Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-07
OPPOSITION TO WHISKY
In Hississippi-The FanatIcism of Pro-
hibitiOn Rampant-F. A. TyIer's
Speech TO
Rapidly Diminishing Audience-Ee
4Hoied Christ as n Wine Manufae-
turer-Meeting on Saturday.


| a
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss, July ga County
Temperance / convention was held in this
CITY yesterday morning, the proceedings of
which were somewhat unusual on account of
the opposition of one OF the members of the
audience to the proposed resolutions. The
temperance meeting held here last May after
listening to a powerful and eloquent address
by Judge John w. G. Watson and passing
series of resolutions favoring prohibition, ad-
iourned to meet in convention at the court
house here, at II o'clock am, on July Sd.
The object of this convention was to discuss
the subject OF temperance IN order to ascer-
tain the views of those present concerning the
best, most available, and polite means of
destroying the liquor traffic and checking the
evil OF intemperance; OF adopting series of
resolutions favoring prohibition as the best
means OF accomplishing the desired object,
and of appointing delegates TO the State Pre-
hibition Convention to meet at Jackson,
Miss, on the goth instant. A large audience
gathered at the courthouse yesterday, and
was called TO order at II o'clock AIN. Gen
eral w. S. Feaiherston was elected chairman,
and Mr. Ed GholsOn appointed secretary.
The Hon. John w. c. Watson offered a series
of resolutions, strongly favoring prohibition.
The Rev. j. NJ. Boon then made a power
ful and eloquent argument upon the consti-
tulionality OF prohibiting the liquor traffic,
and the duty of the State "to protect its citi-
zens, as far as possible, against whatever
corrupts the morals impairs The intellect,
destroys the health, and is allied to human
vice, crime and wretchedness" He spoke
for an hour, and his close, logical argument,
as well as his earnest and eloquent M amer,
compelled the closest attention of the large
audience. Mr.. Boon possesses many OF the
elements OF true orator, and his address
was as pleasing as it was instructive.
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Boon's speech
OH lyr tlaF, fhn
to reply. Upon the invitation of the chair
man, he came forward and occupied the
speakers stand. This was Mr.. F. A Tyler
the editor of the Hot Springs S0uth, a weekly
paper published on the cooperative plan
He began by saying that it had "leaked out"
that he had prepared to reply to Mr.. Boon's
eloquent and able speech. This was partly
untrue, as he had but short time for pre-
paration, but he nevertheless believed that
he was prepared TO answer Mr.. Boons argu-
ment. 1t was always well 10 look at both
sides of every question. When he reviewed
history and found that in every age aud
nation man had been addicted to the use of
stimulants, he was not satisfied that his
craving for these stimulants was not normal.
Many good things are liable TO abuse, but
we would not prohibit their use for that
reason. The whisky-drinking Russians are
superior to the abstemious Turks. \ few
hundred liquor drinking Euglishmen rule
the 250,O00,000 Brahmins () of India. A
long article was then read from the New
York Sun (the author of which was an I'M
known correspondent in which the material
prosperity of Maine, with her prohibition
laws, was contrasted with that of New Jer-
sew, where the license system exists, 10 the
great advantage of the latter, and discredit
of the former; but throughout this article
there was no attempt to prove that the
difference between these two States was
caused by the difference in their laws con-
corning the liquor traffic. Christ, continued
the speaker, made wine, thus proving that
He approved it's use, and condemned its
abuse only. Let not man try to improve
upon the government of God, who allows
the existence OF many things which can be
turned to wickedness, and gives to man the
option of abusing them. The loss to the public
revenue; the destruction of capital en-
ployed in the manufsc' ure of liquors, wines
and beers, and the vast number OF men
thrown out of employment 10 seek for bread
in the more crowded avenues of labor, all |
these cslsmities would follow the prohibition
of the liquor traffic. And after all this, |
perhaps We would buy as much liquor from |
England, or some other nation, as we did |
before, and the evil OF intemperance be Just |
as great, though we did not receive a cent of |
revenue, or possess one of the advantages we |
previously enjoyed from its manufacture in |
this country.
At the beginning of this address the |
speaker was requested to come forward, as |
his voice was too weak to be heard by any
except those Immediately within the bar,
but he refused to do so, and soon after all |
the ladies in the house lett, and they were
followed by others at short intervals through
ont the entire speech, until, Of the large
audience, only about score remained. This
was owing partly to the speakers poor deliv-
cry, and partly also to the fact that nearly the
whole OF his address was read from a manus-
cript and a newspaper. 1t occupied about
an hour and fifteen minutes in delivery. At
its close
Rev. J. N. Boon said that in the DAYS of
chivalry it was the honorable custom for
knight not to attack an opponent whose blade
was rusty, and who confessed himself unpre-
clined to reply to Mr.. Tyler until the latter
would enter the lists with better weapons
than he had brought with him to-day.
Mr.. Ballard then made short address,
and Messrs. Craig and Watson made brief
replies to Mr.. Tyler's speech, pointing out
its numerous followers. As the large audi
ence had disappeared, no one cared to make
an extended reply, and resolution was
adopted to adjourn and meet again on Satur-
day, July Sth, at 10 o'clock a. IN. The con-
vention then adjourned.
1t is hoped that a large audience will
meet at the courthouse on Saturday, as we
are informed that the Hon. John W. G. Wat
son will deliver an address in favor of pro-
hibition on that day. Judge Watson is the
ablest and one Of the most eloquent of the
advocates OF temperance reform in the State,
and rich treat is in store for those who
shall attend. Other speakers will also dis
cuss the questions raised, and interesting
meeting may be expected. ZoRAB.