Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-02-17


Special 10 The Commercial.
DOVER Del, Feb 16. /
1t having been announced that at half past 8
O'clock the ladies' would visit the House of Rep
resentadves, long before that hour the lob
by was filled with gentlemen and many ladies'
were admitted to the floor Of tho House. The
House met as usual, and passed one bill and re-
ceiyed several petitions upon various subjects,
one OF which was
SIGNED BY OVER 20i2 PERSONS,
in favor Of temperance legislation. In the mean
time the crowd continued to increase Oh the
outside until all the vacant space around the
stairs was literally packed. The Speaker had to
request the Sergeant at Arms to admit none
but ladies.
THE VISITORS WE'RE ADMITTED
and completely filled up every vacant space, the
members promptly giving their seats to the
ladies.
Speaker Holcomb then took the chair and call
cd the meeting to order when Mrs. Eliza Stevens
led in very solemn and impressive prayer,
Mr.. Elizabeth W. Smith, being announced az
the bearer of an address to the Legislature,
stepped to the Speakers platform, and on behalf
of the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters OF
the State, thanked the members Of
the Legislature for their kind re-
ception. They had come, she said, to
protest against the social drinking customs oi
the times, and ask the assistance OF the IeglB-
ature in staying the evils OF intemperance. In
temperance made necessary the establishment
of jails, and poor-houses, penitentarlea and
asylums. She read some
STATISTICS ON THE SUBJECT,
and said that public men are timid, churches
weak, politicians sneer at our efforts, municipal
authorities are corrupted, drunken officials are
not removed, courts of justice are debauched
and our nation was slowly drifting into an oper
sea of drunkenness. Who is responsible for al
thisi You, and /, each of us are responsible, al
long as we do not use every effort to abrogatt
the evil. We have come to exercise the right oi
petition for the preservation Of our homes. The
present.
LICENSE LAW Is INADEQUATE,
and we ask that you will no further protect the
liquor business. We are especially desirous to
have civil damage clause enacted to the pre-
sent law, as a right and lawful measure of JUS
compensation for damages inflicted.
Mrs. Smiths address concluded with an elo
luent appeal to the Legislature, and Mrs. Rev
Fielder Israel was then introduced. She read
extracts to show the difference in the amount oi
liquors consumed in prohibitory law states ant
license law states. She showed from published
reports that 100 years ago active measures were
urged for the suppression OF tho liquor traffic
and from Judge Taneys decision to show tht
constitutionality OF prohibitory liquor laws. She
closed with an appeal to the Legislature to
sAvE DELAWARE.
Mrs. Anna Wittenmeyer was the next speaker,
and chained the attention Of the audience TO
three quarters of an hour in an address replet'
with eloquence, sympathy and power. In the
language Of Mrs. Israel, she asked the Legisla
ture to save Delaware. She said she represented
a national organization. This little State witt
her beautiful orchards was part OF the nation
and every part of it could be made to bloom ant
blossom AZ the rose. But this cannot be done D,
free rum.
After reciting some of the arguments in favor
of Legislation in the interest OF Temperance
she said
IT Is CROSS FOR Us woMEN
to come here, but we have suffered long and pa
tienLy. Men have been discouraged and saloof
keepers have been sweeping prohibitory law
from the statute books, but God and truth ar
on our side. We heard OF secret influence Deint
brought to boar upon legislation. but these w0
men are in earnest and cannot be bribed, Go,
and truth are on our side. 1t has been said tina
THE CRUSADE Is OVER,
but it is Just begun. We have been called veal
you know we didn't like it very much but w
find in the Scriptures that the weak things o
the earth are taken to confound the mighty.
Men have legslated and done nothing, but
we women are come to apply the axe to the roo
of the evil and We intend to chop and hagg
away until every vestige of the rum traihc II
chopped away. Do not look back At your con
| stituents they may
NEVER SEND YOU HERE AGAIN
look forward in tho face of duty and do it in thu
| fear of God.
At the close of Mrs Wittcnmeyers remarks, oil
motion of Mrs. Stevens, vote of thanks wa
returned to the members for their kindness
courtesy, and attention.
Frequently during the delivery Of the address
es, the remarks were warmly applauded, and
was evident that deep impression had beel
| made.
1t is fact worth of mention that ladies of
EVERY RELIGIOUS DEMONSTRATION
in Wilmington were present vieing with eacl
other in the good work.
Mr. Pyle, as the representative from Whining
| ton, did all in his power to make every arrange
| ment to suit tho convenience Of the ladies, an
| to him they are much indebted for favorabl
hearino s. II.