Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-24
TEMPERANCE.
A Grand Demonstration
Interesting Addresses ut the Opera
HOUse.


House.
Pursuant to the programme published in
our columns Sunday morning, the various
Temperance organizations of this city aud
Edgefield assembled yesterday evening,
and. headed by the fine band of the st.
Joseph Total Abstinence Society, escorted
Hon. S. ID. Hastings, of Wisconsin, and J.
]. Hickman, of Kentucky, from the Louis
vile depot to the Maxwell House, and
afterwards to the Opera House, where was
assembled an audience which filled the
building to its utmost capacity.
The Rev. w. G. Inman, G.. w. G. Il. in
troduced Hon. S. D. Hastings who de-
livered a very interesting address, introdu-
cling statistics to sustain his positions,
showing by figures taken from the Afficial
records of his State, that tempe anl was
on the increase, as the traffic was prohibit
ed by law, and the laws were strictly
enforced. he also proved by a letter from
the well-knOw Ames shovel mandatory,
that their employees show IA per cent more
work and paid 81 per cent. less taxes since
they have been members of the temperance
orders. He alsu proved that intemperance
had caused more deaths and had done
more to ell alms-houses than war, or any
other calamity, and that in one town in
Maine, in one year, the inhabitants, by the
prohibition of the sale of liquor, had saved
by taxation, eight hundred and fifty dol
lars, and of this sum they gave six hun
bred dollars to the cause of education and
two hundred and fifty to fight the cause Of
intemperance.
Mr.. Hastings showed from the record OF
the Washingtonians and the confessions of
drunkards that moral suasion was not suf-
ficient, but that the cause must be re-
moved, and therefore they wanted the
Constitution OF the United States amended
so as TO prohibit the manufacture, importa-
ton or sale of intoxicating liquors as a
beverage; and that the question OF prohibit
ton had been passed upon by the Supreme
Court of the United States and pronounced
correct.
He said the present Governor and ex-
Governor of Maine were Good Templars,
and one-third of the Legislature were also
members of the order. And he also de-
clared that the prohibitory law was a
grand success as compared with the
enforcement of any other law, and
that the question was now before Con
greSS and would never leave that body till
the point was gained.
The speaker took no weak kneed posi-
ton, but says his order is in for the war.
The successful settlement of Vineland,
New Jersey, was begun and has been car
ried forward on the total abstinence basis,
and while the protector was not teetota-
Ter himself he took this ground for his set
Element on purely business ground. Their
charter provides that the question of prOhi-
bition should be submitted every year tC
the people, and never more than nine votes
have been cast for liquor.
The United States Internal Revenue of
ficer in the State Of MaiEe says that the
sale of beer is only one per cent of the
amount sold before the prohibitory law
vas passed.
]. j. Hickman, of Kentucky, was then in
troduced, and delivered witty and rer!
valuable lecture, making several witty illus
tratiOns, and was continually applauded
and some one in the gallery undertook L
argue with him, but was soon hushed III
and hOOted out. He also stated that tn
cause of temperance was fast gainin!
ground, and that more of our public Officials
were selected from the temperance Order
and were being elected because the countr.
| has seen what has been done by send
ing whisky-blOats to Washington t
make our laws, and that he know
temperance will prevail, as every State OF
fetal of his State-Kentucky-w on
exception, elected this year, are member
of some Temperance lodge, and thei
work is beginning to be felt and appreci
ated. After the delivery of his speech h
recited an excellent temperance poem
which was duly appreciated and frequentl
cheered. After this, he asked all presen
in favor of temperance to rise to their feet
and all rose, with the exception Of abou
twenty persons.