The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-21
Christening the Battleship.

SPRINGFIELD, Ills, sept lI.-Gover-
ernor Tanner has decided that the battle
ship Illinois shall be christened In cham
payne, and to-day sent the following lets
ter to Mrs. Matilda ID. Carse, jessie
Brown Hilton and Helen l.. Wood, thu
committee Of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. who protested against
christening the battleship with wine;
"Ladies,--I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt OF your letter OF the 10Th
instant. Referring TO which, L will say
that IL is with pleasure / pay my highest
respects to the noble women of your
union. and acknowledge with profound
appreciation the excellent good you ara
laboring to establish. / would consider
IL a privilege 10 be able TO assist you.
Thousands OF homes are better for your
guardianship. thousands OF hearts are
grateful to you and your aid, and tho
world is better for having known the
Womans Christian Temperance Union. In
the matter. however, OF following the
time-honored custom OF christening bat
tleships there is no dissertation OF the
laws OF temperance. The ceremony is
not one from which any evil could posi-
bly, be set forth. and the most sacred re-
ligiOus ordinance-'The Sacrament, the
world commentaries with deepest solenl-
nifty and honor is one In which wine II
the subject as one unworthy OF 80 much
agitation. II left 10 me the battleship
Illinois will be christened according 10 the
time honored custom. Very truly yours
JOHN II. TANNER
Richmond. Va, Sept. 20. 1893.
Editor OF The Times:
| ask you TO reprint the above clipping
from your news columns and permit me
a few words OF comment. The Governor
presents the ladies very pretty bouquet,
but the subject is one unworthy" the
rather nippant and altogether fimsy dis
missal he gives the point in issue. This
Chief Magistrate, In common with large
number OF intelligent and generally we'll
informed people. seems unable 10 rise 10
the height of the argument OF the w. &.
T. u women. The mere fact In Itself
considered OF smashing a bottle OF cham.
payne on a ships hull is indeed matter
OF no moment, but tie agitation to which
the Governor objects is directed against
the sentiment and attendant deleterI- 10
effect attaching TO this as one OF tine
many OF the "time-honored' customs Oh
the day wherein social custom and fash
ion pay homage at the shrine OF Bac'
chus These noble women are striving
(and in large measure succeeding TO edu'
cate public sentiment up 10 the plane oil
eliminating wine and strong drink as
symbol Of good fellowship and as a sine
qua non OF fashionable sociabillty. Wine
suppers. toasts. the social decanter
treating" and the like form and feed the
great river Of intemperance that Is sweep
ing crosswise through our beloved land
The w. c. T. u. in its great and glorious
warfare antagonizes everything thai
tends 10 dignity or perpetuate any senu'
mental and injurious usage OF intoxicanit
as symbol, and that great success which
has attended the organization and OF
which the Governor expresses such de-
light has resulted from a persistent and
heroic struggle against the "time-honor.
ed customs and the attendant sentiment
regarding their annulment The Cover
nor confesses 10 a sentiment In regard u
this "time-hmonored CUSTOM" the inteD.
sity OF which IS exemplifed by refusing "a
sacrifice his sentimentality for what he
deems the same actuating impulse on ,ths
part OF the ladies', Notwithstanding "ths
world is better for having known the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union"
Come Come. now. good Governor, ever
II 1.-THE ceremony Is not one from which
any evil can possibly be set forth" wheN
is your gallantry when you refuse re-
quest tie granting OF which could not
possibly result In any evil being set
forth" out OF a sentimental regard for a
"time-honored custom?" And where. oh.
where Is the evidence OF your feeling OF
indebtedness 20 your petitioners for hav-
ing made thousands OF homes better"
and 1.-The world betterl' CThe honor that
time gives a custom doesn't make II right
OF appropriate. else sin would have
cinch).
or course the Illinois will be chrlstened
with champagne according TO the time
honored custom" the conquering banner
Of the w c. r. u. will go gradually FOR
ward and IN the eloquent words OF Cover
nor Tanner. who should aid its mission.
Il will continue 10 make thousands or
homes better for It's guardianship and the
world better for having known Il"
w. NJ. BTCKERS.