The Press., 1894-09-13

The most conspicuous object in Amer1- | can social and political life to-day is the saloon. What does it stand for in it's relations to our interests as citizens? Is it an aid or a hindrance to the benefits which ought to accrue from association together as units in one cohesive life ? There can be but one answer. The sa- loon lets loose upon our land forces which, so far from aiding us in the preservation of our inalienable rights, threaten their total destruction. The poverty, misery, crime and desolation of our land may be traced, in an overwhelmingly large pro- portion, directly to that source as it's foun- tain head. From those baleful doors there issues nothing which tends to the uplift of society, but rather to it's downfall and total disintegration.
 This being the case, what is clearly the relation of citizenship to the saloon There can be but one and that is of ab- solute, unflinching hostility. By all that endears to us our homes and loved ones; by all that fires us with the flames of true patriotism by all that inspires us with the hope of a nobler future, the citizen of this land and of this age should take his stand against that which is the greatest foe to his true citizenship.
 And this means something more than theory and resolution: something more than personal total abstinence in the in- dividual; it means active, uncompromis- ing hostility-war to the knife. John G. | Woolley has long since shown us that we are to "overcome evil" not by being but by doing "good." We may be saints of immaculate whiteness in our daily living; what avails that to the community at large if the white lightning of our sainthood be not directed against the centers of evil? We may walk the earth ''as seeing Him who is invisible" but unless we also see, with open-eyed, intelligent vision some other things which are clearly "visible," it will be the same to the world as if we had not walked.
 Perish the thought of a salvation which limits its scope to the individual needs of individual souls, though they be numbered by millions. That only is salvation which broadens it's scope to Gods own purpose, and He only is saved who is himself a Saviour from all evil everywhere.
 Only the other day we heard a promi- nent prayer-meeting habitue say, Ia chris tian man has no business in primary meeting-no business at the ballot-box." l 4 nd annlH nnlx Gol t,>f his narrowness and enlarge his view of christianity. If there be one place more than another where the christian man is needed to-day it is in the primary meet ing. If there be one spot more than an- other where christianity should be highly concentrated it at the ballot box.
 The call to every citizen comes from God himself-"who will rise up for me against the evil-doer? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniqui- ty?"
 You answer 1T" in the prayer meeting !; what do you say at the ballot box p Union tSiga1al.
 THAT OFFICIAL APoLoGY.-A period of humiliation and repentance seems to have followed the dissipation at Camp Brad ley. Officers and men who have the best interests of the Connecticut national guard at heart feel keenly the disgrace which
 was brought upon them and the organiza-
 tion by the conduct of their associates.
 What may be termed the ''official apol- ogy" is therefore being circulated. It runs as follows:
 "We, the undersigned members of the Connecticut national guard regret more deeply than can outsiders that there were ; any instances of too great social indul- gences at Camp Bradley we likewise bit terly deplOre and condemn an inclination on the part of certain critics to judge the whole by the few, and we take this opportunity to declare that we will up-
 hold and defend the fair name of the Con- necticut national guard as an organization for manly training, pledging ourselves to put no stumbling block in the way of the weak, and particularly to discourage the , habit of treating among officers and men. "
 ~. E. Home, Sept. 1.
 , It would seem wise thing for christian people to claim of leaders in church and
 state, not only pledge to put no stumb-
 ling block in the way of the weak, but
 such lives as would exert, always and ev-
 anywhere, an influence for good. September 22-28 will be observed by l white ribboners as self-denial week. This week is ushered in by the birthday ol
 Mrs. Leavitt, our first round the world missionary, and closes with that of Miss l Willard, which is known as membership day, special effort being urged to secure ' new members on that day.