Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-09
PROHIBITION.

A Meet ns in Its Interest at Central Pres
byterian Church-Addresses by Rev. DR.
Marshall and Hon. j. E Child.
A very small audience assembled at the
Central Presbyterian church last evening
to listen to temperance speeches from
Rev. Mr.. Marshall and Hon. j. E. Child
The following is a brief synopsis of their
remarks:
Rev. DR.. Marshall was the first speaker.
He opened his remarks by saying that
never before in the history of the world was
the subject of temperance so much thought
of and talked of as it now is. The crime
of intemperance fills our jails and prisons
with criminals, aid furnishes the lawyers
with the largest part of their business. He
then referred to the bills before the legis-
lature. He was in favor of prohibition as
the only logical position to be taken by a
temperance man. The idea of regulating
an evil and crime was inconsistent. The
statement is commonly made that the pro-
hibition doctrine had been failure in
Maine. This was mistake. But suppos-
ing that it was failure. If it was it had
of license. In other words prohibition has
been as much Of sue
cess as license. Prohibition had
been successful also in Kansas, which is
thoroughly prohibition state. If prohibit
ton cannot be enforced in the large cities
let it be enforced to as great an extent as
it can. One of the greatest difficulties
temperance people have to contend with
is the fact that millions of dollars are in
VolvOd in the business. If this be so it
may be said that millions of dollars
were also invested in the slave
trade but slavery was destroyed. He de-
MED that the temperance people we're en-
gagged in passing sumptuary laws, and
urged that the Legislature pass the bills
before it and allow thepeOple to vote on
the subject. Let the people give their
opinion on the matter and say whether
they want this great evil to continue to
exist in their midst or not.
]. E. cHILDs
opened his remarks by apologizing for not
being prepared to make a speech, and
went on to say that prohibition does not
prohibit. As well might one say that
laws against larceny or any other crime
ought not to be passed, as they do not pre-
vent stealing. He also combatted the idea
that prohibition was an infringe
ment upon personal liberty, and de-
clared that the politicians were all two
sided on this question, and did not know
where to go or what to do. He declared
though that he would fight the sale of
liquor as long as he lived. The business
is horrible trade. 1t is sending our young
men down to perdition and there is no way
of saving them. It is useless to talk about
moral suasion. 1t will never accomplish
anything. You might as we'll attempt
to stop the sale of lottery
tickets by moral suasion, as to try to stop
the sale of liquor in that way. He con
demned the license law as wrong and I'M
Just, aud declared that men made them
selves contemplate by hiding behind it
and claiming that they had done their duty
when they passed the law. Mr.. Childs
made the startling statement that when
this country was settled up like some of
the older countries of Europe, that this
form of government would perish from
off the earth. The whisky traffic and our
form of government, he said, cannot exist
together.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Child's re-
marks the meeting was adjourned.