Evening star., 1897-03-30
Mr. MOOllcy'n Lecture.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The lecture of Mr.. John G. Woolley Sun
day afterr oon at the First Congregational
Church. under the auspices of the Woman S
Christian Temperance Union, has natural
ly provoked much criticism. As l was on
the platform for the purpose of making an
appeal to the audience for funds for the
work of our local W. c. T. L.. and there
fore identified with the meeting, / wish to
present a few thoughts to the readers OF
The Evening Star IN regard to this occur
renee.
Mr. Woolley was the honored guest OF
the W. c. T. L. of the District of Columbia.
1t was the Lords day and the meeting was
held in the splendid audience room OF the
First Congregational Church. which is al
ways open to those who are engaged In
work for humanity and God 1t was rea-
sonable to suppose that the address would
be in harmony with the place, the day and
the occasion.
Mr. Wool eys opinions respecting politi-
cal parties were well known to the man.
ayers Of the meeting. and to many in the
audience. That he would condemn chris-
tian people for voting with parties that
upheld the liquor traffic was expected.
That he would anathematize one party and
say nothing in regard to the other was
not expected. The democratic party was
mentioned or referred to only once, and
that reference was homeopathic in guam
tity and mild in quality. That Mr. Woolley
would so far forget the dignity OF his
position and the prophecies Of the occasion
as to engage in a TRADE of abuse of the
one-armeu and one-legged heroes of the
Grand Army of the Republic could not have
been foreseen by any one.
Even frcm his own standpoint this at
tack was utterly inexcusable and unjusti-
fable He is opposed to existing parties
because as such they Will not favor the
suppression of the liquor traffic. He con-
demns Christian men as individuals ior
he candidates.
as such will not pass laws prohibiting the
liquor traffic.
Surely he had a wide field for discussion.
Why should he leave It? Why should he
drag into his address one single reference
To the campaign of 1896 and omit all others? ?
Why not take up other object lessons con-
nected with that eventful epoch In our ma
tions history!
some interesting features in the late edu-
cational campaign, which. If presented by
Mr. Woolley IN his unusually choice Eng
lish, would have stirred his audience-popu-
lists, democrats and republicans-and moved
them put into the bright sunlight of the
beautiful Lords day. Why should he think
it necessary to go out OF his way. ana in
language better suited to the lowest grade
of political campaigners than to a Christian
gentleman in the house of God. attack the
armed Christian hero Of Chaneellors-
Vile, Gen. Oliver o. Howard, and his hon.
ored co-patriot, the valiant one-legged Gen.
Daniel E. Sickles. who, with other veter-
ans did their part in the campaign accord
ing to their own convictions of duty and
probably as conscientiously as Mr.. Woolley
s, pported one of the two prohibition can
didates for President.
There was not i'm the audience Sunday
an honorable confederate veteran who af-
ter the campaign had closed and the battle
ended. would have been guilty of such an
attack on such men. Our own Grant, and
The most reliable cure for Catanh In lo.cent trial