Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-01-08
CHRISTIAN rHMppp.
ANCE UNION.


Territory asking Congress to add
prohibitory amendment to the Con.
stitution in regard to the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors in the
United States. A great many have
signed the petitions, which were cir.
culated by the Women's Christian
Temperance Union throughout the
United States. This organization
can never gain a national victory 80
long as the word Christian is fastened
to it--neither could it If it was desip.
mated as Jew, Gentle, or Free
Thought. We are informed by a
member OF the Women's Christian
Temperance Union that to become
member of the organization Chris
t'an'ty is not a test of qualification
for membership. II this is the case
the name is misleading. If it is a
Christian organization hundreds OF
thousands of people are not invited
to cooperate with the organization.
A national question must not be
handicapped. A nationel party or
ganlzed on a single principle, should
bring in nothing to exclude people of
different beliefs on any other question.
Its name should indicate Just what 1t
is-simply that and nothing more.
Suppose Free Thinkers should organ
ize a Free Thinkers Temperance
Union, would Christians cooperate
with them and allow them to wear all
the glory OF success, which they would
not be justly entitled to wear? We
think not. 1t would be the same if
it were Jewish organization. If
prohibition is the question and the
only question, the name should be
the Women's National Temperance
Union-or better yet-the National
Temperance Union. The word Chris
tian does not appear as qualifying
term of any national party, and never
will and meet with success. The
Democratic party is not a Christian
Democratic party, and SO with the
Republican party. All who hold to
Democratic or Republican doctrines
are good Democrats or Republicans,
be they Christian or Infdel, Jew OF
Gentle. II either should tack the
word Christian to It's name it would
go under, never to rise again. Relig-
i'm must be kept clear of the political
arena, and politics kept out of relig'
ious organizations. Politics cannot
be made test In religious matters
nor religion cannot successfully mi,
with political issue. They will no
amalgamate. 1t is this principle tina
is the solid foundation stone OF ou
government. If the aforesaid organ
ization is not what the name implies
the sooner the word Christian i
dropped the better it will be for tn
organization, and if it is what it
name implies, it will have to throw
down the bars of exclusiveness t
ever hope for national success. Thl
broad land, OF various phases OF be
liefs on Christian and other subjects
and a party advocating the enact
ment of a national law to establIs
a single principle, cannot bring il
other principles, in no way connecte
with the question at issne, and NEE
with success. 1t would be no NOR
ludricrous to entitle this organIzatlo
the Womens Republican Temperance
Union, the Women's Democrat
Temperance Union, the Women
Free Trade Temperance Union' tn
Women's Tariff for Revenue Oni
Temperance Union, or the Women
Protective Tariff Temperance Unlo'
than to call it the Women's Chrlstla
Temperance Union. 1t is not O.
ganized to settle the religious que'
ton, but the question of the sale an
manufacture of Intoxicating llquor
and all who hold to the prohloitio
idea will have to meet on commo
ground, aside from all other question
to ever gain victory. As long as
is characterized by narrowness'
, sphere will remain narrow.
. A Pleasing Sense
: OF health and strength renewed al