The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-20
QUARRELING REFORMERS.
In Spite of Them the Cause of Tenn
peraDce Progresses.
PHILADELPHIA Press.


The world of social reformers is abruptly
divided between the two classes of people
VINO want to prohibit people from doing i'll
and those who want TO persuade them to do
better.
Bishop Potter. on the liquor question. be-
longs 10 the latter class. The Prohibition
the beginning of time when Cain smote
Abel. these two fraternal classes are quar-
reling. The Prohibitionists call Bishop Pot
ter wine-bibber because he favors a re-
formed saloon. Bishop Potter calls the Pro-
! hibitioniStS PhariseeS and hypocrites. Be-
tween them both the cause of temperance
reform is not making much progress.
fortunately 1t IS not dependent upon Ell
ther. 1t is making progress in spite of both
Pronbltlon mas not prohibited, but II has
accustomed great masses OF our population
TO the absence of the open and visible saloon
and educated the public out of the idea that
a man has a free and inalienable right to
get drunk, an idea which still obtains in
England. In all our American cities liquor
drinking is visibly decreasing. Apolinaris
water and soft drinks have done more than
the temperance societies. The sobriety of
our American streets and gatherings sur
prise every Englishman and the abstinence
OF the working American masses amazes
every German or Frenchman, shocked 5
both are by treating" and the free use of
spirits.
This mingled Improvement, due to various
causes, is probably apparent to Bishop
Potter as to any one else. but he refuses to
prohibition. Bishop Potter is Not SO much
St Paul. as a saint OF Caesars house
hold" His life. his labors and his sympa-
thieS are with the people for whom life is
for various reasons most comfortable
He is moved, as all such men and all
situated are in these days, by the pervading
misery of men in the Woodworking strata
of society. 1t is growing more and more
difficult, we are glad to say, every year for
any man to enjoy full meal, warm bed
and q comfortable life when he knows that
men, women and children naked, starv-
ing and uncomfortable. Opposed to the
EXnOcriSV PrOlihitiOniSt RiShOn
ter puts those with this sympathy who
have done noble and generous things along
the line of a wiser and more brotherly con-
sideration for their fellowmen." The re-
housing of the poor done by such men and
women, the lettering Of their condition. the
attempt to lift their city lot is the most en-
couraging spot in all social civic effort.
But 1t IS as true of the ills these efforts
seek to reach as ii is-to use Bishop Pot
ter's Just words-that there is no one cure
for SO vast a mischief as the saloon stands
for" Social evils are complex. There is
no nostrum. The sympathy Bishop Potter
stands for is as little a remedy as prohi-
bition, and the contempt the supporter Of
each has for the other is not the least OBJ
stace in the progress of society. Both ought
to understand what neither is ready to ad-
mit-that the transformation and regenera-
ton of society can only come when wise
the sale of liquor and sympathetic effort
provides some better substitute for the So
cial advantages and attractions of the sa-
LOOM Neither will succeed alone, and when
each abuses the other, as has been for
some time in progress between Bishop Potter
and the ProhibitionistS. neither accomplishes
much.