The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-03-07
ON COMMON GROUND.
MISS FRlEDA DRESSED

No man differs from another RI
opinion so widely that there is not
some common ground on which the
TWO may stand together In harmony
While there are many things to
which the Rev Tburston Brown gave
voice last Sunday evening In his ser
mon on prohibition to which we can
not agree, there were some TO which
we are glad 20 subscribe.
While Frances Willard, no doubt
sympathized with many OF the aims
oi the Socialists, she never for one
moment wayered in her loyalty TO the
cause of prohibition nor ceased to
wish the saloons TO be abolished from
every land. No one who has read her
biography or studied her life closely
can doubt that had she decided that
she could bring about ''the golden age
OF man more quickly through desert
ing the temperance cause and work
Ing through Socialism she would have
done 90 even If she knew she could
live but few days more. She would
not have waited TO Tive her life over
again" If she had become convinced
that prohibition OF the liquor traffic
was the wrong step She was too
conscientious. We are forced 10 be-
lieye then that no such conviction
ever came TO her
II Frances Willard had ever be
come a Socialist she never would have
become the kind that defends the sa-
loon. OF is afraid that the absence
a a. xri
risy.
But we started to quote what we
liked on the above mentioned sermon.
1t was this. and followed TO a logical
conclusion, it will do away with any
secret saloons.
There Is no virtue merely in cover
Ing up any evil thing no virtue In pro-
noting ignorance OF any social evil.
So long as the evil exists, IL Is moral
ly Imperative that every member OF
the community know It
II Is an Infinitely greater protection
for your daughters and your sons. OF
any age, that they know all The facts
oi social vice in your city than that
they be ignorant of them
Those people who say. we don't
want to know the facts about any evil
thing, are not good citizens and they
profane the name of religion when
they call themselves religious.
What historical character can you
name who. II the story of his life is
half true, ever knew SO much OF the
physical and moral and social disease
OF his time as Jesus did, by what
right do these people who refuse 10
know all the facts concerning vice
dare to call themselves followers OF OF
believers in that man?
There Is no virtue in Ignorance any
where. And IN no country in the
world Is II SO morally imperative as
In this that all OF us know all the
facts about every social or political
evil, for we have no function or duty
so imperative or important as that
of dealing squarely and intclllgently
with these evils In a democratic
form of government whatever under
mines not merely the minds and
bodies, but the moral sense. of the
people is the supreme menace OF the
nation.
The safety and security OF such a
nation as this lies supremelv In the
clearness of its moral Judgment We
can all see easy enough the necessity
that the minds of the people shall be
clear. and on that ground We are JUS
titled in opposing any vice or any bus
iness which tends to dim or darken the
mind or weaken the physical and men
tai powers.
But 1t Is not so common for men
and women to see the need of a heal
thy moral sense. 1t is easy to sec that
dissipation and open vice are a dan
ger to society. But these are not
half as dangerous as the absence or
moral sense.