The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-17

semed to take a great interest in the
meeting.
F; A. Barth, of WATERFOWL, was
chairman, and in his Introductory ad-
dress made a statement that great SYM
pathy was felt among the Catholic peo-
pie of ST. Paul in the work Of the
Total Abstinence association.
Rev. j. M. Cleary, the national presi-
dent of the association, was the first
speaker Of the evening, and made a
brilliant address. He did not agree
with Mr.. Barth in stating that great
sympathy was felt for the cause in st.
Paul, for had there been such SYM
pathy it would be manifest in a much
larger attendance. But perhaps the
people of st. Paul have a different man
ner or showing their sympathy and APP
probation. He was sure, in fact, that
there must be sympathy for the move
ment, but it would have been a good
plan for the people to have shown their
interest in the outlying villages and
suburbs, such as Minneapolis, by at
tending the meeting in larger numbers.
But whether the people of st. Paul
We're in sympathy with the cause or
not, the work would be prosecuted
vigorously. They recognized the work
that was to be accomplished and the
need of keeping up the interest in it.
The arguments which are to be pre-
sented in favor of the Catholic Total
ADSIlIiCHCS dSSOCldIIOH were rather
ancient to many who nave grown old
in the work, but it must be remember
ed that there is a new generation grow
ing up, in whose minds there must be
iEstilled the principles of total abstin-
ence. The more familiar they could be
made with the results of intemperance
the better results would follow. Their
opponents were using great ingenuity
in bringing out new devices with which
to attract n allure the young men
from he paths of truth and sObriety,
and they must use every effort to
cOunteract these Influences. A new crop
of drinkers and drunkards are being
reared every year, and it is to these
that we must give our attention. Let
US not be discouraged by the apparent
Indifference which we meet here and
there, but press forward with the
good work, irrespective of personal or
political influences. The young genera
ton must be taught that they can get
a great deal more out of life by keep
ing from strong drink h d they can by
becoming drunkards.
Hon. William Lewis Kelly agreed
with the previous speaker in hat there
were too few of the sterner sex pres
ent. But he was pleased to see so
many women present, and one woman
was as valuable to the cause of total
abstinence as ten men. The curse of
DAAOitS 0tAHAN NoESSCO AASANAACA GCN AZ
college, and the cry for total abstinence
should be taken up in earnest. 1t is no
Ommon warfare they were compelled
to wage requires more han a COM
NOR hero or heroine to fight the battle
against strong drink. There is no
power in the land equal to that of
sarcasm and the taunts and sneers Of
evil companions, n it is with that
they must contend. But first Of all
they must conquer their own weakness
n determine in their own minds that
the cause was worth the battle. They
must say that they will stand by the
in spite Of social sneers. 1t re-
Quires more than ordinary courage,
n only by facing the enemy fearless
ly can we strengthen the cause of truth
and sobriety. This great nation is
built upon the homes, and only to the
extent that the homes are happy can
the nation be prospered. Only the
home can be happy which the demon
Of strong drink has never entered. The
Catholic Total Abstinence association
is fighting for a cause for which it is
worthy to meet defeat and disaster.
There is no necessity to refer to the
evil effects Of strong drink, as they
are too apparent to need discussion.
Three-fourths of the crime of the
country is directly or indirectly trace
able to strong rink. During 1898, 1t
is proposed by the residents of Erin's
isle to celebrate the anniversary Of
the death of the patriots who fought
and died for her honor, by the erec-
ton of a monument dedicated to those
heroes. "1t is an excellent idea aid
Judge Kelly, but ] have a better one.
Let is take the amount which will be
collected for the purpose of erecting d
monument for the admiration of future
generations, and let US utilize it in the
endeaVCr to free the Irish race from the
great curse which has always a It's
han upon the throat Of Erin-strOng
drink"
Hon. J. D. O'Brien was called upon
II delivered a rafting total alb
stinence address. He began by stating
hat the Catholic workers had been the
first for the cause of total abstinence.
when Father Mathew introduced the
crusade in its favor in Ireland. The
effect upon the green isle of that move
ment will never be forgotten. 1t made
Ireland, for the time being at least,
q temperance and total abstinence
country. and it is fit and proper that
the people of that race should be the
pioneers of the total abstinence move
ment of today. The methods of attack
and defense have continually varied,
but the object has been kept before
them and no deviation from the mark
OF total abstinence should be made.
He remembered a time not so very
long ago when it would have beeu
deemed immOdest for a lady to appear
upon a platform and speak in the cause
Of temperance, but all this has peer
changed, n today the cry is tina
there are too many women and not
enough men interested in the cause.
But it may be said with truth that, as
soon as you find a cause in which th4
women become interested, the solution
of the difficulty is neal at hand. He
considered the presence of the young
people at the meeting in such large
numbers a particularly encouraging
sign, as it would be for them to take
up this total abstinence fight in the
future. 1t would be almost inferred
from the nature of things that the
country towns would be the more act
i've in this cause but such was not the
fact. He had observed that the move
ment for total abstinence was largely
confined to the cities. This could not
be attributed to any greater degree IF
purity throughout the larger cities,
but the interchange of thought was
nearer, and the e for the commu-
nication of ideas. In the outside dis
tricts none of these advantages exist,
and he was constrained to believe that
the city influences were not nearly as
productive of harm as those of the
country. The temptation to the boys
grown in the country is greater. The
city boy is carried along by the whirI
of events, and gives not nearly as
much thought to the drinking habit
as the other who has nothing to keep
down the excitement which he feels,
and which must break out in some
form. He. wished to impress the idea
upon the delegates from the country
districts that they could counterfeit
these influences by the formation OF
societies. He had been surprised in