The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-03
THE TEMPERANCE TIDE


meeting would be held to keep rolling the
temperance ball that had received new
impetus in the last few weeks. Although
large number Of ladies was present the
greater part OF the audience was made OF
the sterner sex who are the most con-
Cerned in the cause advocated.
The services were opened with singing
and prayer, alter which Judge Ferguson,
Of Kanswhs county, who was called on to
preside, addressed the audience at length
on the subject OF the liquor traffic. Naming
the different methods that had been tried
to abolish the evil and had failed, he said
heroicmeasures therefore must be adopted
TO accomplish that which moral suasion
failed OF doing.
The great thing we have to struggle
against is the responsibility Of the BUSH
ness, made so by our laws, mind that
in my younger days the most important
parsonage was the tavern keeper. He was
required to be man OF good character
and standing in the community, But this
is eclipsed in some parts OF Scotland,
where they make the applicant for q
license prove that be has taken the Holy
Sacrament within the last six weeks.
For some time doubted the propriety
as to the manner this subject should be
fought, but l have lived long enough to
know that the ora remedy against the
great evil is the total prohibition OF the
traffic,
The Judge dweIt at some length on the
license phase OF the question. The man
utacture and sale Of liquor resolves itself
into this; 1t is either right or wrong, and
II wrong 1t is not right to license that
wrong, and the government that does It
perpetrates an outrage on Its people, II
Ia conceded to be wrong by the law that
licenses 1t in the restraints 1t puts upon 1t.
The logical conclusion therefore, Ia; that
the traffic being wrong it should not be
legalized, and measures should be taken TO
prohibit 1t,
He said he had heard much about the
revenue from the traffic, and would only
say Il the country licenses the vices OF its
people for the sake Of deriving o revenue,
why not license all the vices. Gambling
houses would DO glad to pay licenses. /
enue after hearing It's novel treatment by
Mrs. Youmans last Sunday, and | thought
would go to the Auditor and obtain
some figures on this subject In relation 10
this State. found that the total State
revenue from licenses amounted to exact.
ly $50, 70l, aud that the criminal charges
amounted 10 500, Ssl, an amount nearly
double that derived from the revenue for
licenses. But $65,SSl does not represent
the cost for criminal charges In this State.
This is only for felony cases. The sums
paid by the counties OF this State for
criminal charges would increase the
amount TO over double the sum. What is
the root cause OF these Crimes2 Now |
am q sort OF lawyer, and during my life
have been called on 10 defend men
charged with crime, aud have paid some
attention to what proportion OF the crimes
Is caused by liquor. Out Of fifteen or
twenty cases Of murder only three Of
them did not result from the use Of liquor,
and OF minor otfenses four.htths OF the
cases resulted from the use OF intoxicants.
The Judge then referred 10 the large
representation those counties OF the State
granting license had in tho penitentiary,
and contrasted the moral condition OF
these counties with those that forbid the
sale OF liquor.
The distinguished Delegate from Kama.
wha closed his interesting speech with
the announcement that the judiciary
Committee Of both houses OF the Legisla.
ture had reported 10 their respective
bodies the prohibitory amendment asked
for by the petitions sent to them, and said
be, l am certain twill pass and DO aubmit.
ted to vote Of thepeople. 1t 81 question
Of the people-people Of both parties.
And here serve notice on the Legisla.
lature II they allow party feeling 10 enter
into this matter tina! the politics OF this
State will get such shaking up as they
never before experienced. The people
are In earnest about this matter. But |
ask You not to slacken In energy in getting
up your petitions. Send them In to the
Legislature to let Us know that you are
still working In the cause. The prohibltory
amendment was passed In Kansas by the
people speaking for II, working for 1t and
praying for It. That we must do.
The Judge was frequently Interrupted
during the course Of bis speech by the ap.
plauss OF the audience. AT the clofe Of
his remarks the choir sung:
A charge to keep have.
Mr.. +. G. CraCrait was then introduced
10 the audience, and delivered one OF the
finest addresses on the subject Of temper.
anCe we ever heard him make. His Ian.
gnage was peculiarly ielicitous and appro.
pirate, and was marked by periods OF elo.
Quent orstory. We will not mar the effect
Of his speech by attempting to reproduce
the language OF the speaker. Suffice 1t to
say, the remarks Of the gentleman were
warmly received by the audience, the
burPts OF applause which interrupted him
being frequent and earnest.
After the audience sung In good spirit:
Am a soldier Of tbs Cross,
Rev. E. W. Ryan was introduced, and
made very bright speech, full Of sound
sense and thrilling illustrations Of the ruin
worked by the use Of rum.
Mr.. David D. johnson, OF Patkersburg,
being present was called on 10 speak. He
responded to the call by remarking tina!
he did not intend TO detain the audience
long, as the hour was late. "But," said
he, II can not help refer 10 the statistics
spoken OF by Judge Ferguson In regard to
the representation oil counties In the peni.
Tertiary. Eleven counties In this State
that grant license, with population OF
2l9105 sent 119 convicts 10 the peniten.
tiary, or one to every 1912 OF population.
Twehty.eight counties that do not grant
license, with population OF 244,sl1 sent
only ~ TO the penltentiary, or one 10
every 1908 Of Population"
Mr.. johnson commented on the above
statistics, and made the application which
was obvious TO all.
The temper Of the audience was very en-.
thusiastiC and promises well for the revi.
val Of interest In the work In this city.
The announcement was made that other
meetings would be held this week, notices
Of which will appear in the daily press.
II was also announced that o plumber OF
petitions had been signed, and that more
would be circulated through the city for
signatures.