The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-04
A notable meeting was held at the

HlIS. lie gathering WIS OI cltlZeuS
to listen to an address by Bishop Ire
land upon issues of great Importance
at this time. The Bishop leaves for
European trip to-. day, and at the sacri-
sented to speak in Minneapolis on the
eve OF his departure. Ills appearance
was secured through the exertion of !
the Catholic High License Association.
and the large Armory was well crowded
with an audience made mp largely OF
irish-Americans, who evinced their
cordial sympathy with the position
taken by Bishop Ireland The meeting
was called to order by Mr.. George A.
Bracket. Accompanying the Bishop
was party of Rev. James McGolrick,
Prof. Cyrus Nortbrop, G.. A. Brackett,
James Smith, w. i. Mccarthy. DIR. ID.
+. Collins, c. III. Petit, M. o. Reilly,
Rev. L. Corbet, A. L. Bausman and 4
others. Bishop Ireland was introduced
by Mr.. Bracket, and the distinguished
speaker was welcomed with every man
Hesitation of satisfaction. The Bishop
referred happily to his coming before q
the assemblage, and then mentioned
the true Characteristic OF true Ameri-
can citizens as being law-abiding. H0
continued that the danger OF America,
the death-knell of liberty, was the los
ing of respect for the law. Tne man
or men who encouraged law breaking
were worse enemies OF America than
those who in the late war assailed the
republic Oh the battlefield. The laws
on the statute book Of Minnesota proc
hibited selling liquor to minors, desc
Grafton of the Sabbath and selling III
quor to drunkards, yet all are openly
and constantly violated. The Colum-
bia association Of saloon keepers
claimed TO control 5000 votes in the
State. In st. Paul the saloon keepers y
publish to the world that they will not !
observe the law, but defy it. The Col
umbia Association Is permitted TO defy
the law. 1t was the self same spirit 0f
the anarchists, and was challenge to
law-abiding, law.respecting people,.
The honor and good principles Of MINI
nesota were pride and boast. but
now $1,000 slaves of the saloon keepers's
power bowed down and acknowledged I
themselves as violators of the law and
decency. Liberty means the rights OF
the rational, self.possed people to goyrf1
ern themselves, but they are being iii
famously insulted and deiied by law
breaking saloon keepers and saloon
supporters. The personal liberty 0f
the Columbia Association means tfD
wrestling of the earnings OF working
men from their homes and consigning
women to tears and misery; means the
destruction Of the true principles of a
the commonwealth; means an array of
crime and debauchery against virtue
and happiness. Two years ago the sa-
loon keepers carried thousands OF dol-
lars to the legislature to corrupt IL, 4,
Politics were i'm such condition that
it was proverbial that only the friend
of the saloon keeper could be elected.
The saloon element forced itself into
politics, and the advocates OF tcmper-
ance were constrained to follow them
and fight them on their own ground.
One of the most important questions OF 4
the day was the saloon question.
The speaker went on to touch briefly
upon the tariff and labor questions.
Upon the latter the Bishop said IL was
his experience that those who scrceclIed
the loudest for labor were doing their
best to iniure the laboring men. ThisA
was applauded loudly. The speaker
went OH that it was question OF NOR
ality. 1t was grave situation when
thousands admitted no law but their
own passions, and the remedy was TO-
Danish temptation, to proclaim the
laws and maintain tncm. II0m0 wAB7
not destroyed by legions Of barbarinna
descending upon it, but curruption and
lack of principle. What was needed
was morality that would make poiitica4
sacred; when party would be ex-3
amined upon its moral standing; when
the principles guarding homes wouIl
be carried to the polls. More than one
half the delegates TO the late I,emO.
cratic convention were saloon keeperstA
men who were in favor OF liberty to u,
to the devil. 1t was TO be hoped that
temperance men would rally at the3
polls and vote against saloon rule; wiifz
rally and work for the success OK
the temperance cause. Circumstances
calledhim, tho Bishop said. away fTonS
home, but he hoped to hear that tenn
perance and the right were sustained
when the issue was settled two week
hence.
Prof. Cyrus Northrop followed Bisho3
Ireland. A compliment was paid th
Bishops eloquence, it being the flrSf
| time the Professor had heard him. Th
Professor said he was not in politics.
but he was more than grateful fer the
noble, manly and christian words ID
had heard. All that Bishop Ireland
had said was trne. Every word W.
true, and how in the name Of all thf
men hold dear and sacred anyone cOnl
support any interest OF the saloon keej1
ers, he could not understand.
ReY. James McGolrick made q sh0<<
but eloquent speech. lie said that ~
had been disturbed by the fear that tll
work Of years in building up moralit
and temperance in Minneapolis was
be destroyed, but he was now ma
hopeful, There had not been even Il
, shadow Of pretense Of observing q
law. saloons being open Sundays, an
liquor sold to boys 10 years old. IL 81
liquor powers combined. why shoN
not the priests too and try and save
people ? minneapolis and Minnes,;
have 10 good men for every polit
trickster, and il was the time ~