The Irish standard., 1888-07-07
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE,
Delivered al the Seventeenth Annual
Convention ofthe State Total
Abstinence Union.
A CAREFUL PREPARED PAPER
Showing What Has Been Accomplished BY
the Followers Of Father
Mathew.

{ tion Of the State Tota! Abstinence
Union, held at Winona June 1S, the fol
Lowing address to the people, was
read by A. T. Rock, chairman Of the
committee.
/ FELLOW CITIZENS: Sin is as old as
the human race. 1t dates back to:the
garden of Eden and comes down
Through all the ages. blasting the beau
Ebies of the moral and social relations Of
1 man and blighting soul and body with
the mildew of degradation and death.
l.s III Among the many sins to which human
nature is prone to yield. but towering
over and above them all, is the exces-
sive use Of alcohol. 1t is to combat
this mighty evil and to, ocercome its
I baneful influences upon the human
race that we, fellow citizens. led BY our
devoted priests, taught by their exam
pies and guided by their paternal care,
are here assembled.
In this sacred cause we antagonize no
law. We use no coercion. All we ask
is that every man take counsel with the
divine spirit Within him, reason with
the promptings of his own soul and be
guided by it's solemn voice. a volun-
tary remuneration of the demon Of drink
and a resolution, God aiding. to recover
lost manhood, is all that is srequired,
Our mode of warfare against this great
enemy of man is not new Or original
with us. On the far distant shores Of
poor downtrodden Ireland there arose a
man to whom we are indebted for the
principles and measures we advocate
to-day. We refer to Father Mathew,
whose image is enshrined upon Our ban
ners in never fading gold, and whose
name is honored and revered IN every
household where history finds a student
or love itself a home. This great work
! instituted by the sanity Father Mathew
has had it's effect upon the whole Irish
race. No longer. is the term Irishman
a synonym for drunkenness. improy-
idence, profanity and crime. Thank
God, the past has been redeemed. a
higher civilization has been instituted
among the Irish people. The pick and
shovel have been replaced by the reaper
and the plow. The canal has given way
to the forum, the rostrum and the
mart; the brown jug for fragrant fow-
ers, the shanty for the cottage, and the
flask for the vase. The fathers return
| is now hailed with Joy instead of fear,
and he greets his wife and children with
smile and tender kiss Of affection in
stead Of the drunkard's frown, harsh
words and cruel blows. e ...4 \ 4. s.
To that grand apostle of temp perance
and to his priestly brethern ars we in
debted for this great moral revol tuition;
therefore let our future course be guided
by them and God will crown our efforts
with success. u
Only a few years ago our Total a bsti-
nence Onion was Unknown beyond the
Mississippi. For a time;it fingered as a
seed introduced to an congenial soil.
Our civilization was crude, our apge-
| ltltes strong, our habits fash oned by
our surroundings; but out OF the full
ness Of time there appeared above the
mist and cloud Of vice q second. F Father
Mathew to lead our people out Of the
darkness and self degradation Of thd
..drink habit INTO the light and gran
deur Of It Total Abstine He feared
1 no danger for he knew. no sin. His
heart was strong, his motives pare, his
voice and time were God rs. The benign
Image Of cur great temperance apostle
appeared above the cathedral at St. Paul
bearing upon it the most electric name
ontside Of Holy Writ; Ireland, Ireland:
TO him was assigned che Leadership OF
Ibis people. And as we gaze over the
many happy faces before US we are con
/ yinced that the trust was well placed.
4 Before us are evidences of his grand
work from all parts Of the State, con.
yeying the glad and joyful tidings he
Loves SO well to hear. Ihe Gauss g con 2;
tinues 20 pr0spe sS4s=5
But fellow cit1z 3ns, the Right Kew y
Bishop was not left to Work alone 1tel
in this great and glorious cause. He l;7lE
] was was nobl aided by practical, devoted
mon whose VOWS were not wasted
5f.Winona is blest with one of these brave
] elorAqiuent el5orAq iBle and *deyot ted men. And bel,
|said Is his eternal honor that Winona
4 once almost 81 bInegaed Sb t6esEde