The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-07-12
TEMPERANCE WORKERS.
Speech of Gov. Morrill, Before the
Convention at Topeka.
The Evils of Intemperance Portrayed and
Remedies Suggested-How to Raise
Needed FrBds-Fuli Text of
the Resolutions.

At the annual gathering of friends
of temperance at Topeka on the
Fourth Rev. ]. h. McAfee, president OF
the organization, read his annual adj
dress and many speeches were made
somewhat after the order of an ex-
perience meeting. This and prelim-
mary work occupied the forenoon.
The feature of the afternoon session
was the speech of Gov. Morrill,.
Gov. MorriIps Address.
Mr.. President:-I congratulate you
upon the large number that have gath
cred here on our national anniversary
to take counsel together as to the best
means to be used to advance the cause
of temperance, and l thank you, Mr..
President, for your kind invitation to
| appear before this body and express
my views, which l will very briefly do.
There is one feature of the question
upon which we all agree, and that is
| the terrible evils growing out of the
use of Intoxicating liquors. They are
too familiar to us to need any descrip-
ton, or to require that any time should
be consumed in their discussion. No
tongue can exaggerate, no pen can
portray the misery and the suffering
which follow from intemperance.
Every village has it's heart
| broken wives and its worse than
orphan children. We are all famil-
lar with the sad sight of ruined
homes and broken hearts. The ablest
intellects have been dimmed; the
brightest hopes have been blasted; the
happiest homes have been rendered
desolate by this terrible evil, and the
| question that confronts us to-day is as
to the best means to be employed to
reduce these evils and. if possible, en-
tirely obliterate them. There can be
no nobler, grander work to be en-
gagged in than the work of staying the
ravages of intemperance, of bringing
again sunshine and joy to the darkened
home, of soothing the widows woe
and drying the orphans tear. 1t is an
undertaking of great moment. The
difficulties surrounding it are not
easily overcome. The one end we all
desire is to restrict the use of intoxi-
eating liquors to the lowest possible
limit, and as far as possible Danish
them forever from our state.
The question confronting us to-day
is not a theory; it is an actual condi-
tion. If had the power would ban
ish from the world all intoxicating
liquors, but l have not that power and
the question for me to decide is how
can best direct my efforts to dimin
ish their use If we could control the
appetites of men, it would be a very
easy matter to reform them. What
ever tends to elevate and refine men,
whatever leads them to higher and
purer associations, helps to draw them
away from the evil influences of appe-
tite, and strengthens and ennobles
them. Our churches, our schools, our
public libraries, are all grand helps in
lifting men above the temptations that
assail them. And the foundation must
be laid, the grand work commenced,
in our churches and our schools.
What we should aim to do to-day is to
consider the best way to advance the
cause of temperance, and l trust that
by a calm and dispassionate discussion
of the question we may at least come
nearer together upon some common
basis.
Believing, as | do, that the only
safety for the individual is in total alb
stinence from the use of Intoxicating
liquor, feel that he who exerts the
most influence in lifting others up, in
inducing them to join the ranks of total
abstinence is doing most in advancing
the temperance cause.
The great question which is agitat-
ing the civilized world to-day is what
legislation is best adapted to promote
this end. While l do not believe that
any particular form of legislation is
adapted to all conditions, and would be
advisable in all places, am firmly
convinced that for this state, under its
present conditions, with its present
advanced ideas upon the temperance
question, that prohibitory laws are the
wisest and best.
But prohibition and temperance are
not synonymous terms. The former is
the only means to assist in securing
the latter. If the sale of intoxicating
liquors can be prevented in our state,
the temptation for their use is largely
removed. Our state placed in its con-
stitution the prohibitory amendment
because large part of our people be-
lieved in temperance. They were not
made temperate by the prohibitory
law, but they made the prohibitory
law because they were temperate. To
make that law effective, to aid in re-
tanning it on our statute books, to Sc
cure an earnest enforcement of it, our
people must be educated in the true
principles of temperance. There must
be a real, sincere desire on the part of
the people for its enforcement before
it will be rigidly enforced. But you
ask me how can this be accomplished?
How can the people be aroused to a
realizing sense of their duties and their
responsibilities in this matter? 1 an
swer, by a thorough organization of
the friends of temperance all ever the |
state.
Let the true friends of temperance |
form societies in every village, every |
city and every county in the state; let |
each county organization labor for the |
faithful enforcement of the law in its |
county, but it should not be content |
with the work of closing up the |
Joints" There should be an earnest |
effort to induce all, young and old, to
a 6stain from the use of Intoxicating /
liquors. These organizations should |
be for the express purpose of advanc-
ing the temperance cause. Men should
be induced to take the pledge. Ar
should be made to reclaim !:
the drunkard, to aid him in throwing
off the bonds that degrade him. The
Young should be especially interested