The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19
Address of l.. Il. Walton, ESQ.
Following il an abstract of Mr.. Wsl-
tons remarks. delivered In Mission hall,
Saturday evening. NAV 7.

After referring pleasantly to the self
sacrificing spirit OF those present Who
had gathered to hear lawyers dry ar
gument instead of staying at home to
read the interesting particulars Of Capt.
Dewey's glorious victory, and the off
ference caused by looking at matters
from diff rent points OF view, he laid
that from the laws standpoint, alcohol
was poison.
He called attention to certain laws
regulating the sale of poisons; that the
package must be marked "poison;" that
even when used for a lawful purpose
they must not be so exposed as to en-
danger others. The community regard
ing Intoxicating liquors as having this
quality, had the right 10 regulate or pro-
hibit their manufacture and sale.
he called attention to the pucular
properties OF alcohol; that while proper
as medicine, its use MS beverage de-
yelops an appetite which the person can
not control and by its use he becomes,
as 1t we're, an insane person, so that.
whereas, when not under its Influence,
he was quiet, kind and peaceable. by its
use he becomes noisy, ugly aud quarrel
some. using violence towards others
and making himself a nuisance and a
menace to the property and safety of
others.
The speaker gave several striking illus
trations of individual cases which had
come under his personal observation.
among others of one " here this appetite
was created by the use at time of ex-
IRENE physical prostration following a
fever, and under the direction Of a
physician, of only spoonful of whiskev
three times day, and how the patient
who before that time had been temper
ate, respectable, well-dsposed Young
man, arose from his sick bed completely
changed in his desires and inclnations
and with so strong an appetite for IN
toXcating liquors that he could not re.
sist it, until, finally, crazed with liquor,
he committed mui der aud then took his
own worthless life. All this in quiet,
little community in our own county.
He related the story of a man well
known to him, Who was a superb bust.
ness man, gentlemanly and talented, but
as slave to this appetite he became a
vi uiIhdlu u anu uitl Will 1bbh VI 1tdT
and horror upon his face and despair
lug cry that haunted those at his bedside
for days afterward. Because of this
danger the public Claimed aid exercised
the right to protect itself from the de.
velopment OF this appetite which makes
men destroyers of the happiness of their
families and source of annoyance OF
terror to their neighbors
He spoke also of the indirect eff cts OF
intemperance, the hypocrisy and cow
ardice it engenders, how the money
wasted on liquor might otherwise go tc
the merchants and tradesmen, in The
furnishing of better homes, more nutri.
tious food and more comfortable cloth
ing.
Laws are, therefore, passed such as
are designed to protect the community
In Maine we have the prohibitory law
he referred to the criticisms of the law
that 1t could not be enforced; that it,
non.enforcement brought about con
tempt for all laws; that there was more
drunkenness where men have TO procure
liquor by an entrance at the back door
than if allowed to enter legally at the
front door of the saloon; but while ad.
hitting that there was great force in
these criticisms, he claimed that the law
had brought about great improvement
in the rural portions of the State and
that temptation had been removed from
the paths of large number who, un-
der "A license law, would be exposed 10
its danger, speaking particularly OF
young men and boys and those living
outside OF our large llages and cities
He questioned whether the failure to
enforce the law could not be traced tC
other causes than defects in the law IT,
self.
lie mentioned. among other things
the errors OF Wel-meaning but impracti
cal temperance advocates; of the adep
ton of the constitutional amendment as
though this would compel its enforce,
meut, likening il to the teacher who
would expect that upon the passing OF
an order by the school board permitting
corporal punishment his pupils would bt
orderly without any effort on his part
of those who would only work in the
temperance cause provided they c0ulC
be allowed to direct its management anC
regarded all who did not agree witt
their particular ideas as not honest OF
sincere.
He admitted that lawyers were some
what addicted to the use of intoXicatil {
liquors ard spoke of the peculiar Tempt
tion thar come to young lawyer along
this line when he wished to be parlicu
larly eloquent or brillial and the danger
in the formation ct this habit. He pre-
scented fercihle illuslral ion of this il
the history of a prominent State llica
who for many years MAS cited Ms mar
( "a hp and itn he lHl41 a &
eelf-cuntroll,d thai it could never obtail
the mastery over him, and how, notWitlk
standing all his strength and wisdom, as
Mr.. Walton said. he, himself, met him il
public place with flushed face and luuC
voice. by his appearance showing thai
iutemperance had cor quered bin also.
After speaking impressiyely of our
duty as to this evil, he closed by remind
ing his hearers that this was IA fearful
monster; that none like it could be founC
ON sea or land, converting the prosperity
OF the merchant into prnury al q want
sinking the talented statesman into III
object of universal contempt. ruhhing
the home of its peace and Joy, making
the loving father cruel and brutal
changing the innocent, 0bedient son int
a miserable hopeless tramp, and trans
forming the beautiful and brilliant woman
inte loathsome, disgusting, DEGRADED
creature; in its effects inflaming the
passions, darkening the intellect and de-
stroying the soul.
That is What's the Matter.
A group of dairymen, assembled al
a Grange meeting the other day, were