The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-24
COLD WATER PEOPLE
Opening of the National Prohibition
Convention at Pittsburg, Pa.

convention at F1ttsburg, Ia.
'"0 '"'' ooss'o" ''"e'po'y Se'o'o~
TO Addresses of Welcome.
Afternoon Session-Synopsis Of
the Speeches-Scene in the
na,,..,a.
ooh'e"'ao"'
PITTsHrRG Pa Julv a -Lafavette hall
the tried net Of pittsburg and pride Of Penn.
svIvania nyasanted in the n,nrniny a scena
yobahly more ,nimatad than any that has
hs,eu witnessed nnder its roof since that MEM
orable day tbirty-two wears ago when ths
auti-sIavarv national convention renrasant
n,, al nf tho FREQ and fo,,r of tho slava
states. assembled to initiate an emancipation
campaign. Its grimy walls are covered
with silken banners and wreaths
of flowers and eyargreens. ano shields bear.
inp the names of the various states are nend
ant from the galleries sheet of canvas
tretched from wall to wall bears the inscrip-
ZION in gigantic letters: Constitutional con
vention for the neonle and bv the neonle u
In the background forming a se,ni-circIe, is
the Inscription: I'VE will vote our convic-
tions. To the right and left of the presi-
dents chair are bowers composed Of the star
spanglei banner the union jack of old
England and the national flags
of Spain and Italy. while
over the chair swings floral shield with the
motto: ''Our Homes and Mothers Must Be
Protected y On the floor 500 men and
women, their breasts resplendent with
spangled badges, are fast getting into their
seats. They are delegates to the national
convention of the prohibition home protec-
ton party, and audible congratulations are
being exchanged all over the hall upon the
auspicious opening of the largest prohibition
convention ever held i'll the United States.
AT II O'Clock a. m, when Hon. Gideon T.
Stewart, of Ohio, called the convention to
order and introduced Rev. DR.. A. Miner, of
Boston, TO lead in prayer, every seat on the
floor AMI i'll the galleries was occupied, and
the allies and stairways were rendered i'm
passable by the dense throng OF the people
who had been obliged to find standing room.
After prayer the secretary, r. W. Nelson,
OF Chicago, read the call for
the convention AT the conclusion
OF hr. Nelson's reading the band rendered
Sweet Land OF Liberty" at the conclusion
OF which Mr.. e. L. Rose, of Chicago delivered
an address OF welcome lit is a very great
honor" he said, and very pleasant duty to
welcome to this city the delegates o the ma
tional prohihitory convention, This is a
! large contribution, because it is made out of
the essence of moral convictions You are
the most loyal representatives of this govern
ment; You are the men and women most
| deeply concerned in the purity and gen
uine prosperity of its people. You manifest
the truest patriotism and national pride.
! You represent communities where divine
place higher value on man, body and soul,
| ana on all honest industry, and on all the de
| partments Of our government, than any
! other political platform on the face of the
! globe Never did party more Justly plead
tor nelp than does this party. 1t is only
! hec,tjEg the voice in the wilder
ncss, the new commandment, and &c
We unto all the world On ouT
side are the precious promises' the
ON. hual' of soul travail in Gethsemane, the
finished work Of Calvary, the cloven tongues
! oil ire, the angels that excel in strength; and
so long a. truth quickens souls SO long viii
our cause grow You might stay a tornado
or Niagara, but million souls under the
! pressure of divine truth. never Do not for
get III, ca,Ise that broueht Won hare Rack
OF LIS is century of desolation caused
by legalized LIQUOR traffic, the his
tory OF which is like a perpetua
plague This traffic has become a
| hoary-headed piant defying the armies ot
the living God Our issue is the ouestion ot
the age. and YOU are most competent to dis
cusss IT, If we are asked. What is the in
| fIuenae of women in nublic plsoasr On,
answer is: Lucy Hayes'n In conclusion
MIR Rose said: when you come to choose +
man for the highest office in the country le
it be man whose labers have most richl,
blessed the cause of prohibition"
Hon Il Stewart chairman of tn,
national committee. in behalf of the conyen
ton, responded briefly He said: "Your city
is symbolic of our cause Here in western
| Pennsylvania the first rebellion against tn
repuhiic, a rebellion born, as usual, of tn
whisky-barrel, went down under the bayo
nets Of 1900 militia. called out by -th
father OF Ills country: and here. that late
riot and insurrection against your city an,
state born as usual of the dram-shor
was crushed by the civil and military powe
with bloodshed and great destruction o
property, at the cost of Sl,OOO,O0
to the taxpayers of the city. These monu
ments of the past should stand as beacon
for the future. to warn your Intelligent am
natriotic citizens to strike now with tn
white hand of prohibition, armed with tina
great peace weapon, the ballot, the blow
that can save the homes and destroy the de
stroyer, but which, if long delayed, may a
last be struck in flames and ruin by the re
arm of war" He closed by thanking th
citizens of Pittsburg for Lafayette hall, fo
its majestic memories, for its lightning truth
and thunder voices to teach, to warn, an
to inspire the hearts of the delegates for th
great conflict before them
Mr.. Stewart was warmly applauded o
concluding his response to the address
welcome, and without intervening busine:
10 a T mr. or IN dol h nrlol n