The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-02
TEMPERANCE REFORM.
1t Is Not Promoted by Wild and In
temperate Invective.
RantiSt Outlooly fundamentals

DdpISI OuIlOOk NIHuldIdpCHS.)
The cause of temperance is not promoted
by Incorporate speeches. and it is a pity
10 throw away magnificent opportunity.
such as John G. Wooley had the other
Sunday afternoon to make some real con-
tributions to one of the most important. IL
not the most important, subject before the
American people to-day by hurting invec-
tives against the liquor men (Which any
one can do) and by arrafgning with sever
ity the voting portion of the membership
of the churches AS to the inVectives we
hackers the brewers, deserve them all, but
they manage nevertheless very well to sur
vive them-a fact which itself makes them
Of no value in the judgment of those
friends of temperance whose earnestness of
feeling is equaled by their thoughtful study
of the conditions of the problem they
exist. Wild denunciations, extraVagant
rhetoric, and cynical criticism of Christian
men In their political action. who are rot
only well-meaning but conscientious in the
discharge of their civic obligations so far
as they understand them, are but wind and
WEAKNESS to all who are waiting to have
to be done next. And there are plenty of
men who are thus waiting, and
are too much d'ii IN earnest IN regar9
to this great matter not 70 be put ont of
patience with the substitution of an ha-
rangue for an enlightening discussion Of
the problem it stands.
Our conviction is that no great and wor-
thy cause is so wounded in the house of it's
friends as is the cause of temperance. We
expect it to be smitten of its enemies but
that can be endured and even welcomed
We are not surprised nor worried--veTy
much-at the attitude of so large a portion
of the daily press which is too ready, as a
rule, to make moral questions wait on the
eXigencieS of party politics. The mister
tune of the temperance reform Is that It
has been for several years apparently given
over into the hands of theorists who in
their public speeches have represented tair-
ly well the strong feeling of temperance
people but have contributed scarcely any
thing of practical value towards helping
carry it a step nearer to success. In this
as in all other reforms progress is condi-
toned upon a patient investigation and
study of the problem in all its present rela-
tons and the adoption of such measures
as are suggested by the knowledge thus
obtained. Our single point is that too often
the temperance orator of to-day the man
who obtains the ear of those enemies of
the liquor traffic whom he has not already
disguised is unfortunately not the man
who has carefully thought the problem
through and who in his denunciaton of the
liquor traffic and almost as bitter criticism
Of the church leads not step farther
forward in the direction of it's solution.
As already stated, the Importance of the
problem cannot be exaggerated, but we yet
await the great leader whom all temper
ance people will recognize and follow OF
small men and would-be leaders there are
more than enough-as there always are.
But for the real leader yet must pray.
May the Lord give him to us speedily.
In the meanwhile we are thankful for such
men as Mr.. Nicholson, who by means of
the law which bears his name, has made
il possible to get our present restrictive
legislation obeyed, II we really care 10 have
1t obeyed. and who thereby has rendered
more effective service in behalf of temper
ance in this State than all the mere ha-
rangueS on the subject which have been
delivered in the past ten years. Quite fire.
make political capital out of the intemper-
ate utteranceS of TEMPERANCE men