The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-03-05
Resentment AROUSED.

Catholic church which is made in liter
ature now being sent out by the nation.
tional press bureau of the Prohibition
party and which practically charges the
Catholic prelate, with having been brib-
ed by the liquor interests of this country,
has caused big stir in Catholic circles.
Archbishop Messmer has denounced the
attack as contemplate and the work of
fanatics and the entire church in Wis
consin resents the accusation.
Several days ago Cardinal Gibbons
gave out an interview in Baltimore in
in which he favored low licenses for
wine and beer and high licenses for spir-
ituons liquors. He also said he did not
favor prohibition. Thereupon the pro
hibition party through DIR. j. P. Gran
fill, staff correspondent Of the Associat-
ed Press, with headquarters at Chicago,
sent ont statement to practically every
newspaper in the country intimating
that all priests and ministers who are
not for prohibition are SO as 1.-The result
of monetary consideration. In view of
the fact that the Papal private Cham
berlain, Mons Franz Collier, has an
uounced that Pope Plus X does not ia
vor prohibition, this attack has caused
d tremendous sensation among Catho.
lies. Archbishop G. Messmer in re-
plying to the attack said: 1T is too
contemplate, too ridiculous to no
tice. Cardinal Gibbons is too big a
man to be injured by such preposterous
charges and the right course to take is
to ignore them completely. 1t only dig
nifies those who have given them utter.
ance by giving them attention which
they do not deserve. 1t is the bigoted
attack of fanatics and is really no more
than was TO be expected from those be-
hind this extreme movement. | pro
phesied, when | heard that Cardinal
Gibbons had spoken against the prohibi-
tion movement, that some such attack
would be made on him. 1t was ali the
Of recognized authority whose opinion
on any subject carries weight.
Anyone who knows the cardinal will
resent this abuse. He is the most tenn
perate of men and so fal rs there being
any possibility of his having been
bought in any way, it is thought not
| g. l. G. Ia,
evasion by this prohibition fanatic that
such a charge is not made against Car
dinal Gibbons is not in keeping with the
inference given out by his other state
ments, not only by the one regarding
the preachers having been seen but by
the later one in which he says that in
Cardinal Gibbons case IL cannot be ig-
norance, though it may be both avarice
and appetite. The comparison between
prelate of the church and the head of
a brewery, with the comforting of the
sacred title of cardinal on the brewer,
is also to be resented rs in most disgust.
ing taste and as an example of extreme
fanaticism.
80 far rs Cardinal Gibbons or any of
the clergymen being bought is concern
ed, the thought is ridiculous As for
the attitude which they have taken on
this prohibition movement and which
has brought out this TRADE, surely ev-
cry man has right to his opinion and
to perfect freedom to express it. | have
not read Cardinal Gibbons interview
but have heard it discussed and | i'm
agine his views are much the same as
mine. All my life | have protested
against the use of the word temperance
or rather the abuse of it rs meaning to-
tai abstinence. | object to the senti.
ment which assumes that a man who
drinks an occasional glass of wine or
beer is not temperate man. Temper
ance does not mean total abstinence. 1t
means the moderate use. protest also
against any movement to pass laws
which in any way interfere with the
personal liberty of the individual unless
such interference is necessary for the
good and the protection of the commu-
nifty. That prohibition is such a neces-
sity is thing which its advocates have
failed to prove.
Il believe in the restriction of the liz.
uor traffic and in strict control of the
abuses which are responsible for drunk
enness and misery. think the prohibi
tion has done this good, that it has
awakened men interested in the liquor
movement to the necessity for this con
troll. They have come to realize that
unless they bring about a sane reform
in the business, public sentiment will
become so aroused that prohibition will
be the result.
Il can understand how some people
are earnest, honest advocates of prohibi
,ion and honestly believe that it would
be good thing to arrange things that
no one could get intoxicants. | have
seen great deal of misery and poverty
caused through excessive drinking and
sympathize deeply with those who
have suffered. But, after all they look
at it from their personal viewpoint
only and see a small part of the great
subject. They cannot see it in its gen.
eral relation to life. But with the rrop.
er regulation and control Of the liquor