The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-13
MTRPHY sTTcKs no "a.
The Temperance Apostle Says Public
Sentime ent Must Aid the Law.

An old man with pleasant cOunten-
ance and Overhang1ng eyebrows stood
in the chancel at the First ~ q.
church last night, hoped up and down
like q school boy and made faces and
the little audience went into cOnvul-
siOns of laughter; he acted pantOmime
for several minutes and the people
wondered what was coming next The
man was Francis Murphy, the oldest
and best advertised of the temperance
lecturers in the world
He showed in pantOmime how his
old mother had dressed him in trous-
ers which came up under his arms with
pockets below the knees and how he
had to almost lie down to get the mar
bles out of the inconvenient pockets.
Then he showed how his mother sent
him from the room when there was
company and he marched across the
platform in a shame-faced way like a
little boy There was liquor on the ta-
BILE he said
When he had twisted his face into
various shapes to initiate how he felt
he read lecture upon the treatment
of children by their parents and said
that they should allow their children
to be at the table when there is COM
pany. 'The greatest teacher in the
world is example" said he, and when
a parent drinks liquor and tells his
children that they must not do the
same thing the child is apt to follow
the example rather than the precept.''
Mr.. Murphy still believes in pledges
and he carries a supply with him. He
believes that prohibition and moral
suasiOn should go hand in hand. You
can't cut cloth with one side of a scis-
sOrs, :" said he, and neither can you
enforce the law without active tenn
perance work What this state needs
is temperance revival. i want to say
right here that I consider the work
ings of the law in Kansas a grand sue
cess When you can drive the liquor
sellers to the cellars and attics, when
they are afraid to show their faces you
have accomplished a great deal
i want to say right here that this
is the cleanest, decentest city in the
world and [ intend to tell the people
so What great Improvement over
Kansas City. If you don't believe it
go down there a little while and you
viii find out for yourself"
Mr. Murphy told the story of 1eav-
ing his home in ireland and 50 pathet-
ic did he become that he brought tears
to many eyes. OF course there was
little about temperance in that part Of
the talk but most people are always
satisfied when they are made to weep.
The lecturer said that the temper
! ance peouple Of the state had to wake
up, for, said he the foe is always
Vigilant 1t never sleeps 1t is always
waiting for an opportunity to spring
upon you and throttle you in your
sleep. 1t is vigilant now and this is a
time for action"
The speaker said he had tried to find
a joint in Topeka bat had not succeed
ed and neither had he seen a drunken
man
The speaker was introduced by Pres
I ident A. Fl. Vance of the State Tenn
/ perance union who spoke briefly on the
/ situation. He said that the temper
! ance sentiment of the state has lair
/ dormant for several years and that
/ something must be done to awaken it,
The people have grown Indifferent
] and the liquor men have grown vigil
! liant in a corresponding ratio
At the close Of the meeting the audi
] ence crowded around MT Murphy to
/ shake hands with him. He brought
/ out his pledges but none signed.
/ The second and last lecture in To-
/ peka is to be given at the same place
/ tonight.