The Ottawa free trader., 1878-08-24

fully realized by some, and many had become
discouraged, and few had again fallen into the
old evil and urged them TO return TO their ale
glance. Spoke of the intemperance OF church
members, that many were not only countcnanc
ing liquor drinking, but were drinking them
selves. Said that Christian women were among
the best workers in the cause, and that Christian
people generally had done a great deal for the
cause, but thought that sectariam issues interlcr
ed with the work a great deal. He had drank
cold water for months and had a very good
opinion Of it, and could see the good result Of
sobriety in every thing he was connected with
He is an able and pleasant speaker, and his re-
marks We're listened to with great attention.
The vocal choir having assembled upon the
stand, sang an appropriate song entitled "To the
Work" After which Thos. Morrissy, of Seneca,
made strong argument in favor of Catholics
Joining the Red Ribbon movement, and urged
them to vote only for temperance men. He was
followed by E. B. Mason, of Joliet He said
that he used to be 4 La Sale county man, but his
former intemperate habits forced him to leave his
old home. His speech was a very fine and richly
worded effort.
After singing "Rescue the Pcrishing" hy the
choir, the president introduced Adam Hewcs Of
La Sale, who attempted TO speak upon the other
side of the question, but altogether made pretty
much of Il failure of it,
After more singing by the choir, Geo. Wood
ford was introduced and made n telling and pow
erful speech in his usual eloquent manner. The
speech was in his best vein and can only be de-
scribcd as rushing torrent Of impassioned elo-
quence, to which no synopsis can do justice, or
convey any definite idea Of its singular beauty
and force. A single extract, for which alone we
can find room to-dry, will give better idea of it
than any words OF description we are capable Of.
Having described, as only Mr.. Woodford can,
the blasting, dcsolating effects of intcmperance-
its blight Of intellect, bright hopes and happy
homes-the orator proceeded:
And yet, my friends, although our myriad
homes are blghted with this canker; although
the press-the very pulpit and the bar alike
show traces of the destroyer, there are people
who look on our labors in this christian cause as
the mere outgrowth of Fanaticism and the work
ngs of diseased Imagination.
What is Fanaticism Let us analyze the word
"a fanatic is one whose preudices override his
reason to the exclusion of his common sense
Oh if the last scene of murderer life if
the terrible delirium Of the dying inebriatc; if
the prematurely old man tottering on the edge
of dishonored grave; ifthe sodden, unksmpt
intellectually and physically starved children of
drunken parents, be the picture which dull
common sense loves TO look upon, then say,
give me Fanatcism | want TO be fanatic; or
let me have any other "ism'' am in the name
of nsuted God and sorrowing humanity that
will rob the Jail and the gallows of their annual
vctims-cheat our countless graves of their too
early occupants. mcrcifully shield our scared
eyeballs from ever again heholding Gods image
writhing and blaspheming in the trightful
throes Of delirium tremens, a sight once seen
that will forever remain burned on the heart
and brain Of the bchclder
After Mr., Woodiord's address there was as in
termission of one hour before supper during
which delegates from the different Red Ribbon
clubs met on the stand and formed county or
ganzaton. Just before adjournment, however,
a beautiful autograph album filled with the
names of the friends of temperance was present
ed by Rev Strobridge in Il few appropriate re.
marks to Geo. Woodford, who dpon receiving
this mark of esteem, spoke a few words of heart,
felt thanks.
1t was the intention Of the managers TO have
more speaking and exercises after supper, but as
no preparations had been made for lighting the
grove it was abandoned, But few lights were
procured and the picnic was continued through
the evening with fair number in attendance 1t
was estimated that at the time Mr.. Woodford
was speaking there were 5000 people in the
grove. There were good delegations from other
towns who expressed their unbounded praise of
10 - hat.
mcnt will realize about $3.50 on the sale of re-
frcshments andIeatatles which will go TO the pro
motios of the cause in this city.