The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-09-14
A Plea For Gospel Temperance.

EDITOR TIMEs:-In these days of sup.
posed reform in our national councils, and
in all the departments Of social and reig-
ious life we expect TO find men of thought
and energy, who are ready to take the lead
in the different avenues thus opened up
for them. There never was time in the
history of the world when there was so
much deep thought and earnest study TO
find out the best and most accept
able way 10 accomplish the best re
suits on all the great questions that are
being discussed as today In politics, one
party claims to be able to lead the nation
to a glorious future. If we will only adopt
the theory of free trade, while the other
claims that free trade is a delusion and
snare, and the only safety for us as ma
tlon, is to still maintain the doctrine of
protection to our infant industries, and
thus go on to- glorious future. And still
a third party comes up and says these two
questions are lost in insignificancc in com.
parison with the only one that is Of any
importance TO us rs people. They say
that the temperance question out.weighs
them oil in magnitude, and they arrogatc
to themselves the judgeship of who are
really the temperance people, and unless
all see just as they do, they are not on the
side of temperance reform. Why these
people should claim TO be the only ones
that are for God and home and native land
to the exclusion of all the rest of the
earnest conscientious men and women out.
side OF their party, vino are just rs good
temperance people and have done and are
still doing, rs much or more than those
that are bound by party ties, is hard to
understand 1t is think, II very well
establsbd fact that it is not temperance
that these would.be reformers are after.
but politics remember of saying on the
floor of q temperance organization, great
many years ago, that rs soon as you drag
the pure banner of temperance through
the filthy pool of party politics. just so
soon will you drag it TO its destruction,
and these words sounded at the time like
prophecy, and surely how true have
they proven to be. How often do VIC in
these days hear addresses and lectures on
Temperance that stir men and women io
action as they use TO when drinking men
were reclaimed. and young men were
persuaded to not touch or handle the ac
cursed thing? Suppose that the amount
of money and energy that is expended in
the so called temperance efforts of the day
were expended III such work as Francis
Murphy and his co.laborers are engaged
in. what glorious results might be
achieved Think of u convention OF
would be temperance men and women
raising thirty thousand dollars in a few
short hours for what they say is temper.
ance; but from the standpoint out side OF
their ranks, we say fer politics. 1t is the
means of sowing discord among brethren
in the church. and II acts as a fire brand
outside among men who would be temper.
ance men, only they say II You can't
agree in the church how can you expect
us outside TO do so. But these people say.
come to us and we will soon settle this
question, prohibition is the panacea for all
the wrongs that afflict mankind In the
name of humanity let us drop this politi.
cal quackery and return to the good old
way of saving men; it has proven to bc
the only way given whereby we can be
saved; and after trying all others, expert.
ence says, save men by the power of the
gospel, and you will have no need of party
prohibition. EXIT.