Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-28
TOTAL ABSTINENCE
SECOND AND LAST DAY OF TIE CON-
VENTION.
An Address to the Peopls---valuable Re-
port From the Com m1ttee on Immigration
---Election of Officers for the Ensuing
year---A Banquet in the Evening.

The convention of the State Catholic
Total Abstinence association convened at
the Cathedral schools at $50 yesterday
morning, the Rev. J. B. Golfer, of Winona,
opening the proceedings with prayer, after
which the hearing of reports of county pres
idents was continued.
Reports of the various committees were
next in order; that on insurance elected
considerable controversy, but was finally
adopted. The insurance scheme is based
upon the same plan as that of the Free
Masons and other similar societies. The re-
ports which more particularly concern the
public was that of the committee on address
to the people. and that Of the committee on
i'm nnigration-
Mr.. M. II. Keely, of Faribault, and chair
man Of the former, reported as follows:
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.
The prime factor in the achievement Of the
good, beautiful and the true in human destiny,
is the souls reception of and allegiance to the
grandest of all the lessons Of Christian ethics
Know thyselves, o! people, thy relations to
earth and heaven, time and eternity, the crea-
ture and its creator. Religion alone being ex-
.trumentaiity more powerful in preparing the
heart Alright for the reception of the seeds of
this Christian philosophy, and reaping a
priceless harvest of precious fruit therefrom,
than the faithful practice Of
the principles embodied in the
term total abstinence. Viewing the successive
advances in everything that is ennobling which
their application has wrought out the commun-
tiles heretofore the too willing worshippers
before the polluted shrine Of the grossest sensu-
rlty; contemplating the corrective influence
they are exercising upon all the paramount
interests of the individual, the family, and the
commonwealth; observing their directive in
SEPARATION conducting with the hand of
angel human society up to higher and holier
spheres of thinking acting, and living we bow
low in reverence before the solemn charm,
and offer our need of homage
to total abstinene s as +hd the pre-
and the sterling hope Of much that is good in
humanity itself. AS the dazzling sun, the
most effulgent planet in the overarching cline
of the heavens, CARDS in regal beauty the east
horizon with the softened glory of it's adj
vancing rays, so Total Abstinence, the radiant
luminary in the moral sky, embeished with it's
mellow brilliancy the character of the people
who open their hearts to it's blessed light, and
becomes to society what I he rising sun is to
the smiling moon, a beaut flying, vitalzing, and
Christening element Eliminate it from social
life, and substitute in its stead. that debasing
habit the name Of which, is SYNONYM for all
that is most corrupting in tendency and de-
grading in result, and "a suicidal act is COM
mitted, rendinss from it's fastenings, the ke y
stone in the arch supporting the social super
structure, and what is of infinitely greater
moment jeopardizing perhaps the deathless des-
tiny Of countless immortal souls. Each sue
ceeding age experiences its own particular
and applies its own special remedies. Our
century SO lfull Of brilliant preten-
sions, but alas! so replete too
with melancholy realities, has
not been exempted from this common her.
itage of suffering, this fated harvest af woe. 1t
has seen intemperance eating it's fatal way into
the vitas Of society like q loathsome worm into
the heart of a beautiful flower the lovely tints
and tinges of which fade sadly away before the
deflement, like a gilded fretwork of rubbed
clouds at the approach Of evenings twilight.
Our age has sat weeping throughout the slow
tedium Of many dreary years, by the dishon-
ored grave, within whose gloomy shades the
curse of drunkenness has prematurely entombed
its unfortunate captives with no hand to roll
back the stone from the mouth of the sepul-
chre and re-animate and re-habitate the remains
within. A wonderful transformation,
marvellous resurrection now. The corrupt
and sealed up sources Of human life have been
touched by beam Of Gods mercy. Total
Abstinence, that name master spell, has bent
a willing ear to the imperial whisperings of
humanity, and girding on its heaven-forged
armor Of divine temper in a cause beloved of
God and blessed Of men, has arrested the ter
rible career of wrong too long triump plant, has
turned back the ravening flood of inebriety,
whose fetid waters were dehling even the most
holy places, till to-day, resounding songs of
thankfulness ascend to the skies from joyous
hearts, on t fS hS
uncertain voice, urges upon all the
necessity of enlisting in and the advo-
cacy of total abstinence whose influence for
good is pure the light high the
armament and as broad as the spread of the hui
man family. 1t commends itself more emphatic
ally to the soundest sense, most determined
zeal and unceasing labors of all classes and con-
dltlons OF society because it is the mould and
matrix of the vast social and moral advance
ment we are so rejoiced to see, and the earnest
promise of that yet vaster and more finished
progress which we to-day most devoutly hope
and pray for.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
The committee on immigration presented
the following report:
During the years past, since the formation
of the total abstinence societies Of Minnesota,
that body, in yearly convention, took occasion
to call the attention of the people of the
United States to the widespread advantages
offered by our State to immigrants.
While some of sister States not slow
to avail themselves Of the opportunity by
sending from the crowded cities many families
who found new and different life on our rich
prairies and wheat lands, others turned deaf
ear to our earnest calls, and through a fatal
negligence, made no effort to better the con-
dition of their people.
Right Reverend Bishop Ireland, both by word
Late I
to the fact that the lands of Minnesota were
passing quickly beyond mis- control, and that
the day OF unavailing regrets were near at hand.
In the meantime, by individual effort here and
there, men fro'n New York, Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts and other States, came to settle
in Minnesota. Go among them to-day, and
you see acontented and prosperous community,
blessing those who were their guides to indie
pendence. Far removed from evil Influences,
the settlers nearly all members of total
abstinence societies. form the true wealth of
the State and the civilizing influences of
church and schools are training their children
to be the honor and the support of religion.
for Our people.
The railroad lands over which the Right
Rev. Bishop has control, in Swift county, can
yet be had at from $l.89 to $3.50 per acre.
whereas all around on the st. Paul and Pacific
line the company has raised the price of land
SO that II seIls IN bonds from $3 to 80 per acre.
This last chance Of obtaining land at such
reasonable prices in Swift county will soon
have passed away, for on January 1st, 1879, the
contract between the bishop and the railroad
company expires, and will not be renewed.
Besides, the railroad lands there are along the
line what are called disputed lands, which
within a short time may either come under the
control Of the railroad company, and can be
secured for actual settlers by having their
names entered on the companv's books SER
perform for them. Otherwise they revert to
the government when they can be homesteaded
pre-empted or secured under the
tree-planuing act. Still another remark
In parts of Swift comfy