Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-08-31
Notes ron onr Omaha CORES
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OMAHA, Aug. goth, 1871.

OMAHA, Aug Goth, 1871.
In place of my usual letter, this week
write you concerning the question now
agitating the minds of the people and the
demonstrations being made in relation
thereto. Our city council passed what is
known as the Sunday Law" 1t is well
to remark just here that law for the &C |
complishment of that very object has been
"a part of the city law for about six years,
and for about thirteen years the statute
law of Nebraska has contained similar
provision, and yet they have in both in
stances been allowed to remain dead let
ter. The late action of the council in at
tempting to enforce the law, has created
an excitement not the least unexpected,
considering the workings of the law in.
other places where it has been enforced.
Of the results of the enforcement of the
law will not speak, but will say this.
much, however: 1t has been clearly
proved that prohibitory laws have never
vet secured total abstinence, neither have
they prevented the establishment of Sc
cret bars, or diminished in the least degree
the amount of moral or physical dissipa
ton as found In those haunts of vice
working under the protection of a license.
This is the way the law has been received
here.
An open-air mass meeting was called
by the ministers-principally to discuss
the propriety of the law, and otherwise
express their sentiments on intemper
ance and its consequent evils. So far SO
good. The first speaker began by de-
nouncing all foreigners and their drinks
asserting that none but Americans should
rule America, and as Lager beer was a
foreigner, lit should be abolished" Well,
as you may suppose, there was hu55a6 in
the crowd He was forced to cut short
his effort for temperance; the element
around him was not prepared to accept
such doctrine. Others attempted to
speak, who tried to conciliate their audi
ence by adopting q milder course. bnt in
: every instance they were Missed from the
stage. With but two exceptions, the
tendency of the whole speaking was an
attempt to show the necessity of COM
pulsory observance of the Sabbath, and
that, too, in a prescribed form; in short,
every one should be compelled to go to
church. Il is not definitely knoaen how
much good there was accomplished by
this demonstration!
The opposite element then proposed to
, make an effort for their side, and they ac-
, cordingly invited F. j. Jervis, the " Her.
f NIT of Iowa." to address the people OF
: prohibition. Avery peculiar man having
) very peculiar ideas. He viewed the ques
ton from a psychological standpoint
He spoke eloquently of the relation Of
matter and mind, showing the psyche
: logical influence of circumstances on the
mind He pictured with philosophical
/ reasoning the deteriorating effects of ex
treme Temperance as well as of extreme
t intemperance. But he spoke upon the
G unpopular side, and the papers forbear te
comment.
81 Last evening another demonstration
: took place, per announcement, which wa,
against prohibition and the Sunday Law
c The people were exhorted to maintain tn,
dignity and assist in executing the author
ity of the law, but il odious, to have it re
pealed. OccIDENT.