forces They were right. and sue
ceeded, as they ought to have done, for this
placing upon men work of fourteen, fifteen and
seventeen hours is brutal. No great trouble was
had in their settlement; but the right side of tho
is, think. with the company"
II would like to ask you in regard to a matter
of some local bearing, Mr.. Beecher, a question
that arises in all large cities and is being vigor
ously fought in Cincinnati-the maintenance of
the Puritan Sunday. We have it here as far as
it relates to liquor selling"
Il do not know much. except what l have
read. regarding the Cincinnati agitation. be-
lieve though, that the less civil laws have to do
with morality and religion the better. do not
think rastrctiva laws of this Kind Shnu11 ha
passed that not in accord with the average
moral sense. Our large foreign population comes
to us with ideas, customs and observances en-
tirely different from those under which we were
brought up. Ii Is good idea they have in
Europe-this giving the morning to church at
tendance and the afternoon to quiet and health
full pleasures. We should make concessions to
this view of the Sabbath question, although the
day should be observed for religious instruction
and moral recreation"
s'The Sunday liquor problem
THAT is another phase Of the question, and
one of marked difference. Grogshops are dens
of iniquity. In New York nothing more is
sought than to regulate them and that rigidly
The saloon-keepers are forced to close their
doors, to refrain from any open business on
Sunday, and they are held to rigid account for
selling liquors to minors. The restrictions are
mostly placed upon these two features of the
trade. AS to selling liquors to minors. /
find that the usual sense of families
who are opposed to intoxicating beverages
is decidedly in favor of this restriction / am
not willing to give the grogshop-keeper any
greater privileges than those 1 myself enjoy.
The saloon keepers and liquor-dealers are an
aristocracy to themselves and they seek to over
ride opinion that is not in accordance with their
wishes 1t is becoming more forcible aristoc-
racy than the one founded higher plane of
civilized sentiment and intelligence. The sa-
looms should be made to close on Sunday and
held on other days under firm restrictive laws
1t is probable that this will be Mr. Beecher's
last lecturing tour. Although" said he, II
cannot tell It depends upon what sircum-
stances may urge me in the future to resume a
trip like this"