The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-03-29
THE TEMPERANCE RALLY.
An Eashuslastss Gathering :. wAissx,s
opera House Tuesday Evening


An EnthusIastse Gathering IS WAiGisx's
oPera House Tuesday Evening.
Stirring Addresses by N. Y. u. Bsn-
nett, OF the ProhIbitiOnlst. aad A.
u. Campbell, Pressdent Of
the state Temperance
The celebrated Democratic apostle,
n. V. B. Bennett, editor of the Kansas
Prohlbitionist. and Hon. A B. Campbell,
president of the Kansas Etate Temper.
ance Union, were accorded . magnificent
ovation by the eitizens OF EmpoEia at the
Whitley opera house Tuesday EVENING"
The distinguished reputation of the
speakers doubtless contributed some
what to the splendid attendance, bat the
character OF the reception rendered to
them possesses significance in connec-
ton with the sentiment Of this CT mmu.
nifty on the temperance question which
is highly encouraging 70 the friends and
advocates of prohibition.
The order of exercises began by q
superb overture by the e. T. band,
whose music added vastly TO the inter-
est OF the occasion. This was followed
by an invocation by Rev. II. MackAy, Of
the Episcopal church. after which Rev
Dr.. CordIey, who acted as chairman of
the meeting, introduced Mr.. Bennett who
proceeded TO deliver one of the strong
est and most effective pleas in behalf of
the policy of prohibition which it has
ever been the privilege of the Emporia
people TO hear. Il would be impossible
to convey to the mind of the reader
even by full report Of his address the
full force of Mr.. Benefits arguments
touching this vital issue. There Is so
much in the manner of the man to EN-.
phasIze his words and give color to his
thought that he must be heard TO be ap-
precIated. The following is briet out
line of
MR. BENEFITS ADDRESS:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: 1t will
soon be q year since I Stood on this
same stage and helped to make q
governor. When the nomination o!
Hon. John Martin was made il
was upon the condition that hs
stand upon the minority report of the
State Democratic convention of Kan
sas. The convention substituted the
majority report as a platform. and Mr.
Martin, that grand man, disdained &c
yield himself up II the whisky interes
and declined the nomination on suct
conditions. I was then and am now II
favor of the enforcement of the law, an6
though the bummers and rum-suckerl
of the Kansas Democracy have threat
ened to read me out of the party,
claim to represent the party better thar
any man who does not advocate and be
lieze in the enforcement of oil the law
on the statute books of the state. an
a Democrat, an Irishman and 4
Prohlbitionist, but If obadienca
to the law be not Democracy, ther
count me out.
There is principle stronger than al
political considerations on this question
of prohibition, and it will come up agar
and again in spite Of all you can do
The election of Governor Click does no
indicate political revolution in Kansas
II was not Democratic victory-it wa
. whisky victory; and when that gentle
man in his speech at Atchi
son reviled the law AND
/ 10
my allegiance to the ticket which h
headed was abrogated.
Now, claim that prohibition prohib
its. You haYe not an open saloon IL
Emporia, and there is not q man in thu
house tonight who will admit that he Il
a violator of the prohibitory law. Thii
is wonderful point gained, and is onl!
the earnest of the final complete triumph
of the law. We hear great deal thes
days about personal liberty" and meI
are going about with this howl upol
their lips that do not know the meaning
of the term. The saloon keepers. tn
drunkards and the "rummeys" claim
too. that the prohibitorY law is desDotic
Well, is not all plenary law despotic
Why don't these kickers shriel
about the law which prohibits polyga
my; which Furnishes theft; which inter
feres with perjury? Have these advo
Gates of personal liberty" no idea abOv
free whisky? The truth is there is a,
personal liberty outside of law, and tn
freedom which Is necessary TO the peac
of society is only found under the law.
"But," say the whiskyites, ''the peopl
are not educated up to the law" W
are glad they concede the elevated plan
of the law, and we will see that the peo
pie reach it. We have the courts, tn,
sheriffs and the prosecuting attorneys Il
do this work with, and it will be done
Tue people of this state propose to en-
force this law. The obligation to enforc
it is just as binding as the obligation Il
enforce any other law, and every Judge
sheriff, constable and marshal is sworI
to lend his aid to this end, and if he doe
not do it he is a perjurer, and should b
prosecuted and removed from Office.
The speaker here paid Aandsom
tribute to Judge John Martha for hi
successful management of the whisk,
prosecutions which have come befor
him, and his complimentary retereuc
to this gentleman was heartily ap
plsuded.
prohibition" continued the speaker
sis the settled policy of the state, and
is the whisky-vender and not the Law
which is on trial. The question is at
tracing attention in every country Of
the civilized globe, and yet It's advocate
are called fanatics. / wish to Ged Their
were more fanatics. / want to serY
warning now that the anti-prohibitiol
uarty is as big as it will ever get, ant
the people will see that the next gov
ernor of Kansas will have the cour
age to grasp the penal law and see tha
It is enforced. 1t can be enforced a
well as the revenue law, and no Whisk,
dealer cheats the government.
But, says Governor Click, the Law
lacks the element of adaptation. Tn
same may be said regarding the law
relating to gambling, theft, polygam
|. and other crimes. You could not pei
suade violator of any penal law ths
it possessed the element of adaptation
The speaker thel paid his respects I
the system of high license, and de
nounced it as an injustice and travest
upon decency, and in conclusion sal
that the question of temperance wa
, above all party. Said he: II is Demo
, cratic; it is Republican; 1t
right, and We do not propose thl
, 1900 saloon keepers shall defy the wi
of 100000 freemen. We mean bus
/ ness, and before the 4th Of next Jul
? there will not be q brewery in the stat
oE Kannn. AID nnuz I -.-s ...... Al.