The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-27
THE NIGHT MEETINGS.
One mt Masonic Hall and an Overflow
AHnfr at Y. NJ. @. A.

The Prohibition mass meeting at Masonic
Hall last night brought out a crowd that
filled every seat and crowded the aisles
and the rear part of the house. With every
available space filled, there were many
who left because more room could not be
found. 1t was an enthusiastic meeting,
and cheer after cheer arose as the speaker,
John g. Woolley, made telling points for the
Prohibitionists against the other parties.
Mr. Woolley began by attacking the Mich
olson law. He said it was a good thing.
and he had nothing to say against it so far
as it operated for good, but he thought
it's effect was so slight as to be almost
valueless, when viewed from the point Of
the Prohibitionist.
Township prohibition he exclaimed.
What is it? Do the people here want to
make little states six miles square where
liquor cannot be procured and let the rest
of the State go to hell? Why should a good
Christian accept prohibition as good
moral policy, and reject ii as political
policy? And there are ministers, too, who
do this. They Will talk for prohibition and
use their influence in the pulpit for it,
but when II comes time TO vote they walk
up and cast their ballot against it. They
hitch together truth and falsehood in one
team and attempt TO drive them in a
straight line. 1t is impossible. No one can
do Il.
Their condition reminds me somewhat
of the story of the Irishman who was in a
sleeping car when 1t was wrecked He
gathered up his clothing as soon as he
was able to extricate himself and donned
it hurriedly. He then went outside, where
a fire had been kindled to warm the
wrecked passengers. He began examining
| himself very critically, and soon his face
| showed signs of great distress. A sympa-
| thetic bystander who had escaped without
/ injury, asked the Irishman If he were much
| hurt. don't feel anything wrong he
twisted He had put on his clothes wrong
! side before That is the condition of many
OF the people who are really friendly at
| fatally twisted. They are so badly twisted
| that when they think they are walking
forward they are really going backward.
Many people, when approached and asked
| TO vote the Prohibition ticket will answer:
| When public sentiment warrants IL / will
| do so; but what Is the use in doing II
| now? / would simply lose my vote Peo-
| pie never say: 'Waen public sentiment war
rants obeying the laws or doing what is
right j will do So /"
tration in his effort TO show the good that
| is being done by the few members of the
party continuing 10 vote the Prohibition
ticket even though they know il will no,
! be successful. II have" said he. "a ten
! dollar gold certificate q haven't. but i have
il in my mind for the purpose of this talk
| / step into the Office of the Treasurer OF
| the United States and present the GER
tihcate. saying that l want gold for 1t. ]
do not really care whether l get the gold
| or not. The young man who comes 10 wal,
| on me, after learning what i want. says:
| think YOU had better keep this GER
| tihcate. IL Is much more convenient. and
| then. you know, the government can pay
| you this gold any time But 1 want the
| money now ] say. Well, the truth Is
he says. after some little parleying, we
| have no gold at the present time. We just
sent il all TO Europe. The printer is work
| ing on some more bonds. which we expect
| TO be able TO sell in Rotterdam, or some
| other place. If we can't sell them there
| the syndicate stands ready 10 take them
| Yes, L know IL will cost the government
| nearly SO, 100000 more than a first-clas:
! brewery syndicate would pay. TO sell tn,
! bonds through the syndicate. but, then
the government is the richest in the world
| and can afford little thing like that. Yol
need not worry about your gold; the syn
dictate has plenty. and we will get some
| more IN q few days.
Thus my confidence is shaken. 4 littl,
| gold kept there all the time would be SUN
| cient 10 show me that L could get IL. an(
then 1 would not want II. Although a few