The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-04
THE PR0HIBITI0NISTS
Begin Their Annual Blowout with
a Small Crowd.
POOR PROSPECTS FOR THIS YEAR.
At the Big Hall in Moundsville--what
Took Place Neutrality-suspicious.
Pener to Be There Later on...He
VIII Draw Crowd.

The Prohibition party in this section
is not great in point of numbers, but
they have enthusiasm enough to more
than make up for the shortage. They
also have the finest meeting place in
the State, ono that would do credit to
either of the old parties. But the pros
poets are not bright for big outponr-
ing of people at this years annual u.s.
sembly at the big hall in Moundsville.
The ten days meeting onened yester-
day and the crowd was very slim. 1t
looked all the simmer for being scat
tered over q building with aseating ca
pacity of nearly five thousand. There
was to have been service in the morn
ing, but no one showed up to take part
in 1t, and the Silver Lake Quartette had
not arrived, so the matter was dropped.
In the afternoon there were nearly
hundred persons in the assembly hall
most of them being cottagers from the
camp ground, willing to accept any
diversion rather than none. There
were number OF opening addresses
and an informal platform meeting.
In the evening about the same NUM-
ber of people we're present to hearia1
address by P. A. Burdick, of New York.
Mr.. Burdick said:
THE LIQUOR TRrF1c
is legalizod for want Of conscience in the
great mass of the American people.
mean to speak Of the liquor traffic as an
enormity and a crime, and l know that
the reason 1t is permitted to enjoy q
licensed existence is because the people
of this country do not comprehend that
it is o crime. People are very largely
what they are because their forefathers
were the same. Men are Presbyterians,
Methodists, Episcopalians, Catholics
because their forefathers were. Men
are Democrats and Republicans because
their torefathers were. They read their
own papers and believe all OF 1t, and
are willing to say all that sin others
is lie. But was not born Prohibi-
ZIONIST because my father was nor be- !
cause the principle Of temperance
was taught me when / was q child.
My grandfather was drinking
man. He came from Connecticut
and built a house in New York
in 1907. In that house there's a wine
closet, and though he was a deacon in
the church, he kept his decanter filed
with the best of brandy. 1 was told by I
my father that in the early times half q
dozen minister's stopped at my grard-
fathers. house for several hours one
day. When they had partaken Of food
and were ready to go, they knelt and
asked for an outpourng OF the spirit
and a blessing upon the family. Then
grandfather took out the brandy bottle
and pouring out full glasses for each /
and himself, they drank them. 1t was
said there was q great deal of spirit in !
the preachers in those days, and ] have
no doubt there was In that particular
assemblage. My grandfather had never
been taught that itwas wrong. He did {
Just as his forefathers had done and saw
no harm in it. 1t was the custom OF his !
day and time, and he felt no compunc.
tions OF conscience on account OF It. (
NV father was OF the same school. He
saw no wrong in it for years, but he (
was finally convinced that 1t {
was wrong. He saw no harm
in 1t till he had buried son ina
drunkard's grave. It made great DIFF
ference to him when it was his son.
We can condole with others who have (
misfortunes; we can see them bear their
burdens with great fortltude, but oar I
own have very different effect upon
us. My father died q most enthusiastic /
temperance man. He saw the wrong OF
the evil custom he had helped to foster,
but not till he had suffered the greatest
loss he could sustain. 1t seems that we
will never break an old custom tillttl
comes into direct contact with our own (
homes and happiness. When we are
thus forcibly reminded of custom
or aprevailing estate OF affairs we become
the most rabid opponents to that Gus
tom. l have +
TIE UTMOST SYMPATHY.
for those who will not see the wrong in I
this vile traffic. They have seen II In
existence for years, and very tewot
them comparatively have been torcibly
reminded OF the fact that 1t Is an evil. !
Mr.. Burdick said that he held the!
people who voted to legalize the liquor
traffic responsible for the wrongs Of the
saloonkeepers. He dwelt upon the re-
sponsibility of the voter, and told Q
number OF very pathetic stories TO illus (
trate the harmful influences Of the sa-
loon and. the sale OF intoxicants. His
illustrations, he said, were all taken
from real life and were the result Of his
own observations. Hehad been q drink
ing man, and had seon and known all
about the difficulties Of reforming while
surrounded by saloons.
He spoke OF torchlight professions
/ l.. .isktnn1 noy.V,uihrns 90 fha iOVhyNttAYa
of the devil and gave q very realistic
description of the average political cams
paign demonstration. His descriptive
powers are very good, and as he por-
trayed in words the scenes familiar TO
all present, he was heartily applauded.
All the meetings Of yesterday wore
rather tame and those on the ground
do not expect big crowds, except per-
haps to-day and on Farmers Alliance
day, July II. The Silver Lake Quar-
tette, which has been heard at Mounds
vile in the camp ground and in the
Assembly Hall with so much
pleasure in years gone by is
there for this meeting. 1t is composed
this year OF Messrs. 6. @. Chambers, A.
II. Lawrence, J. w. Allott and Rev. o.
II. Meade. Tho management has an
other very attractive feature in Prof. A.
w. Hawks, OF Baltimore, well known
elocutionist who delivers bible readings
and recites funny stories during inter.
walls when thoy need something to till
up. Mr.. Hawks made more hits yes
terday than all the others together.
The meetings win continue till July
IS, inclusive. There are quite . num-
l. l..