The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-08-10

4
| in them; We can set at our t,wr tables AZ,
example Of moderation such as shall not
be mistaken or n,isunderstnnd.
IT liz at least a debatable question
whether or not 1t rs the duty Of d man
to set the example of iecercy and toni
perance In all things rather than TO stand
out for total abstinence. Shall q man
refuse to take a. glass OF wine upon any
occasion. and so say by his example that
wine Is never 20 be tasted because some
people drink to excess or SHAH he take
an occasional drink and vet live sopelrlys
and temporarily and show to the world
that ii is possible to control the anne
tite and to drink as well ms to eat within
,nodera ton The Times Dispatch adheres
To the latter view rather than to the
former. but does not attempt to force I ~
views upon any, II y q question, ~ that at
every man must decide for himself, be-
cause it ia a question 81 Judgment and OF
conscience. ia man believes tina + II Is
a sin to take a drink OF LIQUOR under any
circumstances. to him tits sin. Inc
believes that total abstinence Is Q divine W
injunction,s 1t Is hts business and his
duty to follow the guide Of his own cons
science. 81 We sconcede sincerity to the per-
sol, who believes In total abstinence, but
we concede sincerity also to those con-
sclentious people who take the temper
ance view. There are two sides to the
question. and q man Of Bishop Potter'sa
character and standing is not to be pill
lorled because he believes In temperance
rather than in total abstinence.
There are also two views Of the pro-
Ghibtion question: We concede sincerity
to those who conscientiously believe that
the way to deal with the liquor traffic Is
to prohibit It by law. But we concede
sincerity also to those who consclen-$
.tiously believe that Il Is able
to enforce prohibition in some communl-
ties; who believe that liquor will be sold
with Or without law. and that It is best
that 1t be sold under the equation Of r'i
Law, and that men and women cannot
be made temperate by )egisla tive enact
ments. There are saloons without nun1-8
Der In the city OF New Y ork, and in the
present state Of sentiment they are there
TO stay. IF any Of us claim to be the I
friends Of moderat ion,' e! says Bishop Pot
ter, 'let us see If something cannot be
done to restrain traffic whose Inn
moderate and unchastened aggressions
threaten the very foundation Of the State
and OF peace and order Of society itself y
If there must be places where intoxicants
are sold by the drink. is $a temp nee
manto be vilitied and outlawed because
he attempts to improve the character Of
the saloon. or. If you prefer. to minimize
Its eyllsg Such q man M y be bnista ken
In his policy, but 81, as the servant Of
God and a: minister to humanity he con-
scientiously endeavors, with tn g sll ght in
which he walks. the light Il Of q we'll
trained mind, as well as the light Of the
spirit, to improve q situation Which he
finds to be horrible and sintolerable, to-
improve 1t by means which seem to hinl&
In ali the circumstances to be best and
most practicable he is at least to be I
commended for his good intent and for
his zeal in behalf of5his fellow-creatures.#
{ No one OF the most violent assailants4s
OF Bishop Potter can conscien tiously say
that the Bishop Is designedly acting in
the interest Of the saloon or the .liquor t
traffic. IT must III common sense be-
conceded that such a man is acting in the
interest. as he sees It Of the Victims Of
the saloon by endeayoring to substitute
the lesser for the greater. evil, AS well
denounce a conscientious 2rolilbitionist
for his zeal for prohibitiongas denounce
a conscientious temperance man for his
zeal for mod lon. The cause Of true
temperance cannot be benefited. but must
be hurt. by incorporate abuse and de-
nunciatlon OF = nscientlous advocate Of
temperance. &.
===============s============= EN-