The Press., 1897-04-15
w. C. T. U.

w. C. T. U.
 Temperance is the moderate use of all things helpful and total abstinence from all things harmful.
 The Catholic church and the archdiocese of Boston, by the voice of it's clergy, has announced itself the uncompromising friend of temperance. One hundred and seventy priests headed by the venerable Archbishop Williams was sent to the legislature of Massachusetts asking that such laws be enacted as will prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors in any public park within the commonwealth. It would be mistake to think that the earnest men who have thus started new move- ment have no purpose reaching beyond the terms of their request, for while it is most desirableto protect the pleasure and recreation grounds of the state from the presence of ofalcoholic poison, it is declared by those who know the animus of the movement that ''the great underlying purpose which these promoters of temper ance.desire to accentuate by every possible and honorable means in their power is to manifest the attitude of the Catholic clergy on the liquor question in general and to disabuse the minds of those who have misunderstood the spirit of the church on this matter" It is declared to be against liquor dealers and the liquor traffic in t0t0' that this action, determin- ed upon in the residence of the archbishop himself, is to be directed, and 1t is stated to be nothing more nor less than the logical outcome of that famous decree, promulgated by the last session of Ameri- can bishops as follows:
 Therefore, we warn all persons engaged in the sale of liquor to consider seriously the many and great dangers and occasions for sin with which their business is sur rounded, even if that business in itself be not illicit. When they are able let them choose amore decent way of making their living. Should they not abandon the traffic, they must do all in their power to remove the occasion of sin from them selves as well as from selling liquor to minors, or to those who they foresee will abuse it. Let them keep their shops closed on Sundays, and at no time allow on their premises the use of filthy or pro- fane language. If through their guilty means, or help, the cause of religion is brought into dishonor, or men are sent to their ruin, let them bear well in mind that there is an averaging God in heaven, who will surely chastise them with the severest punishments."
 To prohibit pictures of the prize fight, and in pursuance of our methods, pre- ventive and educational, the national w. c. T. U. has sent to President Mckinley the following appeal: "As the official re- presentatives of the three hundred thous- and members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of the United States, we earnestly entreat you to call upon congress to prohibit in the District of Columbia and throughout the various territories the reproduction, by means of ! the kinetoscope, or kindred instruments, of the Corbett- Fitzsin mons fight, or of any like exhibition at any future time. We believe that in making this request we are seeking the best welfare of the citizens, especially the youth of our land, | who could not but be brutalized by such lifelike representations of these degrading spectacles. We learn that preparations upon the largest scale are being made for invading, not alone our great cities, but every village and hamlet, with this spec- tacular performance, so that bad as was the influence of the fight upon the con- paratively few who wttnessedit in person, it would be infinitely worse, because so much more far-reaching, if thus repro duced.
 We are making like request of the chief officials and legislatures of the various states, and have strong hopes that, in the majority of them, the neces- sary legislation may result.
 I We are glad to feel assured at the out set that your personal sympathy must be with us and that your official sanction will be given to this request, so clearly III the interests or morality"
 Cooperation with the president by the governors and legislatures of the respec- tive states, will, it is hoped, bring about the desired result.
 The attention of Archbishop Ireland, whose voice rings out with no uncertain sound on questions of morality as relating to public affairs, was called to the tele- graphic reports of the petition, and he made comment thereonas follows: "Pugil- ism is barbarism-is animalism It is a disgrace to Christian civilization. No Christian nation should permit it. The exhibition of the kinetoscopic reproduct- ions of the Carson fight would minister to morbid curiosity, low appetites and tend to render prize fighting popular. hope that the good sense and moral instincts of the American people will not allow this contemplated exhibition to take place in any part of our country"
 We have sought people to get ready to go to heaven, now let us try to get a heaven ready for them here.