Daily Republican., 1878-10-28
rHE TEMpEsAsCE MOvEsEST.


Rev. A. ID. Davis Encourages ths
waveving-- Remarks ofaie0sge w.
Wells, Mr.. Fox, Ex-MayOr valen.
time and X. Ii. Nc cDOnHeIl-Rev.
i'll. Houston and Mr.. Ne Denncll
get Excited.
The temperance meeting on Satur-
day night was opened with singing and
prayer and the reading Of the first
Psalm. Mr.. Wells then read the fol-
lowing letter: 81. .' - g.. p
Mr.. PLEASANT, NJ. Z. Parsonage,
October 26, 1878. !
GEO. w. WELLS, Esa:-Dear Sir ana
Bro,her:--The continued very severe
illness Of my daughter will prevent
my being present 10 speak at your
meeting this evening and will probably
prevent my taking an active part In the
campaign against rum and error. This
very much regret as my heart 10 in
the good work. | am one Of these who
believe that we have nothing TO hope
from either of the old political parties
until We can enlist in our ranks a
sufficient number Of true consistent
temperance men who have determined
to vote as they pray, to overbalacen
the whiskey vote. Then ws will find
them competing with each other to Sc
cure the temperance vote and will give
us whatever We ask. We find II TINS
In the State of Maine where each party
has prohibition plank in their plat
form and where in 1872 by a unani-
nous vote Of the Legislature section
was added Tn the previous stringent
law making the penalty for selling in.
toxicating liquors Imprisonment two
months in the County Jail and fine
Of one thousand dollars and stand com
mitted until paid.
The same course by the temperance
men Of Delaware will produce like re-
suits. This is our only hope. We
may preach Moral Suasion and offer
ths pledge till doomsday and may be
successful in permanently reform.
ing few Of the fallen victims
but with "man-trap" atevery corner
and every public highway lined
with them to allure in others and 6ll up
the depleted ranks, We will never be
able 10 overcome the evil. -...--~.
Legal suasion is the only effective
remedy that has ever been tried. 1t
has been proven so in Maine and will
produce like results here.
Let II be- understood that as temper
ance men we are not organized in the
interest of any political party, but re-
garding IS We do the liquor question of
greater importanc. than any other to
be settled at the ballot box, we have
unfurled our banner TO the breeze, and
have chosen as our standard bearers,
gentlemen Of unexceptionable characters
who have resolved II needs be to sever
their former political alliance and stand
bv their new flag until victory is achiev-
ed. We thus lay down the gauntlet. The
opposing forces ars strong and well en-
trenched. We may expect to be a.
bused, persscuted, deviled, slandered
aud misrepresented because of the prin.
ciples we espouse. The bottle will be
fierce and costly. 1t is now victory or
death We are towards II we retreat.
The Almighty is on our side. We must
fight II out on this line. Ours is the
cause food and humanity, and must
ultimately triumph. WITH kind re-
CARDS am, Yours &c.
A. d. DAVIS.
Mr.. John H. Fox then spoke of the
progress that had been made in the
temperance cause in the last year from
which he thought that Temperance
people should be thankful and take
courage.
Ex-Mayor Valentine being called up
on spoke for some time on the effects of
Moral Suasion, and while he conceded
that many had been reclaimed, and the
temperance feeling in the whole COM
munity had become elevated, he never
theless felt convinced that for every
man reclaimed, the liqvor traffic had
succeeded in making ten drunkards.
All ether violation of the rights of socie.
ty were hedged about by law, and we
never could make much progress, until
the public sentiment had been worked
up in favor of enacting and supporting
strong, prohibitory laws.
Mr.. Wells then read the following
pledge which had been circulated in
the fall and winter of lS75-76 com
monty known as the iron clad pledge
and to which the names Of 1000 voters
of the City Of Wilmington had been ap-
pended and which had been approved
by the Wilmington Conference of the
NJ. L. church held in this city the fol-
lowing March:
WHEREAS. The Constitution of our coun.
try was ordained to estab ish justice, dornes-
tic tranquility, and to promote the general
welfare. And
are illegally protecting portion of our peo
pie In an occupation that isa direct infringe
ment Of our constitutional rights, destructive
alike to our domestic tranquility and general
welfare. Therefore be 1t
RESOLVED. That we the undersigned, believing
the day has come when honor and manhood
alike demand action at our hands. united ac-
the gross injustice or leg g.liziny the manuac-
ture nd sale OF intoxicating liquors.
Resoiped, That we pied re ourselves and our
sacred honOrs that We Will sustain with our
vote men and measures for the enactment OF
A law, 10 punish the manufacture, sale an
importation olintoxicating Of liquors as II crime
After reading the pledge Mr.. Wells
spoke as follows: Remember that WE
have been entrusted by an over ruling
with grand and masnif,
cent government, land flowing with
milk and honey, land in which there
Is to-day super abundance of every
thing that is necessary TO make Us a
'on'ented and happy people. There is
but one thing standing in the way, and
hat is evil. We are commanded to
put away the evil of our dongs from
before Gods eyes. cease to do evil, learn
10 do we'll" If we are willing and ODE |