The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-26
PROHIBITION WITHOUT POLITICS.
Christ Crucified Long Enough; Time To Do
Something with the Devil.

Christ Crucified Long Enough; Time To Do
Something with the Devil.
Youngstown Co.) Special.
Francis Murphy is not political Prohibitions
ist AT almost every meeting of the mission just
closed in this city be took occasion to bring that
fact to the front. He believes that the man who
drinks whisky is first responsible for the evil re-
suits of its use. The man who rents the room
bears the next blame: after him comes the retail
dealer, and it Is long time before the manu-
ever to stopping the use Of whisky as quickly as
possible. His whole energy for the last fifteen
years has been given to that end, but he has an
other object which goes inseparably with this
-rescuing the users of drink and making bright
and happy the homes of the drinkers Mr.
Murphy idea s that these objects be instantly
secured by closing the mouths of the consumers
The law can never do this II must come from
personal appeals and persuasion. This pledge
signing crusade has, therefore, been carried on
in Europe and America with that end Pledges
were signed in Philadelphia by 50, 900 persons;
in Cleveland by &c, 000 in Youngstown by $780,
etc. Being asked few days ago what DISPOSE
ton the Prohibition party men have manifested
toward him in his work in this and other States.
Mr.. Murphy said:
They have shown little sympathy with me-
Three or four members of the Prohibition party
at Wooster, one in Cleveland, and one in this
city have given me some assistance, but the
greater number have been greatly displeased.
They wanted to influence men by the law and
not by moral suasion. The organiza-
ton Of the Prohibition party to pro-
State is, believe, the worst thing that could
happen. 1t makes divided house. We must
divide on something else. The very power by
which temperance work has been made success
is absolutely killed by the party Men and
women who have Joined themselves to the Pro-
hibition party declare that the people who refuse
to join with them are immoral and not content
with that they have endeavored to prevent Cos
pei temperance work Letters have been writ
ten ahead of me warning temperance people not
to invite me to their city, lest by my coming I
should destroy their organization"
Would it not seem just Mr.. Murphy, to i'm
pose some burdens on the liquor traffic3"
That is the very thing to do. 1t is time to
Christ long enough 1t is time TO do something
with the devil. If a man buys keg of ale, q
few boxes of cigars and dozen empty oyster
shells to start bar-room and if You offer to tax
him for it. people raise their hands in holy hor-
ror. The enactment of the Scott law would be
the most helpful act of legislation that could
be done to-day to assist the people. 1t would be
grading law to assist public sentiment The idea
IN the temperance work before has been to grade
law past public sentiment-putting the cart be-
fore the horse. No legislation will be respected
IN this country unless it is common-sense legis-
lation.
1.-The General Assembly must not ask the peo-
pie to do the impossible. 1t must make it easy
for them to do right and cease to legisate the
inhabitants of the Commonwealth into crimi-
nails. l visited. in company with Rev. Mr..
Avery, many of the bar-rooms of this city We
round some near the mills such as l have never
seen in any other city. Women in small houses
give Up one room for selling drink, the wives
themselves. while their husbands are at work.
dealing it out to their customers. Their children
are reared in this atmosphere The devil is
brought into their presence, and they are made
acquainted by their own lechery and SIM Such
places as these could not exist under the Scott
law. 1t is our duty to protect these people.
Their families are naturally moral and under
favorable circumstances would develop high or
ders of honesty, sobriety and Christian char
acter."