New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-13
INDIVIDUAL OPINIONS.
STRIP THE MAsQUERADERS.
A scoRcHrNG LETTER FROM THE REV. JAY BENSON

A scoRCHING LETTER FROM THE REV. JAY BENSON
HAMILTON.
TO the Editor Of The Trfbune
SIR: The president Of tho Manhattan Temperance
Association expresses surprise that In my letter to THE
TRIBUNE of January did not make any protest
aga,rst tho selling OF thousands OF dollars worth of
liqIor on Sunday" When naturalist hunts Tor num-
ming birds he does not waste his on hppopo
anus that no may happen to see. was cunning ho'
for saloons but for Sabbath-breakers VINO unuer tho
gue OF Sabbath defenders desecrated the day Tor tno
profit upon 81 II worth OF temperance and religious
Iitera,ure Tho gentleman who IL retained 10 furnish
the comedy for the Sunday temperance meetings urged
the audience to buy IHE TRIBUNE OF January rs u
monument Of somebody who once lived IN New iorA.
He would h, We soken more rutbfuy had he said that
they should buy the paper because u contained inc
obituary of the first Sunday news stand estaoisheu
under religious auspices In New York If not In America
The main indictment OF my letter is met by an evasion
The Manhattan s not political association" There
are no party leaders audacious enough TO advertise
political rally Sunday. NOTWITHSTANDING all inc
debauchery OF moral sentiment produced by political
corruption this country has not yet sunk low enough 10
approve of Sabbath dissertation for political purposes
The party that dares proclaim such an Infamous PLANK
"a a part OF It's platform would become instantly
STE ,ch In the nosrils OF all decent citizens That THIS
fact ia clearly recognized apparent from the inec
ton the political assault upon the sanctity Oh the dy
This ndirecuon is not prompted by tender conscience
but By abiect cowardce DESTROYS OF linking their
politisa fortunes with the of good morals, like the
man who wanted hitch his cart to STAR these re-
formers claim be exponents OF righteousness and re-
ligion They court the championship OF tho pulpit
They solicit the use OF the church as poiiucal mead
quarters They make Sunday their great field day But
with astute cunning they abure politics In INC churcn
and on the Sabbath They intrench themselves Dehinu
the skirts of the Womens Christian Temperance UNION
They hold their meetings under the auspices OF non
noIfti cala
trlumph but for moral reform. This evasion Is tne
sheerest tralng 1t scarcely escapes being htungiy
characterized impertinent npudence. Inc result
hoped for and for Is to Increase the votes LOT INC
candidates OF political party If the other partes
follow their example adopt this vicious practice the
Sabbath will become the chief political raliyng day
Already party has ionoi In TINS attemp. 10 uese,
crate the day Tie party which shouts as its mbtto
"The Faherhood of God ami the brotherhood OF man "
has selected the Sabbath as It's chief day for ne npag
OF Its principles confessedy 10 win votes ioi is
pertinent question to ask Why is not the present
n good time 10 strip these masIueraders Colonel
Cheyis late of the ex-Confederae Army, the clief
speaker at the Cooper Union temperance meeting ast
Sunday said This preacher, IL is safe to say Is ie
nblicln. who loves mis- party better than he does
temperance prohibition Not woru IN my ietleI
great parties Am | a Republican because protest
against the political dissertation OF the saoDath Are
ali Democrats enemies OF the sabbath UT are
snch close allies Of political ION as 20
be expected t. wink at every Vicious PrcrG
essays teach the ministers OF ILLS city morals anu
religion ~ ,,.,, -. .,o,
How much longer will the brazen harihoot or temper
ance charataus he endured before receiving sucn pro
feat as will sting them into the oDscurily OF ehiOrceu
silence OF hundred temperance citizens VINO vote
for prohibition than five the advocates OF pai
san prohibition. And yet this insignificant minority
vaunt themselves the only true temperance men; al
others arc rummeS,' towards or Jne toos Oh parry
noliticians The land Is dotted with temperance
meetings conducted by modest persons forced INTO
public lire by the sad exigency Of great public danger
rhey wear as fitting emblem III the snap. oil pm
crank an Instrument unable to turn Itself nut nane 10
| be turned by others At these meetings ministers,
church members temperance workers who do not Tram
/ in their company and their badge are denounced
with fercer nvectives than are the liquor delcnusrs.
Advertising themselves the party or
ami reform they take special delight In DeatinB tue
wicked politicians both parties at their own game:
/ Every instrument OF the most improved pouticai
mlchinery il in Every trick or tne most
political manipulation 10 continually prac
sel The result snTewtrr political maneuverlny
is found in American politics than theirs seaman
/ mongeYy as a legitimate political method has not yet
been accepted by either party save as last re-
| sort Bat no gr0sser more malignant ISLANDERS Oh
politictl opponents have ever dIsgraced American
politics than have appeared in socalet prohiOtion
campaign literature, aud frequently after they nave
appeared elsewhere and have been proven TO be false
Ii Is shocking humiliation TO Christian sentiment 10
have 10 add that all this the interest or God anO
home and land The rebuke keen enough TO pierce
snch cslpus efronery crying need or the hour
Where is the Hogarh with pencil or Junius with pen,
who will put greatest reform OF the century under
tribute by mercilessly and efectally stripping These
moral mas1uerader. Yours respectfully.
Ncc YORK, Jan IL, 1888. JAY BENSON HAMILTON