Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-19
PRoHIBIrORY WORK.


PRoHIBIrORY WORK.
Yesterdays REFORM Club Meetinq-Speectes
by Chaplain SGtterIee, AIGyOF Gage, OF
Battle Greek, MichiGdh, and Others
The announcement that Mayor Gage, OF
Battle Creek, Michigan, would speak on
''The Obstacles in the Track of Temper
ance Reform" at Harrison hall called to-
gether a large audience yes terday
afternoon.
The Reform Club choir, as usual, con-
tributed several well selected and we'll
rendered musical numbers, which were fol-
loved by devotional exercises.
After speaking few words to the audi
ence, Dr.. Satterlee introduced the speaker
of the day, Mayor W. c.. Gage, of Battle
Greek, Michigan who began with the remark
that he did not expect to bring any new
truths to the notice of his hearers, but to
talk simply upon the truths of the temper
ance work and the obstacles thrown in the
way.
The speaker first took up the use of
alcohol as a medicine, and said: 'sWe
have been taught to look upon alcohol as
means of bringing relief in certain
cases, as a necessity and this idea has been
sustained by the medical profession. am
glad to say that this is being changed, the
doctors are beginning to see the great evil
that they have been advocating. We used
to think that we could not get along with
out a bottle of whisky in the house. and
the occasions for taking a little used to
come very frequently. Now suppose that
we admit that alcohol is medicinal neces-
sity, as is quinine and strychnine.
Should every man go about with package
of either of the last named remedies in his
pocket, and take dose whenever he thinks
ne needs it?
Were whisky used with the same care as
is quinine or strychnine, il. would be no
more harmful.
Mr.. Gage mentioned the excuse so often
made, that the Bible advocates drinking.
For did not Paul advise Timothy TO
take little wine for his stomach's sake"
and said, THE Bible at best does not ad-
wise the drinking of rot gut whisky and I
do not think that the wine spoken of by
Paul was anything like the wine that is
sold over the bars of to-day"
He continued: There is something in
drink besides habit; it is a disease, and
when we come to realizing sense of the
fact that when we attempt to reform a
man we have got to combat with a disease
as well as d habit, we shall have accom-
plished much in the way of temperance
reform.
Another obstacle that we have to con-
tend with is the men who call themselves
friends of temperance, preach temperance,
talk temperance and pray temperance for
364 days in the year and then go the polls
and vote whisky on the 365th. These men
belong to the Republican party
and talk about the grand old
record of the grand old party that was won
in slavery days, and it is grand record,
but a party cannot live forever on record.
1t must have works to show,and they must
be real live issues and not imaginary ones.
The great danger of to-day is
not slavery, it is not the
tariff, it is the rum traffic.
(Applause). Our enemies say, keep pro-
hibition out of politics." Why, my friends
1 would just as soon keep religion out of
the church. Mr.. Gsge next made a few
remarks on tobacco, in which he said
There are very few young men who
drink to-day that did not first use to-
bacco." In conclusion he said. "Let US do
all We can and use every means in our
power to further this work, and then pray
to God TO help our weak efforts. Pray
for the success of the temperance cause,
and above all pray. with your bollots. A
few words by Mr.. Satterlse closed the
meeting.