Daily Republican., 1881-03-28
EMPERANCE.
SohR q. Bryant AT the opera House
Yesterday Afternoen.


Sohn q. Rryp Mt af the opera House
Yesterday Afternoen.
About Ave hundred persons met al
the Opera House yesterday afternoon
at $50 O'Clock TO hear John Callen Bry.
ant lecture on the Subject Of Temper
ancs.
The audience considering the apa.
thy that prevails upon the subject was
considered good and the occasion was
invested with considerable interest
from the fact that Mr.. Bryant oommen-
csd his reformation In this city during
the celsbrated temperance campaign
conducted by the we'll know Mr.. George
W. Wells, Robert C. Frsim, Esq, pre-
sided at the meeting and on the plat
form with him were, John Il. Adams,
sx-mayor Valentine, DR.. Kssbles, u.
Pickels, g. W. Wells, Rev. L. Marks,
Rev. Adam Stsngls and q number Of
other influential citizens. Mr.. Pickels
led the audience in singing the hymn
commencing with Gan hail the power
ol Jesus name" and Rev. l.. Marks led
in prayer.
s. Hersey was the first speaker Of
the afternoon. As Mr.. Bryant was to
be the main speaker, Mr.. Hersey
occupied only about ten min.
utes OF the time and showed
the mistake which Temperance people
made by supporting and trying to
enforce license laws, which protected
the sale Of liquor instead Of prohibiting
it. He thought that prohibition was
the only consistant platform upon
which temperance people could stand,
and he looked upon local option as pro-
hibition. He had no words OF oondem-
nation for the Legislature, for the Sem
ate in which were six holding over mem
bsrs was elected when the local option
issue was not in the campaign. He
then referred to the reformation of the
speaker which was to follow him and
asked for him . good collection which
was given.
Mr.. J. C. Bryant being introduced
spoke earnestly for three quarters OF
an hour on the devastating evils Of in
temperance. Mr.. Bryant referred to
his reformation which commenced un-
der the tent pitched on the Twelfth
street lot where he signed the pledge
as Mr.. H. had already told the audi
snoe and where he resolved to keep
that pledge and lead better life. He
said he was referred TO as one who had
been faithful TO his pledge while hun
drsds Of ethers. had been unfaithful bat
there were Of those who had signed
the pledge at the same time rs others
who had kept 1t. That was the number
that under General Robert Anderson n
held Port Sumter against the whole
force Of the rebel army, and when they
went down with their colors flying in
the faue OF the hirelinGs Of the slave oil
garchy. In referring to prohibition he
was not in favor OF it unless it pro-
hibited, and neither was he In love
with local option, because 1t gave a
man the right to do wrong. He favored
moral sussion and the creation OF q
moral sentiment in fsver of Temper.
snce. Ee thought that the reascn there
were 800 unlicensed saloons in this
city was because the people wanted
them, and as soon as they made up
their minds not to have them they
would abolish them. He denounced
all schemes to regulate tho liquor
traffic, AS well might the people at
tempt to regulate mad dog or pow
der mill explosion. He believed that
much of the evils of intemperance
ceald be oounteracted by taxing the
traffic and making the property in
which 1t was sold responsible for the
tax and for the damages which it in
9ioted on the Community. He thought
liquor men should be taxed as dogs
are taxed In Massachusetts,, TO pay for
the sheep and lambs they msngle and
kill. The streets Of Wilmington he
said we're full Of innooeDt human
sheep and lambs subject to the attack
Of theliquor traffic degs, and the latter
shogld bs made to pay for the havoc Gre
ated amongst those sheep and lambs.
MIR. Bryant closed his elosrent and
able address with an earnest exhorta.
ton to active work In the eAzse, and
with the expression OF full determina-
tion TO keep inviolats his plecge and to
still work for suffering humanity.
DR.. Kesbles being Introduced made a
brief and earnest address in SavOr Of
prohibition, and he was no ways CON-
plimentsry in his remarks about
the members Of the Dover Senate
who refused % give tksir support to
the local option bill passed. by the
House. He gave Senator Bsyard q
warm rap over the knuokles tor writ
ing as is reported letter to some mem
Der Of the Legislature warning that
body against the passing of the local
option bill. He hoped that God would
forgive the man who would do auoh
on act and the sorvile tools who would
Listen to such suggestions.
The meeting closed by tbs pronouro'
ing Of the benediction by Rev. Adam
Stongls.
work of che Planes.
The SaxoDy WOp]len Mills of DuIn