The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-04

Advancing temperance REFORM
The unreserved Endorsement given
by Catholics everywhere to the ruling
of Mgr. Satolli upon the liquor ques-
ton is significant to friends Of rational
temperance reform, That this ruling
has done more at one blow to promote
temperance and discourage intemper-
ance than has been accomplished by all
the independent political activities of
the partisan extremists since they first
appeared on the surface of events is
freely conceded, even by the liquor
men themselves. But the important
part of this latest incident is its ready
and obedient acceptance by the masses
of the Catholic laity, evidencing the
possession Of an influence upon the
secular activities of that laity by its
ecclesiastical superiors which, when so
wisely welded as in this instance,
might will be the envy Of all denomi-
nations OF Protestants.
Another noteworthy thing is the
fearlessness Of the new school of Cath
olic prelates as contrasted with the
seeming lukewarmness of many Prot
estant clergymen having fewer mate
rial reasons for preserving discreet
neutrality upon the question of intem-
perance. ~ thank God that have
yet to learn what fear means in the
discharge ofmy duty" writes Arch
bishop Corrigan to an editor who dared
him to offend the liquor interests.
The same fearless spirit permeates this
eloquent utterance by Archbishop Ire
land:
The church demands that its members be
temperate. America has set her face
against the saloon, the den of corrupt po-
litics, and any church which will not come
out for temperance is an odious excres-
cence of the soil. appeal to you in the
name OF the country, of God, and Of the
church to lead all Catholics to be true
NubuOiiCo duu ooENuulS VI Lu6 CuuTCu. Inc
church has other methods Of work and
practices Of zeal, but prominent among
them all is the work of temperance. Have
your festivities, but let not the tables bear
the weight of achoholic spirits. The great
self-denial today is the pledge. Be chari-
table, but the best charity is to lead your
brothers IN the ranks OF temperance. ]
am not looking for the millennium, but we
can reduce the number OF drinking men so
that 1t will be the accepted saying that no
drunkards are among the Catholics. Speak
to the victims Of the drink habit. They
have principles OF faith In them and only
need helping hand. II we would main
tain crusade against intemperance for
half decade, what change we could
effect If it is accomplished 1t is the
fault not of Of the Weak but of tho strong,
who are unwilling to take up the work.
The American saloon is the vile den of in
temperance. 1t is laden with blasphemy
and sensuality. Temptations are there
created which bring men to drink. l make
no reference to the personal character OF
saloon keepers, but the business Is bad.
It is the enemy Of God and the country
Let the day soon come when we shall not
see the name OF Catholic above the por-
tails Of saloon door. / believe we shall
not succeed with the poor man until we
have club rooms and coffee houses for him,
for the saloon il now his club room. We
must have all Catholics in Office arrRyed
against the saloon element and its inter.
ests. Political slavery is hideous, and es-
pecially 80 when it brings slavery to alco.
hol. / beg the clergy to enlist in the
grand cause, to organize for 1t, and demand
legislation against selling to minors
Those in the saloon traffic should seek a
more worthy calling. The church holds
up high ideal, and whatever the Catho-
lies may do, the church has done it's duty.
Will Catholics rise to this high ideals
Reviewing the whole incident of the
Satolli ruling, in the light of recent
events, one may truthfully say that it
has accelerated greatly that sentiment
which, without malice or i'll will for
any individual liquor dealer, is never
theless strongly opposed to the domi-
nation of politics by liquor dealers as
a class; to the unwholesome influences
which emanate from and are en-
couraged by the traffic In intoxicants;
and to the tone of arrogance in which
this increasingly unpopular traffic is
defended
IF THE president Of the United
States were to telegraph to Richard
Roe In Scranton, "Roe, / want you to
IL ~