Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-30

An Interesting and Instructive
Address.

Ouite a respectable and interested su-
dience assembled at Trinity NJ. E. Church
last evening to hear the address OF Rev. j.
P. Plnkham, Of Ohio, who, on his return
home from the meeting Of the Grand Wor-
thy Lodge of Good Templars recently held
in Charleston, took in Savannah. and was
prevailed upon to make a temperance
speech. The meeting was opened with
singing "All hail the power Of Jesus name, p"
Mrs. J. Dove, of Denver, also a delegate to
the R. W. G. L. Of G. T., presiding at the
organ. This was followed with prayer by
Rev. j. o. Branch, pastor Of Trinity Church.
The speaker discussed the evils of the
liquor traffic from a national point of laying
the foundation of his conclusions in the
sacred scriptures, and the eternal DEGREES
OF God as delivered to the Iraelitish nation.
He showed conclusively that the statutes of
that nation were based upon the law OF right
and Of love, and that their violation led to
the overthrow Of that and other ancient and
modern nations which disregarded them.
Coming down to the American nation, he
showed the immense political power OF the
liquor traffic, and from figures taken hom
the last report of Commissioner Raum, Of
fne internal hEN6uut DbphIbhuCnbf cldAt-
ling exhibit, the drink bill OF the
United States, according to the reliable sta
tistics referred to, being 1919 1000, 900, all
Of which was taken from the hard earned
hand of labor and placed In the pockets OF
1856 900 men representing those engaged In
the liquor traffic. These 5000 men, rep
resenting a concentrated power 70 control
legislation and backed by the 1919 100000
which had been wrested from the hard earn
grora ~ tho manila pOngfih1tnd q mighty
power, against which the interests, hopes
and happiness of the so 900, 900 of people in
this nation were arrayed. By way of illus
tration, the speaker pertinently asked what
would be the feelings and result II 1S5, 600
men, say from Connecticut, were gathered
together and 900,000,000 placed in their
hands, whispering to them to use It for
the purpose of controlling or directing the
legislation of the country In the passage
of obnoxious laws. The feeling of indigns-
ton would be unanimous, and general CO.
alition OF all shades of opinion would be
formed to resist the tyranny and usurpation
OF this tremendous power.
The argument for National or State pro-
hibition was conclusive and convincing, and
was based upon the fundamental principle
that the object Of government is the promo
ton OF the good OF the governed. II the
| results of the liquor traffic are such
as we see daily with cur eyes, the de-
moralization OF the subject, the promotion
Of disorder, vice and crime, and the destruc-
ton of the intellect and happiness Of the
nation, it Is the duty of the fifty millions of
citizens to rise up in their might and in
their sovereign power and destroy it. 1t
was not a question of personal liberty, but
a question of the life and safety of society
| and civilization.
The speaker showed very clearly that II
| the results of liquor traffic in the next score
| OF years increased In the same ratio SIS 1t
| had done in the past ten years the nation
would prove a national failure, and the fate
of the nations OF the past who had violated
/ the great law OF nature and NATURES God
would be ours.
After showing some Of the political action
| of the great liquor dealers union in refer
ence to laws affecting their interest, and re-
marking upon the probable victories for the
| Prohibition party in his native State, the
reverend gentleman closed with an earnest
appeal for unitedness OF purpose upon this
question on the part Of the people OF this
/ State.
The delivery of the address occupied an
! hour and half, but the forcible manner OF
the speaker held the attention of the entire
| audience to its close.
| The meeting was adjourned by singing
| the doxology and the benediction by the
pastor,