Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-07-19
NO.. 2IO4
Ratification Meeting.

Ratification Meeting.
Less than fifty persons responded to
the call for the Ratification meeting
held in the W. G. T. y. rooms Mon
day night. Notwithstanding this fact
however, there was plenty of enthu-
siasin, and general good time partici-
pated in by all present.
About fifteen minutes after eight,
the meeting was called to order by
Mr.. Joseph Butler, and after the sing
ing Of a song entitled BE Helper
Mr.. Samuel 7. Strang offered prayer.
This was followed by another song,
Coming Bye and Bye and Mr.. But
Ter made plain address which abound
ed in practical thought He said that
he believed the future of the Prohibi-
ton party looked brighter to day than
ever. Never, was he more sanguine
Of success. The Prohibitionists were
gaining every day, and he believed
that they would continue to increase
until every vestige of rum was entire
ly swept away.
He admitted that they were known
as a party of Cranks, but, said he.
every great thing done in the entire
history of the world was the work of
| Cranks. Christ, when he was upon
the earth was known as Crank and
was despised and hated. All the while
he was doing great good, and instead
OF burning him in eff1gy as they do to-,
day, they crucitied him upon the cross.
The Abolilian party when formed was
! known as a party of Impractical cranks
Tie leaders of that party were despis-
/ ed and hated, by those of the party to
which the Cranks formerly belonged.
| Lincoln was Crank, and at the time
/ of his nomination there was no more
I prospect of the abolition of slavery,
! than of to-day the total eradicating of
the rum power. A voice: Not a
| Bit" He was sanguine of the success
of the Prohibition party and believed
that next November the party would
| poll between 100000 and 100000
votes. Four years since there was no
organization of the party in the South
but now every State in the South with
| the exception of Louisiana, was thor
oughly organized for the coming cam
paign. He spoke of the platform of the
party and thought that one of the best
| planks ever inserted into National
platform, was the giving the right of
suffrage to women. He heartily in
| dorsed the action of the Convention in
doing this, and argued that if in no
other way would women be allowed to
vote he should be in favor of taking
away FROM men their right of franchise.
He spoke of the follacy of high license,
and referred his hearers to its infec-
tious workings in Philadelphia at the
present time. He had no regard for
the Local Option bill. He believed
that liquor was unnecessary in any
shape and did not want it made even
for medical or sacramental purposes.
J. Graham Humphreys was then
called upon. He made speech in
which he gave his reasons for desert
ing the Republican party and becom-
ing Prohibitionist. He paid his re-
spects to the Local Option bill and
High License law in decided terms
He did not believe that the Repubi-
can party dare take a decided step
against the liquor traffic, not as a
National party, nor even in this city.
All OF the effective work against illegal
selling had been done by Prohibition
lists not by the party power. He
thought in Gods own time Prohibition
would come and come to stay. He
was followed in good addresses by
Messrs Downing, Stokes and Bassett.
Other meetings will soon be held.