The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-01-16

The meeting at the court house Tues
day night was opened by singing "Nearer,
My God, to Thee" after which Mr.. Ar
buckle read an appropriate selection of
scripture from the fifth chapter of Isaiah.
He then proceeded to reply to the asser-
ton which is often made, that if you let
whisky alone it will let you alone. He
thought the assertion very far from the
truth, and to substantiate his belief cited
the Boot Hill, cemetery near Hays
City, where thirty-two people were
buried with their boots on, having been
killed in drunken rabbles. Among
them was a lady, killed while attempt
ing to rescue her husband from drunk
en- mob. She had always let whisky
alone, but it killed her. Another was an
innocent boy shot by drunken fiend.
He asked pardon for personal reference,
and said that his own family had been
invaded by this monster, causing the
death of Il brother, since which time his
aged mother had suffered untold agony
and sorrow.
In answer TO the question, by what
right do men go about the country hold
ing temperance meetings:' he said the
fire today furnished an appropriate illus
tration. Men broke through the win
dows and carried out the goods, tore
down the house and scattered the fire for
the purpose of slving adjoining build
ings. No one stopped To ask whether
they had the legal right or not. Abra-
ham Lincoln called out thousands of
volunteers 10 save the union because its
enemies threatened to overthrow it. 1t
might be said that lie had no right to do
it; yet no one who loves his country
would say that he committed u wrong.
To preserve the country was his first
duty. He called the troops. We all
know the rest This principle, which
underiics all organic aud Legislative law,
has been crystalized into an adage, al
ways and ever true: SELF preservation
is the first Law of nature"
We hold these meetings and advocate
this cause from the same motive by
which All men attempt To save themselves
and their property.
The speaker here paid his compli-
ments to the VI. DIS, but said he hoped
no doctor would leave the house until he
explained what lie meant by these mi
Iial letters. He thought the N. DIS were
the worst class OF men connected with
this business. They are the polite geA-
tlcmen who are too nice 10 associate with
drunkard, but take their toddies and
invite the young and unsuspcctlng to be-
gin the career which lands so many in
the drunkard's grave. N. ID. stands for
moderate drinker. The last part of the
lecture was addressed to fathers who are
implanling in their offspring an appetite
for something which may lead them TO
be worthless vagabonds and utter wrecks
Of humanity.
During the progress of the meeting
Lieut.. Page with sixteen members Of
the Emporia guards marched INTO the
room in uniform, and signed the pledge.
This part of the programme was n COM
plete surprise to Mr.. Arbunkle, but he
received the boys in good style, and
welcomed them as guards of the public
welfare in the temperance cause. AT
the close of the meeting about thirty
more came forward and signed the
pledge. The music furnished by Mr.
Arbuckle and his accomplished daugh-
ter, forms very pleasant feature, and
tonight we shall expect to see every
foot of standing room occupied.