Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-21
The Crusade Against the Inauguration
Rail


We notice that certain clcrgymen have
| started n crusade against tho Inauguration
ball, and this has led TO general revival of
the discussion regarding the propriety Of
the dance, says the Brooklyn Eagle. Like
the Mormon church, dancing is being de-
nounced by number of Jealous critics az
"a relic OF barb rism." Unfortunately
there is a great deal OF truth in the charge.
and in the light of an advancing civilization
the admission is all the more painful That
our barbarian ancestors knew how to dance
there can be no question. They were not
familiar with the scope and glide of tho
waltz; the Boston Dip WIS entirely an
known TO them: neither did taey wear swal-'
lowtails and satin ncclltios, but they danced
for all that. 1t is probable that they were
little more gieeful than usual when they
circled round brave who was TO furnish
the evening meal, but modern historians dq
not dwell at length on that point. For pres
ent purposes, however, it is sufficient to
know that the wild denizcns OF the forest
were not unfamiliar with the dance, and
singular as it may appear, we are also in
debted TO them for many things in vogue TO
this day, which may just as fairly be class
ed as ''relics Of barbarism" That our saw
even the most accurate chroniclers More
over they drank and smoked, and liked TO
listen TO the music of the tom tom These
customs, in barbaric age, were not deem
cd unworthy OF CcnSurc, and although en-
lightenment and culture have brought i'm
provcment the line Of Origion has aSsuredly
not been oblitCrated. We do not care TO be
too analytical in our discussion of the sub
loct, nor enter into prolonged controversy
as 10 the merits OF the Darwinan theory,
but getting down to the essence Of things,
is there anything we do which is not to
some extent, at least, identified with the
barbarc era! Are we not ourselves "relcs
of barbarism" If this be admitted, IT, in
truth, it be conceded that we are indebted
TO the barbarlans for eating, walking, sleep
ing, singing, drinking and a vast number of
other useful and necessary habits, why Sc
lect one minor legacy as an Oh. Get of attack.
The centuries have naturally brought pro
gross Just as the waltz is the refinement OF
the Indian S dance Of JOY, but that is no rca-
son why we should despisc our ancient gifts.
Indeed, il all the good things Of life tracca-
bic 10 savage origin were elinina' ed, thers
would be precious little left for which 10
sing hallclujah.
In this relation some of the opinions ey-
pressed by Brooklyn clcrgyncn arc inter
esting. DR.. Hall thinks that dancing is "all
right" Father Fransioi says that ''danc-
ing itself is not sinful. but is at times made
so by circumstance" DR.. StOrrs is mot
particularly opposed TO dancing ordinarily
DIR. kcndig thinks dancing proper if the
dancers dance with principles Rev J. G.
Ager thinks dancing an innocent amuse-
ment If conducted in an inroccnt manner
all Of which views are practically the
same. The opinions Of minister's it should
be remembered, are governed by the view,
entertained by their congregations; and
when ball is proposed for any charitable
object II IS Ger My noticeable that the
dominies are the very last to complain.
There must be discrimination IN all things.
Public sentiment is agreed that some Of the
wild orgies called balls which occur in New
York every year, and which have long been
disgrace TO the metz, polls, should be dis
continued, but then public sent III mt is also
agreed that our admirable charity balls de-
serve nothing but encouragement If, how
ever, as some parsons declare, nearly half
of the American people would be found
opposed TO the dance in any form, il might
be worth while to test the question. Now
that the tariff has been settled, there is a
great want of issues in the national do.
main, and an aspiring organization could
well afford to app2ll TO popular support on
the ground OF unqualified hatred of the
dance. The motto prohibition of Inaug-
uration Balls would look well on the cam
paign banners. For at least another four
years, however, it is TO be cXpe tie that our
people will still continue to cherish their
'relic of barb2rism,' and the more the
ministers cry out against il the more in
clined will they be TO say, with Byron:
On with the lance let Joy be uncon6ne,
No sleep til morn-ghen youth and pleasure meet