St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-17
HIGH LICENSE IN MINNESOTA.
The Catholic Societies Hold Another Mass
Meeting to Further the Cause.

evening at Pfeifer's hall, was well attended,
and apparently was very earnest and out
spoken declaration in favor of high license.
The speakers were WI. Kelly, Bishop Ire
land and Father Stanley. In addition to the
speaking the proceedings were very pleas
antly varied by vocal and instrumental music
| by Prof. Manner, Miss O'Connor and Miss
Mealey.
THE SPEAKING COMMENCES.
Mr.. William Louis Kelly, the first speaker,
opened his remarks by referring to the
importance OF holding these temperance
meetings. 1t was by such little beginnings
that great things were accomplished. Slavery,
that once prevailed in the United States, was
finally overthrown as the result of similar
small beginnings, and little meetings held in
small school houses in obscure parts of the
land. In regard to temperance Mr.. Kelly
declared that he was not prohibitionist.
The people might reject high license now,
but the people of Min nesota would be brought
to the point where if they cannot regulate
his license business, they may decide
to prohibit the sale altogether. If be re-
garded selling liquor as morally wrong he
was dangerous to community, therefore
efforts had been made in all communities of
civilized countries to regulate it. The effort
had been to govern and control it in some
way and to some extent. The GLOBE, he
said, had declared that a license of $500
would not produce as large revenue as the
present law will. He read statistics and
referred to the Harper law in Illinois to con-
trovert the statement and said that wher-
ever high license had been enforced it had
more than quadrupled the revenue. Why
should not this liquor traffic be regulated
and restrained by law: he asked. What
does this liquor selling do for US! 1t fills
the state prisons, the jails and the insane
asylums. 1t produces misery aud misfor-
tune in thousand different ways, and fills
the whole country with pain and misery; and
yet this stream of sorrow, grief and woe flows
on, and We are urged TO let it alone.
Mr. Kelly closed his remarks with a fervid
aud eloquent appeal to Minnesota to stand
forth like the north star as the great leader in
the cause of high license.
BISHOP IRELAND.
On being introduced Bishop Ireland was
received with great applause. He stated that
the proposition before the legislature was to
raise the license to $500 for selling liquor
throughout the state. The opponents of high
license to defeat it relied wholly upon their
financial aud political influence. IL was
well to know that that was the ground they
stood upon and that it was their main
strength. We once had human slavery here,
be said, in the United States. 1t was wiped
away. Now We have another kind Of slavery
the slavery of whisky and beer, and the
dealers in it traffic in human souls and
bodies. 1t is fearful thing when liquor
sellers think themselves able TO 90 into the
legislature and influence legislation. When
this is so it will be time for
the citizens to bestir themselves. He
did not believe the liquor influence
could control the members. Some of them
had said, he understood, that If they voted
for high license their political course would
be ended. He declared that if they favored
high license they would be held in higher es-
TEEN than IL they voted the other way. The
temperance men to-day held the balance of
power. The bishop then argued that the
fight here in Minnesota would 90 on. The
high license movement might fail this year,
and possibly next year, but it would succeed
at last No legislator should fear defeat
on this account. For one vote
lost, he would gain ten importance votes.
some poor men out of business. Ii it did,
SO much the better. No great public matter
could be carried to a conclusion without
some one being hurt little, perhaps. The
bishop then argued that it was advantageous
to the public to limit the saloons. The poor
man that lived away out from the center Of
the city would not come into town
and 20 down on Third street to
get drink, whereas, If there
were 4 small saloon near his house he would
60 out 10 it and drink. There could be no
doubt that II the little saloons were wiped
out, there would be less drinking among the
poor people. The people Of st. Paul should
demand Of the legislature high license. Then,
appealing to the audience, the bishop urged
all to be very careful how they voted, and
never 10 vote unless in favor Of the
men who dared TO take the sides
of principle in the legislature.
He declared that We all ought TO determine to
stand by the men who stood irm for high
license. The bishop caused some amuse-
ment among his hearers by cOunseling them
to sometimes follow the suggestions or
shrewd proceedings Of the devil, who he said
was smart, sly fellow. Politics he declared
To be a good clean thing IN the hands of
clean men, but dirty thing in the hands of
dirty men for dirty purposes. His conclud-
ing idea was that il would be suitable TO use
politics and political influence to accomplish
the purposes that the high license people have
In view. To do this, itwould be constitutional,
be thought, to take advantage Of the shrewd-
ness and smartness Of the devil.
FATHER STANLEY,
the next speaker, spoke of his pleasure at be-
ing present aud allowed 10 speak for high
license. III rejoiced at the sight OF so many
present, which was an encouraging sign.
People Of Irish blood he was proud 10 say,
were regarded In ali lands as a desirable adj
dillon to the community, and he was pleased
TO present to tine audience an adj
diiionsl mark Of the respect in
which they were held In ST. Paul.
Some Of them had felt offended by semi
humorous article in the SUNDAY GLOBE.
There had been talk Of making some decla-
rations on the subject at the present meeting,
in which be had proposed TO take part. He
had changed his mind, however. on receiving
a ote from the managing editor Of the
paper, explaining that IN the rush Of Satur-
dav night the article referred TO found its way
into the columns of the paper without proper
inspection, and expressing regret that the
paper should have, even unintentloually, APP
peared N cast u slur on the Irish people.
This note, the father said, was satisfactory 10
him aud be Was reioiced to receive ii. His
remarks and the note, which he read, were
received with applause, which showed that
they received the appreciation Of the audi
ence. The meeting then adjourned.
Street Sayings.