The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-03-21
NEW YORK LETTER.
NOTES OF THE MOVEMENT FROM
PLATFORM AND PRESS.

National Prohibition Park-Good Sys-
tenn of Lecture Work.
The growth of public sentiment against
the liquor traffic is not to be judged in
New York by the vote of the Prohibition
party. 1t can be traced rather in the
fact that there is scarcely day upon
which some platform does not ring out a
condemnation of the saloon, to find fer
vid responses from the tremendous audi
ences which gather in the immense met
ropolitan halls.
1t is natural to expect strong utter
ances from the declared temperance Or
ganizations of the city. 1t is likely that
very few societies have influenced public
sentiment and action to a greater degree
than has John B. Finch Memorial lodge,
l. o. G. T. When it is known that its
membership comprises such Prohibition
lists as Samuel Dickie, w. Jennings
Demorest, G. H. Mead. John H. Hector,
E. V. and j. 7. Wright, officered by
John Lloyd Thomas, R. S. Cheves and
wife. Henry B. Hudson, and others, this
will not be surprising.
| liC 4AiiiCllCih 1Cll4 pCIiIlCO uIliOll COu-
tinues to hold it's Sunday meetings.
Among those who have recently ad-
dressed them have been Col. Balm, G. H.
Mead, Senator Colquitt and Dr. A. B.
Leonard. The last named asked and an
swered cogently three questions: "Can q
Christian engage in the liquor traffic?"
Can good citizen so engage?" "Can
a Christian or good citizen uphold the
traffic by voice, vote or influence"
But not alone in distinctively temper
ance meetings is the liquor traffic de-
nounced. Almost daily there are con-
ference gatherings of various kinds and
nightly meetings in the interest of some
of the political, social or economic re-
forms. In all of these the liquor traffic
comes up for trial, and audiences join
speakers in condemning the iniquity.
Such a meeting was the ballot reform
demonstration recently held in Cooper
Union. The daily press reports T. v.
Powderly as follows:
| Mr.. Powderly sailed into the saloon keepers who
had pull, " and raked them fore and aft. The
workingmen had themselves to blame if many of
them could be bought for glass of beer or drink
of gin.
| 1t was too true that workingmen were influ-
enced by rum, gin, whisky and beer. candidate
for the legislature could sometimes sail into power
on the genial influence of barrel of beer sent to
| a district assembly
hiss or two was heard, and Mr.. Powderly, ad-
vancing to the front, said:
| 81 am a temperance crank, and l need to be
| Rum is the power which is demoralizng the work
ing classes
"Some one-I don't know who it was-said that
when the words were in type there was only one
sixteenth of an inch between the masses and
| them asses
81 am afraid that the type has slipped in many
cases. and that great many of the workingmen
| come under the denomination, them asses
"Why do you bare your backs to the lash? You
rail at monopoliSts, but monopolists are men. Re
| form the laws. Take nImber of workingmen
and put them in the places of these monopolists
and they will become callous wretches. 1t is the
system, not the men, 1t is not the politicians but
| you yourselves, are to blame for permitting
such system. do not give you taffy. speak
the plain truth.
Condemn with 10000 curses the rum which
debauches the manhood of men. Drunken men
have no right to ask for anything"
| He concluded by advising the people to bring
about quickly the revolution which was bound to
come before it was forced on them.
The workingmen and the Prohibition
lists are getting sin touch" and nothing
but good can result.
The National Prohibition park project
has taken big stride forward under the
energetic policy of Col. r. S. Cheves,
who has assumed the management of
the enterprise. A prospectus has been
issued stating the purposes of the asso-
citation, and lots are being rapidly sold.
II I,
ed before the summer by Gen. Fisk,
DIR. Funk, Messrs. Demorest, Cheves,
Wardwell and others, and a magnificent
auditorium to seat 5000 people will be
built. Electric lights, bountiful spring
water, graded streets, rapid transit and
the best speakers that can be secured are
among'the attractions which will make
this beautiful Prohibition park on Staten
Island Mecca for all the weary and
perspiring Prohibitionists of the metro
politan district. Its educational as
well as recuperative influence is sorely
needed.
Prohibitionists are prolific in schemes
for reaching the people. Leaflets by the
million are going out from national
headquarters. Large posters are being
issued which are well adapted for use on
the bulletin boards suggested by S.
Parks, Lansingburgh, N. Y.
The Prohibition committee of Della
ware county, Pa, have an excellent sys-
TEN of lecture operations which could be
followed by every county committee.
The expense is small, and the results
fully compensate for the trouble.
The committee secures corps of vol
unteer lecturers, and before the first of
each month issues neat circular giving
the schedule of appointments for the
month, naming the speaker, place, date
and local manager. The success of the
scheme has been fully demonstrated.
County chairmen should write to
Henry f, Morrow, Chester, Pa, for
copies of his circular.
- And thus goes the battle, no sign of
encouragement anywhere, forces closing
up all along the line. New York state
will hold a conference early in April
and file up in line with the noble work
ers everywhere.