Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-23
COLD WATER CLANS.
The Beaver Country Prohibition Amendment
Convention - Judge Agnew Is Chosen

The Beaver Country Prohibition Amendment
Convention Judge Agnew is Chosen
Chairman and Makes a Radical Address.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,
BEAVER, February 22.-The County Con-
stitutional Amendment Convention met
here to-day with about 200 delegates. Judge
Daniel Agnew was chosen as Permanent
Chairman of the organization. He spoke as
follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention:
thank you for the honor conferred, though
hesitating to accept owing to my lnnrmlty OF
voice. We are engaged, gentlemen, in one Of
the grandest efforts which has ever inspired a
free people. No such attempt has ever been
made to destroy the great enemy OF our race
To American freemen alone has this appeal
been made. Profane philosophy and the
Christian systems have long taught US temper
ance but the curb of an appetite inherited in
nature has hitherto been limited to the pun
ishment of open drunkenness. and the restraint
of the sales of intoXicants.
Now advancing civilization and experience
have discovered that an appetite formed In the
human constitution cannot be limited to tenn
perate bounds so long as freedom to indulge
and the means of qualification co-exist. Moth
ing less than governmental control can subdue
appetite or overcome the depravity which min
iste to it. This subsection consists in the ao.
solute control of the manufacture of the intoXi-
cant and the entire direction of their sale and
use.
An inordinate, appetite for liquor is an alb
erration, like insanit,, from sound condition
Of self control, and when it becomes habit.
ual is recognized by the law as well as by COM
mon consent, as taking from the drunkard the
freedom of ordinary action. This 1t does for
the good of the individual and safety of society.
R1f ac 10 4
how can those be arrested who are only on the
highway to habit. If the absolute control of
the Government of the source of abuse be
necessary to free men from the Incorporate in
society from the crimes and burdens of
drunkenness. VIVA. man in his sound mind
will deny its rightfulness, or oppose its ex-
ercise. In tie absence of a true experience, if
1t should be objected that society and govern
ment cannot perform this nnquestionable
duty the answer still is plain, that the great
good to be obtained demands the experiment
TO be made, until human experience demon
strates that society Gncluding human nature)
cannot reach or realize the end proposed, and
if this result be so, what woe abides the
human race. If mankind must rest in SUBJ
lection to indulgence, folly and crime, it is
deplorabIe confession that the race cannot rise
IN civilization to that station which duty to
our country and the high destiny intended by
Providence so dearly demands.
But, gentlemen, cannot and feel you can
freeman. No. the same godlike qualities
which secured liberty and union to the Revo-
lutionary fathers, and since then liberation to
the slave, will sound the tocsin of freedom
from the basest of appetites and bring happi-
ness to thousands of houses. Then let US be
united in this great cause. Let no folly, no
want of unity, no cowardice drive us from the
end we seek, the extermination of drunken
ness and all its woes. No party strife, no sense
less clamors, no useless jars should stay the
movement.
We recognize in it no division except that
boundary which separates vice from virtue and
public safety from public ruin. We make no
war on men, but rather do we hope to win them
from their ways, and to see them enjoy the
same happiness and prosperity we so much de-
sire for all. 1t is not our purpose to attack or
to persecute the saloon keeper or liquor seller,
but to arrest and to take into custody the
liquor-to make it prisoner of State, permit
ing it to go at large only on prison leave. We
believe constitutional prohibition is the only
true remedy, and it will succeed, giving it such
time and opportunity to prevail as every great
social change must have to enable it to work its
way. l trust Beaver county will give a good
account of herself in the great reform.