Daily Republican., 1877-04-16


would be- better to strike out all such
refersnce. Although Thomas Paine,
Thomas Jefferson and others who
did not believe in the church, did
good service in the formation of the
Government, the great mass had no
idea of ignoring God and the bible.
The resolution seemed to be dog
matte and not liberal. He therefore
suggested that the entire provision be
stricken out. '
After some remarks by DR.. Marshall
and the President, the consideration
of the Constitution was laid over to
next meeting.
Mr. W. H.Quinn moved that the
constitution be published in two
newspapers in order that the members
can see what they are voting upon.
During the discussion which follow.
ed the President said he was opposed
| to any creed. He had opposed the
article in the beginning and would
oppose it to the end. He had been
the object OF stigma for years back
and yet lie defled any one to point
| his finger to speck on his morality.
A motion to print 1000 circulars
was substituted, but after being dis
cussed at some length was with
drawn.
The President stated that money
was necessary to meet expenses, and
a collection was accordingly taken up,
| while a cold water song was sung by
the young ladies'. ,s,.
The question was then taken up :
.Is the course now pursued by the
advocates of Temperance calculated to
remove the causes Of tho evil Of
drunkenness ?" James p. Hayes
made the opening speech, in which he
said that there had been action on the
part Of some men in our State, at
different times, according to his judg-
ment, very detrimental to success.
Assoon as you carry the question
Of temperance into politics you iDjure
the cause of temperance, 30 long as
the Government permits the manufac-
tnre and importatifn of liquor IL will
| be sold, and all thh local Ion laws
| In the land could hot prevent it. He
advocated moral ssuasion. The great
agent to reform, in his opinion, is
love. gr..
1t is a mistake to denounce any one,
you wish to reclaim, as thief. Harsh
words will not produce good. Passing
on he said every one will admit that
drunkenness is an evil. .a...
In the meetings at the city hall, ap-
peals had been made to men and their
sympathies touched, and he hoped
that the course adopted will be contin-
ued until every drunkard shall be re-
claimed.
He read an extract from the Phila-
delphia Times, giving a short sketch
of the labors of Francis Murphey.
In doing this he said Patrick in
stead of Francis, which provoked
some laughter, when he corrected
himself, saying he had no allusion to
the Walnut street job. .l.
He eulogized Mr.. Murphy for doing
noble work, although opposed to
prohibition, as he believed that if men
wish to drink they will do SO in def.
ance of law. He held that reason and
honor should govern men and restrain
their appetites and passions. Mr.. P.
said all the provisions of law did not
amount to the snap of your finger,
unless the people were educated to
sustain them.
He believed that the true way to
remove drunkenness. was to educate
people to the great etil which isstar-
ing them in the face.
DR.. Hicks said he agreed with Mr..
Hayes that the hope for the temper
ance cause consisted in educating the
people, and yet he thought that the
temperance men had done a great
WORK. ..,....-. ......
He could MT say, however, that
prohibition Is wrong. Every law is
prohibitery. The object Of govern
ment is to protect persons in their
lives and property, and it seemed
therefore that prohibitory law was
expedient. He thought that the more
prohibition we could have the better.
Mr.. Quinn said that the more you
ut empt, by law, to prevent men drink-
ing, the greater will be the desire to
drink. At present there were but 53
licensed houses in the city, and 400
were selling without license.
He said be supposed that he had
drank as much liquor as any man in
the room Of his age, and could speak
from experience. The proper, way to
control men is to persuade, and not to
drive. Rev. J. B. Mann and Pennell
Coombe knew nothing about the man.
agement of the temperance cause, and
their denunciation did no good.
A social meeting like this had more
effect than oil the denunoiations ever
uttered.
Mr.. Perry, a gentleman from Wes-
consin, remarked that it was not right
to complain of the labors of others
He illustrated this by an allusion to
the arAy. It was necessary to send
sappers and miners ahead but these
must be supported by the infantry
and cavalry. So it should be in the
cause Of temperance. Mr.. Murphey