Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-10-11
Temperance Convention, No. ..

THE AFTERNOON Observation-Disclosures Of hEbO-
LUTIoNs AND DEBArE-NoMINATIoN OF /
CHARLES MOORE FOR CONGRESS.
The Convention met at ~ o'clock in the |
afternoon, and was opened by prayer by |
Rev. T. E. Martindale. The attendance |
was limited but larger than at the former |
session, more ladies being present.
The Business Committee appointed at
the former session presented the following |
resolutions
WHEREAs-The laws which authorize, |
while they restrict, the sale of Intoxicating |
drinks, were originally passed at the demand
of the people for protection from the evils
resulting from the policy OF free trade In
said liquors, and
WHEREAs-The people, at that time, gen.
orally believed that the moderate use of al
coholic drinks was beneficial to the public
health and prosperity, and
WHEREAs-History and experience have
proven that the use and sale OF alcoholic
drinks, together with the evils OF intemper-
ance have been promoted and increased by
the legalized traffic, and
MISUNDERSTANDING investigation has es-
tablished the fact, that 'alcohol is pure
narcotic poison, and not in any sense food
to the human system" and
WHEREAs-The best standards of moral
instruction in this country, now, declare the
use and sale of alcoholic drinks to be at war
with the bests interests of society, there
fore
Resolued-That as the record of history,
the investigations Of science, and the les
sons Of experience, all unite in declaring the
legal dram traffic to be war against the
financial, social moral and religious interest
OF the whole people, such traffic should
not be authorized and protected by law.
Resolyed-That our present liquor license
system is pure despotism. 1t not only
makes a traffic legally right which public
judgments declares to be morally wrong,
but it protects the liquor-seller at the ex.
pense of the rights of all other citizens and
gives to few men the power to intiict upon
society the most terrible evils in direct OPP
position to the wishes Of large majority
OF our citizens.
Resolued, That in continuing to legalize
and protect the dram trade, the legislature
violates the best principles of all good gov
ernment,viz "The right OF society to pro-
tect itself" and for this reason, this license
law is a disgrace to the age in which we
| live, as it deprives free people Of the right
| to protect themselves.
ResoIyed, That in the exercise of our
rights as free citizens, we demand of the
coming Legislature the right to decide by
popular vote the question of liquor license,
1
/ American Government is Zone of the peo-
pie, for the people, and by the people"
ResolUed, That in demanding the right to
| vote on the question of "license,' we
neither endorse the license system nor con-
sent to its existence. Local Option is only
an effort to destroy license.
| ReSolued, That we request the Legisla-
| ture at its next session to append to the
/ present license law, after it has been prop.
| arltr lad onfhnrlZinO
| legal voters of the State to vote on the sub
| iect of license or no license, and in the
event that a majority vote against license
| that there be none issued, and otherwise
| the present law remain in force as per
amendment.
ReSolued. That it is the duty OF the civil
officers Of Delaware TO see that the laws OF
the commonwealth are faithfully and et-
ficiently enforced.
RESOLVED. That the failure to enforce
the laws of Delaware in relation to the sale
and use of intoxicating liquors is an open
disregard of sworn duty, an imposition
upon the honest taxpayers and fiagrant
breach of official integrity upon the part Of
our civil officers.
Resolued.-rhat as the liquor interests of
/ the country are fully organized politically,
supporting no man in any election who is
known to be in favorinf Temperance, that
it is our duty as Temperance men to vote as
we pray, and support no man for office who
is OF incorporate habits Or who winks at in
temperance in others or who in any way
whatever upholds and defends the liquor
traffic.
Several Of the resolutions led to a spirited
discussion, but they were ali finally adopt
ed.
A series of resolutions in favor of Local
Option offered by Rev. Fielder Israel, were
/ also adopted. A Board Of Control, con-
sisting of the officers of the meeting, was
created by them, with authority to organize
an Executive Committee to circulate petit
tions, &c. Besides the officers Of the meet
i ing, Mrs. Edward Moore, Mrs. T. z. Mar
tindale, Geo. W. Wells, Rev. Fselder Israel
and Geo. G. Lobdell were made members
of the Board of Control
resolution offered by 8. Hkrsey, to the
effect that intemperance in the churches
shall be scrutinized, as well as elsewhere,
was debated and finally withdg gfwn. I
The Convention having adtpurned Geo.
W. Wells, obtaining attention, announced
that a convention Of all Temperance men
favorable to nominating Temperance can
didate, for Congress, would beet in the old
Board Of Trade Rooms, Easorlic Temple, at
o'clock, in the evening.
Rev. Pennel Coombs, Rev Fielder Israel
and others mounted the benches and de-
nounced the movement with nhuch warmth,
contending that it vas one Of bad faith, az
ter having participated in the Convention
which had adjourned.
THE EVENING coNoLAvE.
About dozen persons assembled at the
place named at o'clock, and after waiting