The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-06-28
TEMPERANCE TALK BY A CHICAGO
LAWYER.

There was Moody audience in Far
well Hall last nght-the first time it has
resembed sardlne-boX since the evan
gelist left the city. The attraction was
w. w. O'Brien, the criminal lawyer,
who is one of Mr.. Murphy's converts.
After the usual exercises, PRAYER and
singing, President Hobbs stated that
since Mr.. Murphys advent fully five
thousand had signed the pledge, the ex-
pense having been about ten cents
apiece.
Mr.. Murphy introduced Mr.. O'Brien,
who was given an ovation, the applause
and waving of handkerchiefs lasting
several minutes. A large number of
the three thousand people he faced were
fellow-couutrymen - members of the
Catholic Temperance societies. After
acknowledging the kind expressions of
sympathy and encouragement he said
he was not on the platform of his own
volition, but at the request of friends,
particularly of one who had led him
out of the land of Egypt and out of the
house of bondage. Applause
within the last few days" he went
on, "many kind friends have taken me
by the hand and said: 'OBrien, are
you going to stand firm? Are you 90
ing to keep that pledge? How do you
feel? This is a great trial. Hope you
will be equal to the emergency For
the benefit Of those friends, for the ben
eft of those who have already signed
the pledge, and for the benefit of those
who are still in doubt and waverino as
to whether they shall come forward or
not. will say this: | have taken the
pledge in good faith; shall keep that
pledge. Applause.] l have crossed
the Rubicon, and burned my boats.
Applause. | have accepted the
Spartan command never to retreat in
the face of an enemy. Applause.
| have accepted and received the com
mand of the Spartan mother to her
son on his way to meet the enemies
of his country: My son, return with
thy shield or upon thy shield. Vic
tory or deathn | have put my hand
to the plow, and with Gods help | shall
not 90 back. As to how feel, and the
terrible ordeal, | will say, my friends,
that | never felt better in my life.
[Applause.l l have experienced no
ordeal. L have not felt the least
trouble. | made up my mind l would
do, | would not think. | have done,
and it shall remain done. Applause.
AT the age of thirty L did not know the
the taste of liquor My friend says:
Were you not more happy then than
you are now | say no. 1t is true |
was prosperous and happy. The sun
of Heaven seemed to rise but for my
happiness. Everything l put my hand
to yielded to my wishes. | was happy,
but | didn't know what was in store for
me; didn't know the ordeal through
which had to pass. | didn't know
that the burning furnace was being
heated over seven times more for my
misfortune and my obstruction. | have
passed through the ordeal, and 1 look
back and feel more happy than | ever
did for have escaped. Applause.
He was not there for the purpose of
delivering u Temperance lecture, be-
cause he couldn't if he would, but to
hear testimony to that which he had
seen with his own eyes and heard with
his own ears-that which he knew to be
true from observation and personal eX-
perience. After answering the various
excuses given for drinking-to be social,
have a good time, political success,
misfortune in business, domestic trou-
bles-he spoke of thirteen young men
Che being one of them) who studied
law in Peoria many years ago, headed
by George Carson, brilliant fellow who
boosted that he could take drink or
leave it alone as he pleased. The others
followed his example and all but three
were now in drunkards' graves
When he came to Chicago he
joined the "Knights of the Screw"
which started in Dublin, where
the membership embraced such
men as Curran, Grattan, Emmett.