The Evening critic., 1882-01-25
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE.
Convention at the congregational


The first session of the National Temper
ancc Conference was held last night at tho
Congregational Church, large number of
well-known temperance people being
present. Mr.. Joshua J.. Baily, Of Phila-
delphia, occupied the chair. The pro-
gramme was as follows; Deyotions, led
by Rev. +. ID. Power; address Of welcome,
pastor of the church response, president of
the meeting address, " Prohibition in
Maine" Hon. Nelson Dingley, M. c.; music
before and after prayer, and before and
after Mr.. Dingley's address All the ad-
dresses were marked by great earnestness,
and many of them were quite eloquent.
Hon. Mr.. Dinelcy gave some interesting
instances in the history Of prohibition in the
Pine Tree Ssate, and his remarks were re-
ceiyed with great applause.
This Mornings Session.
From Q to 10 o'clock this morning devo-
tional exercises, under the auspices of the
Womens Christian Temperance Union,
were held. Mrs. NJ. NJ. Chaplin led the
meeting, and prayers were offered by DR..
Chickering and Mrs. La Fetra. At the
conclusion of these exercises DIR. Babcock
came forward and introduced Hon. Hiram
Price, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, who
delivered one Of his characteristic addresses.
He commented in severe terms upon the
slim attendance, and said if the temper
ance pcOplc Ut tne NatlOudi Sapttal Wbuueu
10 make any strides toward progression in
the good cause, they must meet together
and advise with one another as to the
ways and means to be devised whereby the
whisky traffic could be suppressed.
He lamented the lukewarmness of some
Temperance people. The speaker next paid
his respects to Congress. lie said that our
Lawmakers had been appealed to year after
year to appoint a commission to go out and
ascertain whether liquor manufacturing or
liquor selling is benefit to the country.
The temperance people don't care whether
this commission is made up entirely of
total abstinence men or not, but they
would like to have fair-minded men on ii
who would give to the country their honest
opinion on this vital subject The reason,
he said, why Congress has not acted upon
their suggestions before is because men are
elected who don't properly understand the
good of the country.
Mr.. Price said that whenever Congress
man finds that the swine and cattle in his
district are dying from disease, he immedi-
ately asks for the appointment of com
mission to ascertain the cause of the dis
ease. Men are dying every day from the
effects of strong drink, and yet the states
men sit supinely by and see home after
home made desolato and never raise theii
voices to suppress the evil which cause:
it. "Where diseased meat" continued the
| speaker, "has killed one man, whisky has
| Killed one hundred He thanked Goj
that day is rapidly dawning aud it is but
| a question of little time before the ma
| tional law makers would be compelled t,
recognize the people who were struggling
to suppress that evil, which, if allowed t.
| go on, will undermine our glorious civil
| and religious institutions.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Prices remark.
the audience sang that soul-inspiring hymn
| Brother hast thou wandered far
From thy fathers happy home,
| With thysclf and God mt war?
| Turn thee, brother, homeward come.
| Mr.. A. NJ. Powell of New York, thei
| read paper on the Relations of the Ma
| tional Government to the Liquor Traffic,
which was listened to with marked atten
tion by the audience. Miscellaneous busi
ness was then transacted, after which tn
conference took recess until 1:30 p. m.
Afternoon Session.
At the afternoon session Rev. w. W
Hicks made an address on Temperate
Work in the South" Mrs. Clara l.. Roach
president of the W. G. L. U. of this city, ais
addressed the meeting.
Col. George W. Balm, the most charming
temperance orator ofthe United States, vii
speak at the Congregational Church, cor
ner Tenth and G streets, this evening a
| 1:30 Admission free