San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-05

| pfOnlnluOu' 10 nut dht tVAhpSiahNNi
any more than improper use is.
Proper use is the only proper thing.
Everything has its use, even the fam
atheism of religious intolerance, and a
true temperance will take all these
things that are the general inherit
ance of the world, and out of them,
through them, in them and by them
make for itself all garments of beauty
and usefulness. True temperance I'M
derstands that it is not in the thing
itself, but in it's abuse that the evil
lies, and wisely elects to teach the
true uses of things rather than de-
prive others of that which may be to
them great gain or good. Either
the world is full of abortions, its
maker is to be charged with all man
ner of mistakes, or the world is about
what it ought to be if it was properly
used. To find out this proper use
is the work of a true temperance.
Passion, anger, that hot Impotence
of the spirit that charges recklessly
upon the obstacles that are presented
in life, has its uses. 1t is the fire that
creates the steam of motion and fore
es the wheels of action to revolve
with increased rapidity. Because
some fools have not learned how to
control these furnace fires of feeling
and an occasional explosion occurs, is
it either wise or right to denounce
passion and set the seal of condemna-
ton on the thing itself. Is it not
rather the best thing to teach the en-
gineer how to bank his fires when the
steam rises too high and control the
motion? Just so with that glass of
| liquor which is condemned so bitterly
by the so-called temperance people.
1t has its uses and to teach right use
is the certain road to the correction
of abuse There is no other way
known among men.
Because political conventions are
the scenes of riot and all but blood
shed at times, would you advise the
| abolishing of these organizations for
the carrying out the processes of gov
eminent by the people, and destroy
government? Because churches are
embroiled at times in disputes that
reflect anything but credit upon the
peaceable kingdom of the Christ,
would you abolish the church and de-
ny those to whom it is a minister of
good its mission? Because the clergy
at times abuse their privileges and
are Incorporate in the use of Ian
guage with which a sinner is rebuked
would it be best to abolish the free
speech of the clergy? Because there
are newspaper writer's and publishers
who abuse the freedom of the press,
and indulge in personal Journalism,
state to deny the freedom of the
press?
| There is but one answer to all like
questions. 1t is not censorship of the
press, a restriction of it's liberty that
| is demanded, but such a force of pub
lie opinion as will compel these abus-
ers of the privileges of the press to
cease that abuse and properly use the
freedom allowed. In like manner'ft
is not restraint upon the Ttterances
of the pulpit that is. decided, but
wise judgment concerning what is al
lowable a16Ihat is not, and such
pressure of the best material of the
churn for it's enforcement as. will
Smpel that pulpit rightly to use it's
largest liberty. 1t is not the destruc-
ton of popular government that is
desired because demagogues abuse
that liberty of government, but it is
such an instructed public opinion as
will rebuke these abusers of political
privilege and force them to the rear.
The whole movement of reformation
is in the direction of better use, not
in the line of enforced disuse. The
| great reformers of the ages have al
ways moved and lived and taught
along that line. These men have ever
been noted for their breadth of view,
their charity of speech and feeling,
their tenderness of the errors of 9TH
ers, their great respect for the per-
sonality of their disciples. They
scorned to sit in judgment on the
lives or habits or peculiarities of 9th
ers. They taught along broad and
elevated lines. They respected huma-
ity and paid great regard to its
rights. The individual sanctity was
one of the prime articles of their
creeds. They taught, but it was more