The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-04-22
TEMPERANCE.
Address OF Rev. ]. HcKendres Reilly,
at washfugton Hall Last Night

a hymn was tnen eupS W INC tune VI
"Old Hundred" after which Rev.
Barnitz arose and stated that he had
been requested to introduce Rev. j.
McKendree Reilly, but instead Of doing
30 was most happy to be introduced to
Mr.. Rely himself. Mr.. Reilly came
forward and spoke Tor about an hour
and a quarter, commanding the atten-
ton Of, and often gaining expressions
of sympathy from the audience. The
following is synopsis OF his remarks ::
"The temperance reform started on
the force of moral suasion alone, and
then awaited itself Of the power Of Leg
islative action. Heretofore its promi-
nent actors have been men; in some
temperance societies NO women were
admitted, men simply asking them to
aid the reform by their approval. But
now woman comes to the front and is
waging the war by eDtreaty. to the rum
seller, to the citizen, and to God. Some
think they are acting unwomanly, and
are going beyond what they should
while others, going to the other ex-
treme, think they should 60 farther
that they should be given the ballot,
and that if once in possession of this
Herculean lever, they will quickly over
throw King Alcohol 1t is eaid
that they have Done nothing, and
yet they have closed LIE saloons in
Ohio; and in this place are creating
an immense popular sentimentin favor
Of temperance.
1.-THE ladies have presented in wo-
manly manner to the Council OF this
place a petition asking that they grant
no more licenses. Tonight the ques.
ton is 10 be decided, and must say
there are very few in this house who
are very sanguine of the result. But
the plea is righteous one, aud if the
Council does not heed it, the people
will soon obtain another Council that
will find the voice of the people entitled
to respect.
an this connection the question is
pertinent, Is municipal action in this
case legitimate 1t is said that the
municipality has no right to interfere
with the pursuit o! any citizen which
has the sanction OF the conscience OF
the citizens. But the other side of the
question lie, shall a citizen be bound,
through respect forthe conscience oil
another, to endure q moral evil
Blackstone says that human law has
no control over an evil that is not
prejudicial to the tranquility or safety
Of community. So drunkenness, II
kept concealed, is no crime. But when
! it interleres in any way with the trans
guilty or the safety OF any citizen, it
comes WITHIN the bounds of the law.
Now, let US consider this question
I of interference with conscience, and let
\ me ask, may not the outworkings OF a
perverted conscience be interfered with
Suppose that q woman from the banks
oil the Ganges, should remove to the
banks Of the Mississippi, and in ac-
cordance with the dictates OF her con-
science, were TO attempt to throw her
child into the river to be devoured by
the alligators, 90 she would have done
into the Ganges to have it devoured by
the crocodies, would the law hesitate
10 interfere with her conscience in that
case? Then why has it not right to
interfere in the CAGES which we are
consideriDg2 Is the consent OF a man 8
conscience to his business 10 pre-
vent interference With it. 1t is
supposed that q counterfeiter
obtains the consent o. his conscience
before he engages in the business, yet
never heard OF the law hesitating 10
interfere with it on that account.
And neither does the plea that an
immense amount Of capital is investedin
the business have sufficient, weight
Suppose that s company were 10 erect
in the very heart of this city an exten,
sive slaughter house, and were TO carry
on their business in it, sending forth
streams of gore to clog the cutters and
breed pestilence and death; the Coun-
Gil would very soon demand them to
remove the nuieaace. But" they
would answer, I'VE can't do it. We
have an immense amount Of capital
invested. and 10 remove our works will
ruin u.s." Do You suppose that the
Council would listen to such plea
No; they would cay, Remove it. even
il you lose every cent you have invest
3D. because the welfare of the commu-
nifty is paramount to the prosperity Of
the citizen. Then what becomes OF the
question, why should this liquor busi-
ness not be abated? 1t is q social
question as well as moral question.
Another view of the case is THE
Some persons have horror of the en-
actment of a prohibitory law, because
they say it is a sumptusry law. You
know eumptuary law is one which
interferes with the rights OF persons 10
eat and drink as much as they please,
and prevents extravaganza in dress, etc.
In the reign OF Edward 80, OF England,
a law was passed prohibiting any one
from having more than three courses
at dinner and two at supper; and il
also prohibited the wearing OF certain
styles of shoes which had gone beyond
reason. But il the refusal to grant
license is sumptuary law, l ask what
is the law that grants it2 fla man
wants to obtain a licenae tc sell dry
goods, or groceries, he simply pays Tor
the license, and obtains it; but il
be deserves to obtain a license TO
sell whisky, he must furnish twelve
good witnesses to prove his good moral
| character Why may not milkmen
sell impure or adultersted milk =? Why
may not the butcher sell poisonous
meat? Why may not the butcher ad.
dress the logical stomach, and cell
whatever he desires because it is inter-
fering with his conscience to prevent
h;r, 1,op, oo do;no2 Than Coo M