The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-04

All of US concede the need of
reform as an essential OF pro
gress; but a grave deterrent TO
many important reforms is that
they are taken in hand by cranks
and fools whose salient trait Is
their ability TO do vast injury to
ideas originally good. The hand
leap applies particularly TO re-
forms called for by our socio-
seem. usually. to remain in the
keeping OF persons conspicuously
safe. sane and conservative for
political purposes. although mild
forms OF temporary insanity can
breeze through almost any State
legislature, strong enough and
long enough TO carry the august
body fairly close TO the local
asylum. Indeed. one United
States Senator of my acduaint-
tendent OF a hospital for the in
sane, AYERS that. as between
Senate and Hospital. the hospital
Is the saner place OF the two.
The American people appear 10
be potential Mysteries on all sub
Jects. the Latin races. commonly
presumed 10 have the monopoly or
hysteria. are immovable SphinXes
compared with our polical rule or
the majority. is already endanger-
ing personal liberty.
For the present. our most con-
spicious manifestation OF the ma
tional defect lies in the field OF
religion. II really looks as through
we. of all people. are most given
TO religious hysteria. ReviyaIs,
IL seemed. for number of years.
had almost gone out of fashion:
Vet suddenly. when the typical
revivalist personality came into
the light of extensive publicity.
whole urban populations could be
wrought TO a passing frenzy OF
worse than aggressive virtue. The
ancient Gospel doctrine OF abne-
cation can be flouted and
thousands of people. whose homes
lack the comforts OF life. can with
impunity be induced 10 fling at
the feet OF the revivallst treasures
rivaling those the Jews cast forth
for the making of the Golden Calf.
Incidentally. countless homes have
their routines-which concretely
embody the very highest evidences
OF applied religion-not merely
disorganiZed but wholly neglect
ed.
one OF the chief anupathies OF
the average revivalist is alchol.
its hideous consequences are de
picted in colors drawn avowedly
from the vivid hues of the tradi-
tional hell-fire. But physicians
know only too we'll the serious
harm to weak. morbid, and
especially susceptible minds which
attends the now familiar revival
campaign. The damage done by
alcohol in any community Is, in a
measure, paralleled by that Incl
dent TO such a religious hysteria-
There is always PERCENTAGE in
the population-women prepond-
Grating in it-that Is on the brink
of nervous disturbances which,
once precipitated. commonly end
in insanity, with religious exala-
ton as the dominat symptom.
These revivals. with vast con-
courses OF people wrought up TO
the highest pitch OF excitement,
appeal peculiarly TO Americans
and. apparently, have over us a
hypnotic power which makes US
acquiesce IN such fallacious de
clarations as one OF recent pro
mitigation, that all cigarette smok-
ers are liars. When We return 10
sanity and TO the practice OF the
humdr1m virtues OF life, we are
sometimes able TO recall the fact
that not all the fighting men Of
Europe are displaying the COW
ardice that stamps the liar. that
not all OF our own army and navy
personnel should justly be brand
ed as liars and. perhaps, that not
all OF our neighbors, and some
clergymen who enjoy an after
dinner cigarette. are liars. This
one utterly impudent assertion Ia
cited merely because II is re-
preventative OF the wild charges