Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-07-27
COMMUNICATIONS.
Earnest Enquiry" Emphasized

Earnest Enquiry" Emphasized.
MEssRs. EDS The reply of Rev.
Cronenwett in your last issue to my
Earnest Enquiry" is to be deplored
and should not have been published
as it does not do him Justice l am
very sorry that the reverend gentle
man has so seriously misunderstood
that communication. AS he asks
questions instead of replying to my
inquiry, | take it that he does not
fully understan nd wha. was wanted
Now Messrs Eds. if you will kind
ly allow me to explain, your CORE
spondent will no doubt be favored,
and your readers satisfied. Mean
while it would be wrong to believe
that our Christian brother meant to
assail the Eds. for publishing le-
gitimate communication, and l trust
that their Christian charity will
prompt them to overlook the mistake.
The brother enormously thinks we
are venting our spleen" against
Roman Catholics and Lutherans in
general" Why, the Catholics in
general" are taking the most ad-
vanced view of the temperance ques-
tion. They have time and again Of
ficially declared against the rum in
iquity. Their ministers preach
against the saloon, and in many places
will not accept a saloon keeper in
church membership. The civilized
world commends them for this noble
step, and l find delight in being
able to say word in their honor.
The Catholics little need the gratui-
tous defence of German Lutheran
minister. AS for "Lutherans in gen.
eral, ~ they seem to make up for num-
bers by the zeal of the few. If the
statements of your correspondent,
"a German" who seems to be an
ardent friend of the reverend brother,
is correct. some of the strongest tenn
perance advocates 6n the world are
Lutherans, and the Reverend himself
is quoted as staunch advocate OF
the cause. The Germans are, per-
haps, little hard to convince, but
once convinced they are energetic
and always firm.
The closing question of the Broth
er is whether we mean to 'insinuate"
that he insulted ladies. | meant
to state yerities and "insinuate" moth
ing. The fact is that what l COM
plain of has occurred in the past, and,
to quote my own words, "this has
long since stigmatized," etc. Mark,
long since know not what this
Christian brother might do by mis-
take, but feel confident that he would
not knowingly be guilty of such con-
duct.
For a better understanding we
wish to say that our last communica-
tion only meant to state facts. and no
one has denied or can c0ntrovert
them. The records sustain me, and
the bondsmen and petitioners do not
deny that the saloon-keepers are in
debted TO them for their licenses.
This makes these men morally re-
sponsible for the traffic and its at
tendant evils. These men are our
friends and nei ighbors, and some OF
them feel ashamed and uneasy when
they think of the crimes and misery,
the woe and waste, the injury to So
ciety, the curse to posterity that
strong drink makes possible.
The Lutherans, as church, say
they cannot participate in the pres
ent temperance movement:
because it does not distinguish between
the abuse aud use of the creature.
The interested public expect an ex-
planation of what this means. The
question put to the German Lutheran
minister was fair one, worthy OF
the attention of any reverend gentle
man. No evasion, no attack of inno-
cent persons, no abuse, will meet the
issue. If the gentleman of the cloth
has not the courage to answer let him
keep silent. With increased empha-
sis l ask again: Where does the
proper use of Intoxicating beverages
end and the abuse begin ?
Such questions excite general in
terest because they touch upon the
well-being of the community. When
the bondsmen are charged with re-
sponsibility for the liquor traffic, the
declaration becomes one of the great
est moment to the drink C ursed
homes of Butler and to the reputa-
tion of any church which does not
speak out against it. German broth
er, why not deny this Why not
say that you are proud that many
bondsmen are Lutherans ? If it is
right and proper, why not come out
and say it boldly? If you have re-.
fused to sign remonstrances come out
''like man, sir, and face the music"
The Christian gentleman deals in
personalities, aud demands such
reply. | dislike this and yield very
reluctantly, but take this opportunity
to commend the reverend brother for
his action at the late Lutheran Con-
ference at Youngstown. Every
friend of Prohibition was delighted
to hear of the "outspoken and able"
paper which he presented, de-
nouncing the whole liquor traffic, as
was proudly reported by "a Ger
man.. The good people of Butler
are interested in knowing why he
does not take the same stand here.
l, therefore. add few queries to
make it worth the brothers. time to
reply, and kindly offer him an oppor-
tunity to be set right before the peo-
pie.
How far is the reverend gentle
man responsible for the woe, ruin and
crime Of these last years of license,
when the battle waged SO hot and
close !? How much are hungry
mouths and ill-clad little bodies,