Daily Republican., 1890-05-10
Tho Church and the Cause Of Temper
Nhces
CoonMUNIoArED.1

fCoMMUNIoArED.
hit not surprising that there Is such
apparent spathy IN the churches Of all
denominations 10 the State OF Delaware
ON the TEN peranee Queatioua The Chris
tian church must be the leader Of public
sentiment for the right and against the
wrong, and cannot remain silent without
the betrayal Of its great trust. Why does
ninisters and people SO utterly indificr-
ssthe gigantic crime OF crimes" and Of
which Nj. Gisdstone has said, ut has
inflicted greater calamit.es than war.
pestiience and faminel"
admit I cannot answer the question.
That this Indifference exists 10 beyond
controversy, and even those societies
formed among men or women to over
throw tutem psrance seem to 20 at the
matter in . hall-hearted manner. l do
not believe tho cause Of tlIis apathy to be
Ioccasionsd by any fear OF the saloon
power among the laymen nor the
loss Of popularity among ministers.
We are learning how in Pennsylvania
In the late prohibition campaign
the press OF the State was brought to use
Its influence for the saloon az against tho
home, how politicians were threat
aud bribed until Awed or lured into
silence or opposition to the amendment
how even ministers were paid 90 mach
per article to write for high license 81
* gainst prohibition, but we do not be-
lieve our laymen OF ministers Of WILL
mington are either bought or driven to
pursue policy Of neutrality toward the
saloon. We believe the saloon power Of
this State to be immense. We know
that It hes a arm grip upon our political
management. We can see Its presence
In every caucus and election, but We VII
not think that tho christians of our city
or our ministers are awed into silence b.
the power Of the liquor traffic.
| This silence 10 not because there ID M
need OF work. Wo are not sitting ldl,
because there is nothing to do It Is no
because women and children are not ask
Ing our help. It y not because our boy
and even girls are not being ruined b.
this evil. 1t 10 not because many Of ou
young men are not on the way 10 dis
grace aud ruin through this appetite
II 10 not because the drunkard is no
sesIi upon our street, nor the homo sui
fcriug for the necessaries of life becaus
this appetite must be satisfied. 1t is no
because our police courts and crimina
records do not show the awful result Q
the work of the saloon. am not In
position to say that drunkenness is o
the increase In our city. have not th
statistics. But ! hope 1t was neve
| worse.
have lived in many cities; my natiy
city, Baltimore, is far from free fror
this curse, but ! have never lived Ia
ln.t ttak tn IN, 4.
tion, there WAS SO much drunkenness {
is apparent iu Wilmington. meet Ii
degrading results of this traffic IN m
pastorate. l meet them In the reelin
men and women on our streets. l ha,
them thrust upon me in my home, int
which drunkards come and beg me bel
them conquer this awful demon. l 9,
them as sit In homes beside worse the
widows aud orphans and hear their Ia
OF woe. see 1t oil, and yet feel II
; utter helplessness In the presence Of Il
, legalized traffic In rum. We sec
know 1t, feel 1t, ali; yet sit silent whi
/; the work Of devastation continues.
l ask of the christian ministers, II
christian men and women oil Wilmingte
why are we thus idlea and how long Is
to continue? Are we not to be arous,
/; until the aend has entered our ov
home and taken In his relentless gra
our own boy? When we stand besi
4 the open grave Of our own dishonor
, loved one, rulned,by strong drink are
3 then to pray fof vengeance and en-
upon campaign Of extertninatio
o Remember somebody's boys arc hei
Z rained to-day, some mothers heart
breaking over . shattered idol. You
may bs the next. No, this apathy Ia
because We have not seen the destructi
effects of this pitiless ioe. Is there 0
OF us that does not know some Renerot
hearted fellow who would be In
were 1t rot for the unconquerable app
tito for rumi DO ws not have them col
to our church altais, put their nam
uoon the church record, WI ak In sunshi
for . lew weeks or months, and ha
:. them wall, s'It's no use, sir, l cal
stand against the appetite and the op
> saloon"
What are We going to do ebout
Continue our policy of silence and ind
, ference while men are being ruinedf
| Il ust not. Let the ministers and me
! bers join to save the fallen and close
saloon. Let the Christian Church sha
of this inexcusable apathy. Let the p
pit thunder, let the pew applaud. let
make tho power of Christianity
against the liquor traffic OF our city a
state. JOHN u. Z. HANNA.
Aebury Parsonage, May 0, 1890.