The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-08
TEMPERANCE.
The Usual Meeting at Washington
Hall Last, Night,

Hall Last Night.
T6are was lair house Il tas hall last
night. After singing and prayer the
President introduced Ross Alexander,
Esq, oil Bridgeport, who addressed the
audience ina very animated style Tor about
an hour and hall. Mr.. Alexander made
some interesting remarks, but he needs
to cultivate brevlty. "Put your story in
one volume and always quit when you
are done" 10 a sound piece Of advice, and
Just as good IN matters oil temperance as In
other things. He alluded TO the rise and
progress Of this wonderful Womens'
Whisky War. Commencing 10 an obscure
town In Western Ohio II had overspread
that State and was now extending itaelI
from ocean TO ocean. he said that
there were 100 dlstilleries In Ohio,
176 brewerIes, and 10000 saloons. These
constituted q fearful barrier TO the pro-
gress oil the temperance cause. Never
theless the cause was progressing.
Twenty years ago Ohio had written 1t In
her Constitution that license should not
be granted within her territory, and con-
Bequently from that day to this there had
been no license law. Yet there had been
an unlicensed traffic in liquor all the time.
But the Women's Crusade had shown that
such q traffic could DO made to yield 10
the power Of public opinion. All that
was necessary was TO get public opinion
right. And this they were doing In Ohio.
He was proud TO say that the three towns
on the other side, Martins Ferry, Bridge.
port and Bellaire, had wiped out the
traffic In their midst. On this side Of the
river the situation was different. here
you have license law. Here you sell
men the right 10 carry on this deadly
traffic. Here you have several draw.
backs to contend with. The press
was lukewarm or Indifferent in the cause.
The clergy are not entirely united. The
lawyers are not with you as they
should be. The business men do not lend
that hearty support that Is needed. And
lastly, the City Council does not boldly
come 10 your help and cut short this ter.
rible evil. These are the influences that
initiate against the success Of the cause
in Wheeling. Is II not strange that they
should be found In the way oil success,
when all men, everywhere-.all rightthink-
ing men-regard liquor selling as the great
crime oil the age, the 'greatest of all the
calsmities that now afflict or that ever
have afflicted the countryS And yet men,
In spite Of this universally recognized fact,
talk oil II as a question Of revenue. Cler-
gymen talk OF it as;a question oil Of reve.
nue.. City Councils halt and hesitate over
1t as q question OF revenue. This blood
money stands In the way Of the
deliverauce oil the people. Why
the ancient Jews wouldn't have the
price oil blood in their treasury.
They appropriated 1t to buy Potter'a
field. Aud why should not. Wheeling
spend her blood money 10 the same way,
The City Council tells you that they were
not elected on the temperance issue, and
therefore they can do nothing, Oh no,
but they can go on licensing more ga
looms even whitley on are trying to save
their Victims. The ladies ought 10 go to
the City Council-to the individual mem.
bers-and sing and pray without ceasing
with them. There is great deal to be
done In Wheeling, and OF course II looks
formidable. The liquor business has
studied the situation well and entrenched
itself here. 1t saw the coming storm
from Ohio, and prepared TOR it. 1t no
doubt acts in concert. Judging by the re:
ports In your papers II seems to consider
itself entitled 10 credit for treating the
ladies civilly. lthas come to this, has it,
that men think they are entitled TO credit
when they do not insult women. And yet
l see by the reports that some miser.
able fellow stood in the door Of saloon
and tried to spit on one Of the ladies en-
gagged In prayer on the pavement. And
II seems that men stood by and saw II
and did not resent 1t. Is this not sad
commentary to make. And yet 1 must
speak plainly on this subject The man
who insults q woman under any circum-
stances Is simply q wretch, and the man
who insults her In such a work, when
she is disipterestedly laboring for his
good and for the salvation Of society from
this great bondage that enthralls us, Ia
monster Of degradation too low Tor de.
scription. / notice in the papers that one
Of your liquor sellers has been making q
speech TO the ladies. He tells them that
a saloon Is not a fit place Tor q woman to
visit, Yes, and why did he not cay that
1t was not fit place for their husbands
and brothers to visit. 1t Is not fit place
for any human being 10 enter. Let them
tell the whole truth when they lecture the
ladies. No man can devise q great.
er evil TO society than q saloon.
The saloons Of this land are hideous with
guilt. From them men go forth nerved
TO commit deeds oil darkness. It Is not
sober men who commit such deeds. II was
Wheeling whisky that caused that murder
on the ferry boatsnd that sent Garyto the
penitentiary for lie, and that cost Bel
mont county three thousand dollars legal
expenses. Do such institutions pay So
ciety. Does the few thousands oil revenue
that Wheeling derives from licenses pay
for the crime and the misery that she thus
entails upon herself. II women had the
ballot the solution Of this question would
be prompt and simple. They would soon
deal death blow TO license. And why
should they not have II when the lowest
and meanest Of our own sex have II. This
great movement in which they are enga-
ged Is crushing outpolitics and setting men
Tree from the yoke Of party. Both the old
parties are being broken up by It. Re-
publicans vote ior copperheads and cop
perheads for old abolitionists now-adays
upon the temperance issue. This Is as Il
should be. Both the political parties are
corrupt and the one that comes into
power last Is the most corrupt. He ex-
horted the women 10 press on In their
work and not 10 be discouraged. To 90
on the streets, not in small numbers,
but in large professions; to divide into
bands and prosecute the noble mission In
which they were engaged.
At the close Of Mr.. Alexandets re-
marks the following testimonial to Mrs