The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-14
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
$. L. Nicholson Takes an Optimistic
View-PatriOtic Revival Needed.

S. E. Nicholson, president of the Good
Citizens League of the State, and author of
the Nicholson temperance law, spoke at the
Friends Church, corner of Alabama and
Tenth streets, last night to a good-sized
audience Mr.. Nicholson said in his opening
remarks that it was his mission to preach
civic righteousness. The test of the per-
petuity of the government, he said, lies in
the integrity of the people. This is the
fountainhead of it's strength Governments
have been slow to learn that a system
founded on unrighteousnesS is doomed from
the beginning Mr.. Nicholson asserted that
it is the bounden duty of Christian citizens
to be interested in the questions of righteous
government.
The organized evils everywhere were de-
scribed by the speaker as outward evidences
of inward unrighteousness and he declared
his belief that it is as much the duty of
the church to endeavor to remove these
evils as it is to reach the hearts of in
dividuals for repentance. The church, the
speaker thought, had been paying too much
attention to sin in the abstract and should
now see to it that its powers are directed
against the visible organized forms of evil.
A legal enactment does not constitute a
reform except as 1T creates a condition In
which the people may be led to a better
life. Mr.. Nicholson suggested that the way
to success in roofing out organized evils
is through individual consciences which
must be aroused. This can be done by con-
tinuous agitation and by strict enforce
ment of the law.
Civil liberty and equality before the law,
said Mr.. Nicholson, have been found only
where there is Christian liberty and Chris
tan citizenship. Millions Of souls will never
be reached until the organized evils of So
cety are cut away. Momentous questions
are now confronting the public mind Many
must yet learn the lesson that law is SUI
preme and must at all hazards be obeyed
and enforced There is not so much danger
from anarchism in itself as that the pa
triotic sentiment of the native citizen may
be stiffled. The speaker insisted that the
country needs a revival of the patriotic
spirit He offered a friendly criticism upon
reform methods. He said too many people
are content with scolding the people for
their inaction, where they ought 10 be busy
removing the erroneous ideas of many citi-
zens, so there might be clear right-of-way
to their minds and hearts.
Mr. Nicholson vigorously protested
against the idea that public men in politics
must of necessity be blinded to the wrongs
about them. They are the best party men
who work for the best interests of the peo-
ple They who serve their country best
serve their party best. genuine civic re-
vival wave is spreading over the country
designed to inject better ideas into politics.
The caucus must be taken from the saloon
and bad surroundings. IL the party con-
yention comes on prayer meeting night,
the Christian who is affiliated with that
party should attend the convention and
see that good men are nominated.
In closing the speaker referred TO the
agencies that are constantly at work con-
structing new conditions and destroying the
disintegrating influences Of our social and
Al