West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-11-16

Lyon opened the discussion Win
most fitting and perfectly-digested
introduction, preparing the way
for the succession of pointed and
happy speeches that went to make
up one Of the grandest temperance
meetings ever enjoyed in Parkers-
burg.
The Professor briefly reviewed
the various temperance movements
and organizations of the half-cen-
tury past. Admitting the great
good they had all accomplished
but boldly asserting their inadequa-
cy, he urged the necessity OF action
more fundamental and vigorous,
and demanded measures common
surate in boldness and strength
with the dastardly foe we have to
do with.
While much good has been done
in saving individuals, the evil has
gone right on, destroying the thou
sands, and while temperance work
ers have rested the friends OF the
liquor-traffic have never abated
their hellish purpose.
We must get down to the bottom
and build wherein we can build
safely. This report outlines and
sets forth a policy and measures
that are at once reasonable, ade-
quate, safe and sure. Constitutions
al Prohibition alone is adequate to
grapple with this giant sin and
SUPPRESS it's widespread wickedness
and crime.
Next came ten minutes Of keen,
practical points and fierce philip
pics from President d. B. Purinton,
of the West Virginia University,
on the topic,
THE PRESENT MOVEMENT.
Opening with the quotation,
"There is a tide in the affairs of men
which, taken at it's flood, leads on
to fortune and to fame" he boldly
proclaimed that the Temperance
Tide was setting in at the Heaven
appointed time for the greatest re-
form ever known in North America.
Fifty years ago the battle came
on and ragged fercely within the
churches. Then church members
engaged in distilling and selling
liquors. Fifty years ago the Spirit
above and spirit below blended in
the clergy. That is all past Our
feuds on the temperance question
are all ended, and now we are all
ready for one of the grandest cru
sades the world has ever known.
Referring to the relation of the
Temperance movement to party,
the speaker held that it was for the
general good of the country that at
least two great National parties
should exist, but to be useful these
great parties must be founded on
underlying basal principles, and he
boldly charged that the parties of
to-day have no longer left to them
any distinctive principles.
"They may not know it," said he,
"but let me tell them that they
have run out. They have nothing
left to fight about but the spoils Of
office. Now let us step forth with
the temperance issues and supply
their lack. Let us furnish the par
ties with ammunition. Temperance
is the grooming question. Old is
sues are dead, and if not buried, the
indications are that they ought to
be for decency's sake.
The speakers time expired while
speaking of the universal uprising
in the present movement, and of
the grand inspiration it is gather
ing from the numbers coming into
it.
Every sentence Of this address
came hurting into the audience
with that well-known Purinton
vigor and directness that comes with
the rattle Of grape-shot
THE NECESSITY OF INDIVIDUAL Eff
was practically urged by Rev. L. B.
Moore. Said he, eve who live along
the river don't expect a great rise
from a local rain, but when the
rainfall is general all over the
mountains and hills, tributary to
the river, and all the springs, rivu-
lets and creeks begin to put
in, then we look for the flood