Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-06-23
DYsPEPTIC COLD-BLOODED EDITOR.
A Correspondent Caustically Answers
An Editorial in the OregOuian.

that barbaric sheet, whose columns
TEEN from day to day with ridicule
and abuse of every movement or
practice Of religious, social, benev-
olent or charitable character ha ling
for its basic principle the uplifting
of the poorer or more unfortunate
classes of society. 1t openly and
wantonly seeks opportunities to in
suit the persons and belittle the mo
tives of those engaged in all such
works.
The editor who wrote the editol-
ial referred to here would ostracise
from respectable society the young
man who has had the misfortune to
contract the drinking haLit hut
who wishes to stop it, aud to this
end attempts to SUR und himself
with assisting aud emcJurageing in-
flurncCs of a frateruai and s'cial or
ganization, while AT the saline time
that editor defends the moderate
drinking habit, which has been
the most powerful Chain IN drag
ging millions tp the hell Of drunk
Ell life; while that editor sees the
the gambling den, the br1thel and
the enucing saloon in full blast
doing their fiendish work with
out word of censure; while
that editor sees whisky manu-
facturers and whisky sellers,
wholesale and retail, exalted into
high position through the wealth
aud power derived from their ne
farious business, and he does not
dare utter word against them.
Oh, no! His censure and his
criticism are always directed against
those whose aims are for good, and
for those whose poverty makes
them unable to retaliate, while the
evi done by those in high places or
carrying IL fat bank account pass by
unnoticed.
While his head is buzzing from
the effects of the champagne and
costly wines Of n nights grand
supper or reception, this editor will
write scathing article upon the
degraded condition of the poor
wretch who has taken u few glasses
of five cent beer and upon the use
lsssness Of trying to reform him.
While pro6ting by the ill-gottcn
gains of a robbcr monopoly which
has ground the poor laborer into
state of starvation and despair, he
will eXpatiate at column lengths
upon the depravity of the miserable
creature who steals loaf of bread
or u pair of shoes or who becomes n
wanderer on the face of the earth.
Yes, those miserable creatures are
harmless to the great thunderer,
but those who commit the high
crimes, who live licentious lives,
who violate the most sacred VOWS of
life within the full knowledge of
that editor, receive no scorching at
his hands; their patronage must be
retained and their peccadillos must
be screened from public gaze.
Bah! out upon such hypocrisy!
1t is high time that the pure
hearted, honest, charitable and
benevolent people of Oregon
set their stamp of condemnation
upon this scofler, who has no regard
for the higher and noble impulses of
tue human heart. The Oregonian
is Il standing insult to every man,
woman and child in Oregon who
has spark of religious or charitable
feeling, and is the most brazen ally
of the worst influences in society
now in circulation on this coast.
The line of reasoning in the edi-
torlal now under discussion would
call for the dlsbanding of every
church, public school and mixed
college or university in the land. 1t
would forbid any effort upon the
part Of temperance people to reclaim
those who are on the road tO ruin;
1t would keep from the altar of re-
pentance every sinner who wished
to seek grace for better life, Ii
would wipe out every hope of the
hereafter from the souls of men, for
none can claim To be absolutely pure.
1t would seud to the dungeon or to
death the man whose misfortune IL
was to have an appetite that would
carry him to excess in liquor, while
clothing in purple aud fine linen the
man who prohted by the misfortune.
Ii would have dictated the stoning To
death Of Mary Magdalen, while the
author of her shame it would eXalt
to the highest seat in the synagogue.
The Oregonian can possess its soul
in patience. So long AS such news
papers as that exist, Good Templar-
ism will not die; il has work to per-
form to counteract their pernicious
influence, ard IL will live To do il,
The Oegonian is going too far.
The people Of Oregon are rapidly
becoming acquainted with its true
inwardness, and the days of its
widespread inflenoe are numbered.
Its friendship is now a blighting
curse TO amy man or measure and
its censure aud abuse are sure har-
hingors Of success.