The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-07-12

purpose There are at least 300, 900
men and women in Kansas who earn
estly desire the advancement of the
temperance cause-a dime from each
would make a fund of $50, 900. With
this amount you could not only thor
oughly organize the state, but you
could revolutionize it. You could put
men into the field, sending them in
every county in our borders, working
radical change in a twelvemonth
time. Millions of dollars are year
ly spent by the citizens of the
state for Intoxicating drinks, but moth
ing is raised to promote the cause of
temperance. Appetite is stronger than
the love for Righteousness. We need a
grand old temperance revival 1t
ought to be preached from the pulpit
and talked on the street corners. We
have quietly sat down, folded our arms,
and trusted to the law to save the
drunkard and make everybody temper
ate. The law is good; but it is only
help-rigidly enforced, a powerful
help. 1t will not enforce itself, nor
can any officer enforce it without a
vigorous, healthy public sentiment be-
hind and supporting him. Talk In
cheap; what we need is earnest work
personal appeals to the moderate
drinker and help and sympathy for the
poor inebriate. Our work is not done
when the law is enforced. 1t will only
be ended when every human being has
been lifted up into the full measure
of his manhood. To me, there are two
discouraging features in temperance
work, and one is that so many of the
professed and oftentimes active work
ers of the cause feel that it is not nee
essary to practice total abstinence.
One of our most distinguished citi-
zens-one whom l have long known
and admired for his great ability and
the purity of his life-said to me not
very long ago: 81 am an intense pro-
hibitionist, but I'm not a teetotaler."
Another and more discouraging thing
is the passiveness and almost utter in
difference of a very large class of up
right, moral citizens, who, while they
practice the most rigid temperance
themselves, seem utterly Indifferent
and unwilling to take any active part
in promoting the cause. As an illus
tration, / will name a single fact.
There is probably no city of it's size in
the world where the sale Of intoxicat-
ing liquors is so restricted as in this
beautiful capital city. For this condi-
ton of things, great credit is due to the
able and efficient board of police com
missioners. And yet they tell me that
in the six months during which they
have so earnestly labored not soul in
this place has once offered them any
assistance, nor have they in all thai
time received a word of commentator
and encouragement. On the other
hand there has been no especial lack
of criticism. 1t is better to build up
than to tear down. Encouragement is
better than abuse.
Mr.. President, 1 sincerely hope this
great assembly, gathered here on our
national anniversary, will give new life
to the great cause which is so dear to
the hearts of the people of Kansas;
that the eloquent words that will be
spoken here to-day will be followed by
earnest. active Christian work, to
which end pledge my hearty support.
The Resolutions.
The resolutions presented by Hon.
S. o. Thatcher and adopted by rising
vote were as follows:
Resolved. That this convention desires BY
its action to emphasize and accelerate the COM
mon temperance sentiment of the state-that
is that general opinion among all good men,
which at the last, creates and maintains pub
lie opinion
Second-That in the laws Of the state. both
constitutional and statutory, we find the most
sentiment of the state There
can be no higher or truer index of what the peo-
pie believe and desire than that enshrined in
the fundamental law OF the state. and the acts
made to enforce this organic provision.
Third-In the constitutional prohibition Of
the saloon and dramshop and the statutory en-
actments designed to carry it into complete
effect, the refusal of each recurring legislature
to abate or modify the stern mandate of the
in the increasing tension and
severity OF the acts made to more effectively
stamp out the sale OF intoxicating drinks. We
see unmistakable evidence that the people Of
Kansas will never return to the drinking hab-
its and customs or licenses thereto OF the past:
that the state to-day stands on the high and
pldut Vi tue LOltls HOueSb suppress
sion Of the saloon and all its dire concomitants.
Fourth-That we extol and encourage with
all the means in our power the teaching of the
young in day and Sabbath schools the dreadful
results of the use Of intosicants. We trust
The day is not far distant when the teachers
Ind instructors OF the young. both secular and
religious, shall feel called upon to portray by
lecture. pictorial representations and repeated
words Of caution and advice, the physical |
mental and spiritual disasters following the
contact with the flowing bowlssnd the subtle
poison Of the glass of spirits.
Fifth-We deprecate beyond words to meas |
Ire or describe any encouragement, either by |
word or deed, OF the violation OF the prOhibi- |
DRY law by the officers appointed to execute !
hem. We hold no greater enemy to the tram |
guilty and good order o. the state can be |
ound than co-partnership in profits between |
whisky selling and municipal revenues. A 1
monthly stipend paid into the city treasury |
or the shutting Of the eye of the law to the |
and saloons is such q countenanc- |
ng OF crime: such receipt of blood, sin |
tained money, as to shock the moral sense OF /
ociety. Such dalliance with law breaking |
S a menace to all law. and such q beating
lown Of the safeguards o6 purity in the en-
orcement OF law as to inaugurate a reign Of |
awlessness destructive Of all that men hold |
lear and sacred.
Sixth-We see in the recent closing OF the
aloons Of two Of our large cities at the COM
nand OF the police commissioners there the
CT enforcing the law in every part
4 the state, and we hold that the laws OF the
tate are ample for that purpose. It seems too
manifest to need debate that there is but one
ole duty resting on every oficer Of the state.
rom the executive to the lowest official in
ank and that is the reSolute enforcement Of
he law without evasion or reservation Of any
ort
Seventh-We desire to call attention to the
act that under the equity power granted to
he district court by the prohibitory statutes,
very saloon, dramshop or joint can be
nectually closed without the Intervention OF
nv Jury. and hence the nlaa for the violation |