Smyrna times., 1888-10-24
Temperance Speakers and Workers
in Smyrna

H''' Wa TWO OF tnfee days OF the
time was more of less given to it by
That portion of the population interest
ca. The larger part of the time was
taKen up by the Good Templars the
Daiance by Rev. DIR. j. A. b. Wilson,
what the latter lacked in numbers in
comparison, he made up in individual
lty. What was to be said publicly in
regard to the Good Templars flor thew
met IN secret SESSION. will be found on
our first page. Their night meeting
winch was public, and held in the
Methodist church, was fairly attended
though the ladies very largely predom-
mated. The preliminary exercises had
the additional feature of some good
music m by ". 0. HOfecker, John A.
Hohecker, Il. Nj. Price and J. Ed. Hof-
tecker. The duet of the two last nam
ed eXcelled for its softness and pathOs.
The Rev. L. e. Terry, of Dover, was
the only speaker, (Revs. VIM. S. Rob
lnson and J. France participating in
Ihe Introductory exercises) and spoke
tor an hour, having for his theme gos-
pei temperance work. The address
was thoughtful, able and impressive.
Inc basal thought was a comparison OF
the license system to King Ahasuerus
and the authority he gave Haman to
slay as many Of his subjects as he
deemed necessary. These amounted
to 100000 annually in the United
states, and yet we go on licensing it to
do its work of death. The Civil War
was directly traceable to rum and could
have been avoided had the twelve
prominent men representing the six
Southern States left the bottle out of
their council when they met to decide
whether they should secede or not.
Inc liquor men employ an army of
men greater than that of Lee and Jack
son. whose only business is to ruin and
Kill men and degrade women and
children.
The saloon is not an American insti-
tuition but run mostly by foreigners.
The number in Delaware as small as it
Is, was stated to be 682. He was
severe on those men who profess. and
yet would aid petitioners by letters and
otherwise in getting license. Our laws
IN other matters are governed by ma
yorlties, but in getting licenses to sell
liquor it IS done by minorities-twelve
OF what are called respectable free
holders " being all that is required to
give authority to deal, out poison and
death. He believes its days are num-
Dered, for the time is coming when the
people will rise up and put it down.
J. A. B. WILSON.
The last but not the least of the
Temperance week was the above nam
ed Reverend gentleman, Presiding
Elder of Dover District at the ODera
House Friday evening. Chas. H. Reg.
lster presided and there were
also on the platform w. N. Brown.
OF Wyoming, and J. W. Dennev. No
time was wasted in preliminaries
and well there wasn't, for Mr.. Will
son was surcharged with his sub
Jtect and quit apparently before he was
uone at half past ten, having spoken
TWO hours and twenty minutes. 1t was
prepared fOrjust what it was. a rattlinr
put maul-driving campaign address
intended to tear up by the roots both
Ola opinions and prejudices, and plant
hrmly IN their place the principles Of
prohibition with third partv and
nothing but third party to obtain and
enforce it. Mr.. Wilson is nothing nm
less he is radical, and has a physical
and mental vigOr that commands atten-
tlon because they are ACCOMPANIED
with the fire and flow of oratorv.
he was not there he said as a minis
Ter, put as plain citizen without any
prefix to his name, and as a man paw
ing taxes and voting, it was his duty
10 take an interest in the affairs of state
because the interest of the people were
SO directly involved. The first part of
the speech was devoted to the general
subject of the evils of the drink habit
the necessity of its eradication tbrouoh
prohibition, and that this could ONLY
pc done through a third party. This
LED to a review of the old parties in
which their small virtues and laroe sins
were strikingly held up for inspection
the conclusion being that neither were
10 De trusted. He held that one was
as c1lpable as the other in granting
lndulgences" to the liquor sellers in
the way Of licenses. He admitted how
ever that there was large preponder-
ence OF saloon keepers and drinkers
among the Democrats in the Northern
States while in the Southern
States the best temperance sentiment
was in the Democratic party. He
dWelt at considerable length and in
5cathlng language in holding uD the
Republican party to Opprobium for its
position on the temperance question
cited the publication in a German ma
per OF an attack on temperance
and any effort at restrictive laws. and
held the Republicans responsible for dis
the sentiment. He drew a
COMPARISON In the language used in the
declarations of the Liquor League and
hat in the Republican platform IN re-
alton to morality, and held that
ne liquor men had embodied
he best sentiments. A norton
u the house were much pleased at this
sxcorlation of the Republicans. and an
1lauded him at different times. The
conclusion wasthat neither partv was
o % De trusted and the only hope was in
Ihlrd Party, for ifeither of the others
obtained prOhibitory laws they could |
lot or would not enforce them.
Ihls led him to a characterization of |
ne two parties as to their make nm
.nd traits as political organizations |
The Republican party be said was the
utgrOwth of an aroused sentiment
galnst slavery as the Third Party ie
galnst the evils of intoxicating drinks
1e dld not think so at the time of ito
activity for he was not with IL
sentiment, but in the light of history
Ie could now look back to IL as a mort,
nat mad accomplished more for the
'ood OF the nation than anv marty
iad existed before it, and he verilv he
leVed 1t had been raised uD bv God for
great purpose. 1t had freed the ma
ion OF the curse of slavery and the
reat agitations arising therefrom II
ad given political liberty to all classes
had planted a school honse
n the hill tops in every South
IN state but Delaware, it that
eVeloped the resources of the nation
throughout the states and territories
no mad been in every way a great dis
emlnatOr of civilization.
Inc Democratic party on the other
and was a wonderfully Conservative
arty. What was committed to tben,
ney safely took care of without onv
ttempt TO improve it. That colored
ian down South who hung himseIf
,hen he heard Mr.. Cleveland was
lected acted very foolish. It wasn't
le policy of the party to change things
no mat man would have been lust as
ne IN MS liberties under Mr.. Cleve-
ma with the issues settled as thew
ere, as II Mr.. Blaine had been elected