The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-25
Does Not Air His Views on the
Subject. But Quotes From
The Remarks Made by Bish-
op Chatard.
PROHIBITION is NOT
FAVORED BY DIGNlTARY
indianapolis Churchman in Ar
ticIe Quoted Stated That
Suppression of Liquor Sales
Is UnWiSe.

For the first time since the county
local option question has been de-
manding the attention of the public,
Father Mattingly of st. Mary's church
at the services yesterday morning,
spoke on the question. He read to the
congregation some remarks published
in the Catholic Review which had
been made by Bishop Chatard Of the
Indianapolis diocese. Further than to
say his remarks were very timely he
made no comment upon the question.
The following is, in part, what he
read from the publication mentioned:
Again for the 'xth time in the his
tory of the Review, we have received
the noble cause of total abstinence.
Are Upbraided.
This time We are upbraided for
misrepresenting the position of the
Catholic church with regard to the
temperance cause. by telling our read
ers that the principle of prohibition
is un- n-Catholic, and that a proper Sun
day observance does not involve the
closing Of dram shops, etc.
AS for the last mentioned point,
we believe it is sufficiently disposed
Of in the letter of His Grace, the Arch
bishop of Cincinnati, which we quoted
in our Vol. xiv No. 10. p. 331.
With regard to our position to the
principle of prohibition We believe we
are likewise in full accord with the
great majority of the American epis-
copate, one of whose most respected
members, still living declared as long
ago as 1892 in the Ecclesiastical Re-
view.
Prohibition Unwise.
ITO prohibit (the sale of strong
drink by law would be neither wiAe
nor just to the community; not wise
because it would be nugatory, and met
with the fate such measures have met
with every where. Evasion and hypo
crisy, and secret drinking on a large
scale. have been the result of such
compulsory measures. 1t would be un-
just to the community, because the
moderate use of stimulants is not
wrong, but on the contrary. useful,
wholesome and at times necessary.
To attempt to prohibit few at the
expense of the many is not wise legis-
lation: as we have said, those whip
indulge to excess in drinking are COM
paratively few: and besides they will
get what they want All that can be
done is to limit the traffic to prevent,
as far as possible, abuse
Favors High License.
Bishop Chatard--for it is he who
we are Quoting-thinks that the most
effective means for limiting the liquor
traffic is high license which will have
the effect of diminishing the number
of saloons and in all probability of
limiting the dispensing of spirituous
OF people, whose interest it is to pre-
vent excess of drinking (Chatard Oc-
cassional Essays.)
We need not recall how often we
have advocated the same measure;
nor yet how frequently and earnestly
we have insisted, as Msgr Chatard in
sists in the essay quoted, upon string
ent measures to prevent minors from
frequenting saloons and to abolish
wine rooms
Free to Form Opinions.
We believe with but few excep-
lions American Catholics are a unit
In advocating these measures. What
other means the state might employ
to aid in suppressing intemperance,
10 question on which much has been
said In this review with which we can
not expect all of our coreligionists to
agree But we are sure We have new
er misrepresented the teaching of the
church on this question, every Cath
olic being entirely free to form his
own conclusions and to express them
with due respect