The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-05-21
THE BISHOPS ADDRESS
Before the Methodist Episcopal Gen.
eraI Conference Being Held at
Baltimore, Maryland.

| The following extracts from the Epis-
copal address, as read to the general
conference in session at Baltimore, Md.
by Bishop Daniel A. Goodsell, were re.
ceived with enthusiastic approval.
which at the close burst all barriers.
the delegates, in answering the Bishops
clarion call, springing to their feet.
cheering, waving handkerchiefs and
singing America and the Battle HYMN
of the Republic. The address of the
Bishop contained many gems of thought
and we regret that lack of space pre-
vents the publication of the address in
full, but commend to our readers the
following paragraphs:
When some years ago the General
Conference planted our church on the
heights of legal and constitutional pro-
hibition, some in the church and many
in the world felt that we had passed
from sobriety of Judgment to fanaticism,
and, in short, had become ''intemperate-
ly temperate" Today we find that state
after state has climbed to our position,
and that unexpected aid has reached us
from railway and other corporations, as
we'll as from some trade unions. States
which have been notoriously unfriendly
to any temperance legislation, except
general license, have passed local option
laws which have been accepted by
county after county until almost the
whole state has banished the saloon.
We can measure the sincerity of the
organs of the liquor traffic, as we'll as
OF the politicians they control, in say
ing that prohibition does not pro-
hibit,' by their frantic efforts to defeat
all prohibitive or restrictive legislation.
The well-wishers of mankind will sing
doNologies in view of the astonishing
progress of the prohibitive idea; pro-
gress so great that the middle-aged may
hope to see this curse of curses, alcohol
ic liquor, put in the cabinet of drugs
and no more freely sold than any other
irritant or soporific poison. For long
time it has given joy to your general
superintendents to observe that this
evil traffic has known that, when a
Methodist Episcopal minister arrived
in town, no matter how he came, an nn-
sparing, no-qnarter enemy had arrived.
On this account our ministers have been
frequently chosen to lead the temper
ance army, whether fighting for local,
state, or national prohibition, and we
unfeignedly rejoice that the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, so recent
ly led by sainted member of our church,
aided by the Anti-Saloon League, has
prevented the reestablishment of the
canteen and the fouling again of the
nations hand by direct participation in
the sale of liquor.
We salute our colleague, Bishop Will
son, as president of the Anti-Saloon
League of the United States of America,
and Bishop Mcdowell, as president of
the Church Temperance Society.
We have no doubt that you will re-
inforce our position by some strong
declaration which may, for the next
quadrennium, serve as war cry for
the Temperatures forces whose victory,
though in sight, is not yet wholly won.
All great emotions are followed by re-
actions. But there ought not to be-nay,
there must not be-any reaction from
the wrath with which all good and
Christian citizens pursue this sneaking
law-breaking, and murderous traffic. 1t
deserves neither charity nor mercy.
There is no law it will keep, no pledge
it will honor, no child it will not taint,
no woman it will not befoul, no man it
will not degrade. 1t feeds upon dis
honesties of conduct and on the shame
of brothels. 1t stimulates all revenges
and makes the murderer dance upon the
body he has killed. 1t falsely claims to
be great public interest because it
employs thousands and pays heavy
taxes. But no money in the pockets OF
employers, and no taxes in the treasury
of the city, county, state, or nation, can
balance the monetary losses of the
nation through this traffic. No profits
however real or immense, can compen.
safe for the corruption of orr politics
the emptiness of the drunkard's home
or the fullness of prisons and graves
Rise here and now and pledge eterna
enmity to this foe of man and God.