Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-02-07
STAR,
LOCAL LIGENC

prayer; after which the Secretary read the
nj u'ss
The President then wished to be excused
from serving on the committee to represent the
interests of the convention before the District
Committee in Congress. as he had not the time
to attend to il
Mr.. A 7. Harrington then obtained the
floor, and asked the President if he was Son
Of Temperance? ANSWER, "No."1 Well
sir, wish to know Why the Catholic clergy
we're not invited to join in this convention :?
Why the Protestant clergy alone were in vited?
Since GEORGE Savage, the main pillar of tenn
perance in the District, was whipped away
from the door OF Temperance Hall, temper
ance had gone down with
Mr. j. A. Wise here interrupted the sneaker.
when the Chairman called both to order.
stating that there was nothing before the meet
ing; but, on motion, Mr.. Harrington was al
lowed to speak fifteen minutes, and proceeded
as follows:
Yes, sir, temperance has gone down in the
District. Since the Catholics have been ignc-
. miniously A"gged from the mosting, a new
state Of things has taken place; cur beloved
city has been given up to lasciviousness, and
drunkenness has reigned predominant. Sir,
the reason say this is, that love justice l
am not Catholic; / was born and raised
Methodist. The reason Of this great change is
that secret society has sprung up in our
midst, devastating our fair land turning
brother against brother, father against son,
and husband against a wife; and this is what
has killed temperance in our land.
Mr.. Wise then claimed the floor. and, en-
motion, was allowed ten minutes He said:
Sir. something of more importance than the
mere question OF temperance is not only agi-
tating the District, but the country; and. so
far from separating relatives, il will bring
them closer tOget her, and prevent intervention
between them by meddlescme Catholics The
statement that Catholics have been logged
away from the door OF the ID visisns is untrue
Those Of them who attempted eavssdroppiug
on the meetings of American citizens we're de-
seryedly kicked out But 10 Catholics have
been driven frOm the Divisions of the Sons OF
Temperance. AL, at one time gave office that
their spiritual advisers had told them that
this was secret association, to which no true
Catholic should belong, and that they had
Withdrawn in body on that account II Mr..
III is Protestant his speech don't SHOW il
ard I believe, IL he Is not Catholic now he
will soon be found in their ranks.
Mr. Harrington wished to reply, but was
called to order by the president; when
Col. Robertson, with his little. bris;ling,
bald head shining and beaded with the per-
spiratiOn engendered by bis stern resolve TO
battle on the side Of % I'ruth," his speech be-
fore him on numberless sheets Of foc!scap,
arsse, and after an appropriate heming and
having, turned up his cuffs, ryised himself on
tip-toe. and sxpatiated a, follows:
Mr.. President, this movement has caused
my heart TO swell within me. By our action
in this assembled congress We shall induce
our National Congress TO adopt measure, sub
yersive Of the drunkenness now rampant in
our midst and will give our names to the
great American rstiOn, from the Atlantic 10
the Pacific, as friends Of truth and Justice
Sir. i have turned from my arduous la bors
that / might give my voice in favor of this
phiIanthrOpic movement; and to prove my
diEinterested sincerity, L have seen several
members OF Congress on the subject, and have
obtained their sanction of The subject we have
in confederation. Yes, sir, even more, have
seen one member who has drawn up a bill
embOdying all The provisions Of the Maine
law, which be is about 20 introduce in order
10 further our glorious project Sir, be Sub
United IL to my inspection, there he COM
menced iumbling among bis voluminors MSS
and will give
Rev D. L. Reese here moved that az thcr,
was no reasonable expectation Of doing any
thing toward accom- plishing thu object OF the
convention, that the meeting adjourn slns DIE.
The Colonel again tried to get the focr; but
ibe President decided tie motion 10 adjourn
net detachable. Bat after a motion to recon
CIDER Mr.. Harrington gained the floor, and
said:
Sir agree with our reverend friend, tina
nothing can be accomplished in this conven-
ton There WAS once a time when noae bat
temperance II en- could become Sons of Tenn
perance; but now they wish to do things I'D
fsster, and have turned out those Who are the
main pillars Of the order, and in their stead
have taken in rum sellers, fowdss and every
one who applies for admit lance.
Col. Robertson now was allowed 10 continue
his address.
Sir, / don't app owe of this idea Of adjourn.
ing thus. Why, cir. If We don't pass .ome
resolutions Congress will have nothing to
work On Here he was reminded that appfo-
pirate resolutions had been passed at the last
meeting i know that, air; but the resolu.
hOEs / ~art passed are of a different charac.
ter Laughter Why, sir if We adjourn
now, after al the advertising We have done
TO call this meeting together it will be called
perfect ffIle-out- IGreat laughter
The president called him to order; and,
With q show Of offended dignity he took his
sect
The question was now called for, and The
meeting adjourned.
Temperance Hall deserves the name. we
think. To prevent the audience from becom-
ing heated by discussion, large hole in the
wall Is left open to cool them OF; and for fear
OF unfolding the liquor traffic they put moth
ing but water in the gas metres, and conse
quentiy IN cold weather their Ii gh,s are rather
dim
THz BALL LAST NIeHr, at the Assembly
Rooms, given by the Ilighlanders for the ben
EFT Of the poor of Washington, was more
crowded than any other similar entertainment
we ever attended here The staff was repre-
sented by Colonel Riley, Majors Keyworth,
Bacon, c. 5. Wallach, and sthors, and all the
volunteer companies Of the city and some from
distance were numerously and most agree
ably Represented, indeed. The array or ladies
many Of them young, beautiful, and fa.ci-
hating, created Juror on the part of the
young men, who attended and as all that could
have been desired. The supper, too, furnished
by Nsrden ard c Columbus, two renowned
caterers on such occasions, was q capital Gre
They danced IS merry folks rarely dance. Ut.
oil . IN Nothing disturbed the harmony
or the pleasure OF the occasion The High.
lsnders, the hosts Of the evening, veIo in fine
feather indeed striving with entire success TO
make eyerybod happy. We should judr.
that this so commendabls enterprise OF tina,
company Of volunteers, has Melted for the re.
lief Of the suffering poor Of W ashington per.