The daily gazette., 1877-02-12
FIRST EDITION.!
The Local Option Meeting

ADDRESSES by REvs. PIERsoN, MARKS
SMITH AND MANN-NoBLE RESPONSE |
To THE APPEAL FOR FINANCIAL Am |
THE STATE CONVENTION posTroNsn
&c.
When about 500 people had assembled
in Institute Hall, yesterday afternoon, in
response to the call for the second Local
Option and Temperance Meeting, an
organization was effected by calling
John ii Adams to the chair and electing
George w. Humphrey Secretary.
The first speaker was Rev. j. w. Pier
son, of Brandywlne NJ. Il. church, who,
after reciting numerous statistics of tbs
fearful results of intemperance, and as
serting that the amount spent annually
for intoxicating drinks exceeded the
amount spent each year for the support
of ministers, churches and lit erary and
theological institutions, branched into
the Local Option question. He though
Local Option good thing, in order 10
prove effectual 1t must be heartily sun
ported by the friends of temperance. He
cited the case of a county In Maryland,
(Worcester) where after year of Local
Option during which the law was not
operated as effectually as it might have
been the State Senator who had secured
the passage of the bill Immediately
thereafter secured its repeal although
requested not to do so by meeting of
his constituents. The repeal was secured
| as matter of expediency and the failure
of the friends of Temperance to properly
support their pet measure was used as
an excuse for the action. The speaker
| thought Temperance should be above
| Dartizanship, as a man could be temper
ate whether he was Democrat or Re-
publican, and should ever be true to his
Temperance, true TO his religion and true
| to his God.
Rev. Lafayette Marks was the next
speaker. He mentioned two instances
related by DR.. Guthrie of Scotland, who
had witnessed two great festivals inParis
and Berlin, the latter continuing several
days and although they were participated
in by thousands of people scarcely a
drunken man was seen. And yet the
lspeaker had never visited the recent
centennial Exhibition without witness
ling more or less drunkenness.
Mr. Marks considered the Gospel oil
Christ the only remedy for intemperance
although he thought there were many
lauxiliary help among which was Local
Option. Such law removes temptation
from people by removing liquor from
) their midst. He considered it Demo
cratic idea, because it simply gives to the
people a right to say whether or not they
will have liquor sold among them, and
/, hoped the proposed law would succeed in
passing the present Legislature, ,
Rev. Joseph Il. Smith of Grace NJ. +
, Church, thought that no Legislator, Re
! publican or d Democratic, could vote agains
Local Option Law. The basis of oul
Government the foundation of ou
liberties rest upon the right o.
of the people to settle all publ,
Questions at the ballot box. Any othel
Question would be submitted to such {
decision at once, but this question, o
; greater Importance than all others, is de
MED such settlement. Local Option il
but step towards prohibition. 1t is no
D satisfactory to itself but it is a favorable
, compromise in the great battle with in
! temperance. But the friends of intem
I perance must work increasingly in order
to be successful,
Rev. A. ID. Davis announced that tn,
s proposed State Temperance Convention
n At Dover, on the Goth inst, had been post
: poned until a day to be hereafter an
. nounced Meanwhile he urged ACTIVE
: work on the part of the friends of ten
! perance. They don't mean to have tn
Legislature adjourn until a Local Option
n law IL passed but meanwhile funds arr
u needed, and it is hoped the friends o
y the cause will respond liberally,
y, ~ Geo. w. Wells announced that OF til
X amount COlleCUeu dU idSJ Ouhudy ihCS
v ing-S10 76-S10 so had been paid for tn
use of the hall and ifit was desired
r continue these meetings the aadienc
l. must respond literally to the collection
y Several gentlemen then started aroun
= the room with extended hats, and at tn
- action the noble friends of temperanC
le started for the door with such earnestnei
u and unanimity that the chairman foun
: it necessary to express the hope that the
le would remain few minutes longer.
Mr.. VIM. ID. Pickles then sang sol
~ nlf you want field of labor, lin excellel
style, which SO entranced many OF Il
auditors that they were rendered entire
10 oblivious of collection hats or any oth
Nd surrounding.
H. ~ Rev. j. b. Mann, of New Castle, sa
d, that talk is cheap and won't do mut
rs work is needed. Politicians pay the
N way and temperance people must do u
e. same if they would succeed. About 81
d are needed to keep the Temperan
agent in the field until his work is accor
~ plished by the passage OF Local Opu'
or Law.
Continuing Mr.. Mann said: The l.
gislature is looking with great lntere
to the action of the Temperance peopl
If we show a decided front we will get
Local Option law.
nd After pause Rev. Mann continued,
or want my Democratic friends to kno
that in one of the counties OF Maryial
every man engaged in the liquor bus
ness is Democrat.
IS, notwithstanding this startling al
80 nouncement the friends of temperan
@er @ continued to rally for home notwlt
" standing repeated requests from t
speaker to stay. Nelson ]. Lee then
. nounced another temperance experien
- meeting for next Sunday afternoon, ar
which the meeting closed with the DO
ology and the benediction OF Rev. ).