The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-22

didn't know what 1t cost US 10 out flag up
until after IT was done, and our hearts were full
OF patriotism and thanktulness TO God. young
man came up and asked for an introduction. I
cordially shook hands with him, feeling sure
that he was brave fellow. Presently became
acquainted with his history. l found that at
Antietam ball had passed through his body,
entering the breast and coming out OF the back,
passing through his lungs. Tnat didn't stop
him. He said "he enlisted for the war;" He
recovered in time to take part In the battle Of
Gettysburg, and helped in achieving that VIC
tory, but lost leg. That didn't stop him; he
got patent leg; he had enlisted for the war
II we have that spirit here tonight, IL is per-
fectly easy. For l tell you the conflict will be
just as great as that Of Gettysburg. You may
not all know that we are bound hand and foot
by the Liquor League
Thank God that the noble brotherhood of
Odd Fellows, fifty years ago, in settling their
principles determined never to hold their meet
lngs in tavern. If we had followed their ex-
ample, would we have been here to-night9 No.
GrOg Is our political master. Hardly an elec-
ton has been gained except through its agency.
The money that we contribute, that is spent In
giving free treats is putting halter around
our necks. 1t we do not play the man tonight
1t will be on our necks for years.
You may not know how deep this thing is. 1t
was once my privilege to be Director OF the
Gtrard College. One of this Liquor League, in
liquor time again, was in the habit of babOlIng.
Some OF us were startled by murder that oc-
Cured not long since. We ought to begin to
see how il is fastened upon us. How can we
shake it OFF, Nearly all our elections are held
in such precincts 1t is no easy thing. 1t will
take veterans to do it.. What hinders them
from nominating the Judges of our Court?
They want the power, and they mean to have
it. They see that other laws on our statutes
books have not been carried out. For instance,
running to fires. The papers reveal the fact
that two lads we're killed by the fall of the wall
on Walnut street the other evening.
You know that there has been law upon our
hat horro ID
order-loving citizen to close the grog-shops on
Sunday; but because there was no power to en-
force it it remained there dead You know that
it is illegal TO sell liquor to minors, yet they
have been going down TO the grave from the use
of Intoxicating drink by the hundreds and thou
sands. We know that there is law prohibiting
them to sell liquor to persons who are IN the
habit of getting into oxicated, yet those who have
anything to do with it know that throughout
The whole year, there are men who have every
dollar taken from them. when they are known
to be habitual drunkards by those who take it.
Now, then, something on the other side,
They have usage; but why give us law when
we are to have no use of It'll When heard of
it, it brought to my mind the lines Of the poet
that
But man made the town."
If it had been left to our residents in the city
we would never have had it. We can thank
those in the country for it. tApplaqse.)
You are here tonight to meet this. 1t is a
grave tn Dg. l know there is one way in which
1t can be DONE We might have our whole CITY
transported to Plttsburg. | happened to be
there on Saturday evening, and as is my
pie. Those who were in the habit OF drinking,
and those who ought TO know, told meLhere was
not back-door of grog-shop open and that
they could not get class of grog.
What is the matterg Why they have q
Mayor who enforces the law. l thought
would go and have a look at him on Monday
morning (Laughter.) | went and took him
by the hand, and thanked God that there was q
place where the law could be enforced, and 1t
gives me courage. No man clothed with mere
authority in a republic like this can execute the
law unless he is supported by the community
in which he lives. Now it is the question to.
night whether you will hold up the Mayors
hands, and if this law not strong enough, lei
US understand what words will make it stronger,
and have them there.
/ hold that the law is strong enough. How
can we have it executed? 1t is not being done.
The first Sunday the Liquor League gave orders
should be given TO the community, to force it to
give up the law. 1t was really Christian Sab
bath day. In some sections of the country il
was beautiful. Houses that had been freQuente1
by tipplers, and where lewdness, profanity, and
fighting had been mdulged in, were as still as
death. Good Christians congratulated each
other, and took courage. But when they found
there was no reaction in public sentiment, the
change commenced and from that time to this
first the back gate, then the back window, and
last Sunday the side door, and in some of oul
saloons on Chestnut street. in the course of the
evening, the front doors were thrown wide opeL
! Ia voice, "All day, too)." That is the progress
because we have had no meetings. They
thought we had surrendered everything to the
Liquor League.
Itis with you to say whetherit shall or shall MOI
! be enforced. 1t Is enforced in other cities, and
! know that If this community rise up and say
that 1t shall be put in operation here, that il
| will be. (Vociterous applause.)
II we can, let us return 10 primitive usage
| When was boy, when anything OF this kind
occurred the citizens patrolled the streets anC
aided in upholding the law. l think we Car
muster much larger number to-day, If six ol
eight hundred policemen are not enough.
! we cannot have our laws enforced by the police
let us do without them and become police our
! selves. Applause, and cries of ''Good, good"
! To be practical, we may meet and talk, bu
action is necessary. Without organization there
! will be no power. l never have been n member
of any temperance society. ! thought the
Christian Church was strong enough. frankly
confess that to bring anything like politics into
| the Church is injurious, and therefore we mus
fall back on that society that has called this
meeting tonight. We need them. They have
! veterans in it.
The suggestion 1 have to make in closing il
| this. Let them arrange as well as they can
between this and the Fourth of July, TO have
as many meetings as they can, and let us asser
our independence, or yield the ground entirely
| To what nobler use can we put that day thar
either to surrender all claim to manhood o.
| determine to be laW-abiding. citizens? Talk abou
independence and yet have Liquor Leagu,
holding us by the neck, haltered IL seems Il
| me TO be preposterous. But yet that is the YER
thing we are doing now. We have il in ou
power to perfect the work, and with the aid 0
TINS organization we can do 1t. / Judge iron
your countenances that none here are dispose
10 yield their manhood and their independence
Let us determine then that we will rally aroun
TINS temperance Society and enlist for the Who'll