Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-09-27
THE PROHIBITION TENT.

uluate lor congress from the lnlru NlS-
trict, set stakes in the park, in Mineral
Point, on Friday afternoon; and in
the evening Mr.. Martin, and the prohi-
bition candidate for secretary Of state,
Hon. Y. j. Van Matre, spoke in the
Tent, to large audience. BY request
Rev. ). r. Chubb opened the meeting
with prayer; prohibition songs were
sung; Mr.. Martin introduced Mr. Van
Matre, who spoke for nearly an hour;
singing followed; collection was
taken up: another song; then the
closing speech by Mr.. Martin.
The Democrat is aware that it
must be very chary in entering upon y
criticism of the meeting, or of the
speeches Because we dared, few
weeks ago, TO condemn the Inaugural
tion of Prohibition Sunday campaigns,
four or five prohibition guns were i'm
mediately leveled upon us, from as
many different directions, and we were
told to throw up our hands, explain,
retract, and apologize. And we do
hereby and hereon, explain that Mr..
Will Cork, leader of the singing, en-
phatically informed us, that no songs
are made upon political opponents; no
funny stories are told that none but
gospel temperance sermons are preach
ed, and none but gospel songs are
sung, in the Tent, on Sunday. Still
we are far from endorsing Sunday
political campaigns, and far from ad-
vising the running up of Democratic
Republican, or Populist tents on that
day.
But to the speeches in Mineral
Point They We're anything but gos-
pei sermons. Mr.. Van Matre has
gained, and justly gained, statewide,
enviable, reputation as farmers in
stitute speaker and worker. Portions
of his speech on Friday night were of
the highest order. Portions of it were
unworthy of the man--pharisalcal in
tone, and rancorous in spirit. And
several of the songs breathed the
same spirit. Mr.. Martins speech was
more mild. He made some good
points; and, to our mind, some very
weak ones. There is surely no
danger of any sunday campaigner
ever cribbing his speech, to use for II
gospel temperance sermon.
The Democrat has no desire to ques-
ton the honesty of purpose of the
men engaged in the Prohibition cause.
No one denies that many and great
evils flow from the liquor traffic. But
these evils will never be overthrown
by men working along the lines pur-
sued by the speakers in Mineral Point,
on Friday night Laws governing the
liquor traffic, as well as all other laws,
which are the expression of just
public sentiment, should be strictly
enforced; but The Democrat has no
patience with attempts to lampoon or
ridicule all those who do not believe in
certain narrow methods of reform.
Abuse is not argument Ridicule will
never win. Saints cannot be made by
law.
Spontaneously to God should tend the soul,
Like the magnetic needle to the pole"
We have no personal quarrel with
the Prohibition workers who pitched
their tent in Mineral Point. They are
our neighbors and friends. We think
their zeal outruns their discretion and
men who use such incorporate Ian
guage as they use, can hardly be said
to be temperate in all things. They
must not play the baby act, and ask
to be let alone, because as Editor
Peavy says their Sunday meetings
"are managed by and are under the
auspices of Christian committeeman,
who see that no misuse is made of the
occasion. Thomas Hood had just such
reformers and self constituted saints
in mind when he wrote:
Quacks-not physicians-in the cure Of souls,
Those pseudo privy-Councillors Of God,
Who write down judgments with pen hard
nibbod,
Commenting sinners, not 10 ice thick ribbed,
But endless flames, 10 scorch them Ike flax,
Yet sure Of heaven themselves as II they'd
cribbed
The impression Of st. Peters keys In wax.
We are willing to allow politicians
reasonable latitude in dealing with OPP
ponents; but to expect US to listen to
such speeches as were delivered here,