Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1877-11-30
The Murphev Monument


upon tho Temperance question:" I will
do SO briefly.
The points which l have recently ad-
vocated and which have met with ap-
prevail and friendly criticism, are as
follows:
Ist.-Legislation on tho part Of the
general government to prohibit the
manufacture of fermsnted liquors, ex-
cept ia limited quantity for medical
uses.
2nd.-A clsss surveillance over the
manufacture Of native wines, beer, ale,
etc., that shall ensure the production
Of those beverages in unadulterated
purity.
3d.-State legislation in regard to
the conduct Of the saloons, that shall
render them all orderly and respecta'
ole pieces Of amusement.
In this wsy only, I have ccnteaaod.
con the first sure step be taken toward
permanent reform. The saleen keep.
ers will join hands heartily with Us in
this measure, and when this one for
ward step is taken sad secured, the
manufacture and sale Of poisoned and
aaulterated liquors rendered impossible,
and the salssns converted into limo
cent and pleasant places Of amusement,
then it will be time to decide rpon the
next step, if another is taen deemed
necessary toward the entire abolish
mont Of the saloons.
This step doubtless would act meet
the appreciation of our western temper
ance agitators who would suddenly find
their occupation gone, if the saloon
keepers who are the usual objective
points if their abusive harangues should
Unexpectedly wheel about aud become
advocates of this reform.
In the east, when it has ence been
tried, there will never be another cru
sade; and here, let me say, that while
have always been in sympathy with the
aims and purposes Of the eastern tenn
perance societies, upon the crusade
question We differed greatly, yet hon
estly and conrteously, as friends may
ever differ. Yet the earnest, passion.
ate letters they used to write me, while
the troubled waves Of prayerfu! emo
ton were ripping across the green
hills of my adopted state, always moved
me greatly, and had been amongst
then, it is probable that I too would
have been carried with them, by my
sympathies and enthusiasm, into thai
whirlpool of mistaken reform.
But at 80 great distance, it was easy
to separate reason from emotion.
have never thought that any last.
Ing good could be accomplished by sud
den displays efviolence. They are a
waste Of power. Reform, to be perma
neRt, must be gradual and deepseated
and you cannot benefit the temperance
cause by closing up . few saloons, any
more thaa you caa kill seake by cut
ting off its tail. Licence is the cause
and the saloons are the effect. While
prayer is an effective weapon in GER
tain cases; yet, to pray for the sbol
lishment of intenperance while the
cause is in successful operation, is es
idle, as to pray for the relief CT 6 plagu:
ridden city, without resorting to Wig.
oreus sanitary measures to remove the
cause of the epidemic. Legislation is
the sole weapon that can destroy ths
poisoned fa.gs Of the serpent Of inter
perance, whose dreadful coils are slow
" crushing the life out Of the nation.
In this connection, l canEot but re
fer to a letter received some nentki
ago from one of the leaders of The cru
sade, a gray-haired "motner in Esresl,'
who had been ny fathers friend before
I saw the light. l wish could publish
the eE5i1 letter, and ker aame, which
is knovz aad hozored, but it is SO in
terwoven with sad personalities, that
she would touch the fountain Of tears
in the celaest heart. Husband, bro,h
er and son have ell gone down into tht
drunkara's grave; the last, killed in :
street bro;l, in front of the very saloon
and almost upoa the very spot, where
his mother, surrounded by devoted
band Of crusaders, had kEelt in ferven
prayer.
Then they were jubilant with success
the keeper Of this saloon moved by th'
earnest prayers Of the ladies had pro
fessed repentance, and had himself a,det
in breaking up his whisky sarreis
Friends crowded around him. An auc
tion was improvised Oh the spot, ant
the broken barrels, bottles, glasses, etc.
sold to the highest bidder at exorbi
tant prices. A minister ;acted as the
aucsioneer. The whole village wa
afame. Every saloon in the county
was closed.
In what joyful strains this devoted
mother wrote me then, for best of all
her boy had signed thepledge.
Now, how changed. There were fiv
saloons in that Ohio hamlet then
There are thirteen there to-day, and
saddest Of all, her boy, the child o
many prayers, and the last scion of
proud old family, sleeps in dishonor
ed grave.
But this beloved woman has not los
L