The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-18

III the W. Il. OHuTCIl unuGT the duSpl-
ces of the Band of Hope and Good
Templars. The audience was the
largest, perhaps, that ever assem-
bled in the church, every availa-
bic inch of space being occupied.
Court being in session, persons We're
present from all parts of the county,
with sprinkling of strangers from
distance including number of
members Of the legal profession from
Cumberland. Rev. Benjamin Ison,
President of the Band of Hope, act
ed as President Of the meeting, and
Thos. j. Peddicord, w. G. 7. of the
order of Good Templars as Master
of Ceremonies. Take the meeting
as whole it was successful beyond
the most Sangulne expectations of
those who projected it. We feel that
we cannot too highly commend the
choir for the excellent music which
was furnished for the occasion.
The most important as well as the
most interesting feature of the Occa-
sion was an address delivered by the
Hon. Geo. A. Pearre, of Cumber-
land. The effort was mastery one
and worthy of its distinguished au-
thor. We are sorry that we cannot
lay Judge Pearre's exhaustive argu-
ment before our readers in full, but
our space will not permit us to give
more than a brief synop~is. The
Judge commenced by apologizing
for his inability to deliver an address
here on the 4th of July last, and
said: l was confined to my bed at
that time, and l assure you that
nothing except sickness could have
prevented me from being present on
that occasion. | know of no filter
time for temperance celebration
than the anniversary of American
Independence ; for intemperance i'm
poses upon this nation a despotism
more calling and heinous than the
stamp tax and all the acts of the
British Parliament combined.
But, ladies and gentlemen, | had
better go to my notes. ! have writ
ten down my views upon this cues.
ton, and if say anything wrong it
is with malice prepense, for l have
written it down deliberately, and
expect to stand by it all my life.
The people are awakening upon
this great subject, and the temper
ance cause, like tidal wave. is
sweeping over the Ind, and l pre-
diet that the great army of temper.
ance workers will, at no distant day,
accomplish their desired purpose,
and rum sellers will be put down,
The politicians, the office seekers,
the political bummers and weather
cocks oppose temperance because the
rum mills help them into office, but
you just let politicians understand
that you intend to fight this battle
through to victory-let them UNDER
stand that no drunkard will be
allowed to hold an office of honor,
profit or trust, and then all the poll
ticianS will he on the side of temper
ance, for these gentlemen are as SEN
sitiVe to public opinion as a Their
mometer is to heat and cold, or a
barometer is to the weather.
In 1876 an effort was made to get
local option law passed by the Leg
islature of Maryland, but 1t failed.
The grug shop keepers of Baltimore
formed whisky ring and furnished
money with which the cheap mate
rial of which the Legislature was
composed was bought, and thus the
will of the people was thWarted. In
1878 the temperance cause was much
stronger in the Legislature than it
had been preViously-the men had
been mOving-the women had been
singing-and a strong public senti-
ment had gone forth which made
the rum sellers tremble. Again the
whisky gentry, clothed in their sleek
broadcloth, silk hats, fiashy watch
chains, and highly polished boots,
bought the Legislature and defeated
the will of the people; but you, my
fellow citizens, have the pleasure of
knowing that the members from
your county recorded their votes in
favor of Local Option. All honor to
these men, who were not afraid to do
their duty. In county not far from
this, l am sorry to say, there were
some weak kneed brethren, who We're
elected as the friends of Local Option,
but when the vote was taken they
found 1T convenient to be absent.
Pray for them, my friends, you good
praying people-pray that the Lord
may give them more back bone next
time.
What is the Local Option law that
has been so much abused. The peo-
pie simply ask the Legislature to
pass law permitting them to say
through the ballot-box whether IL
cense shall be granted to sell liquor
in any county or election district. If
the ladies of this county had vote,
land l wish they had) they would
not be afraid of the rum sellers and
grog-shop keepers, but would rast
their votes in favor of Local Option,
for they are the great sufferers by the
license system. How many faithful
and patient wives in this land and
nation are mourning tonight over
the dissipation and ruin of their hus-
bands? How many mothers hearts
are wrung with anguish on account
of their incorporate sons How
many daughters and sisters fail to re-
Ooi nrnnar nAnoatsA.. and l. =,