The Portland daily press., 1899-05-26


particularly Maine would be well repre-
sented IN the reports Of the work to be
presented at the exposition.
Before the afternoon session was closed,
Mrs. Gertrude Stevens Jeavitt moved,
and IL was voted that letter Of sympa-
thy be sent to Mrs. Mary K. McDowsll,
past stats officer OF the order, OF Port
land, In 4 the death Of her husband,
MIR. James K. Mcdowell
Adjournment was made at o'clock
when the delegates enjoyed supper In the
vestry Of the church.
Prior to the evening session the dele
gates were extended the courtesy OF visit
ing the old historic Baptist .church Oh
Yarmouthville. which is now used as
place Tin which interesting relics of the
early days arc kept.
The evening session opened ct 2. 30
O'Clock with devotional exercises led by
Mrs. Eva l.. Brooks.
The address Of the evening was deliv-
cred by Miss Elizabeth U. Yates Of Round
Pond, Me-, who changed her subject from
that previously advertised, and spoke
Oh AohhfohdhtO AfospoHS VI ohS 800
tury." Miss Yates Is forceful speaker
and Is much interested in the study of
economics and sociology at Radcliffe col
lege.
In her address, the speaker spoke OF the
beginning Of temperance organizations
In the United States under the influence
of DR.. Hush of Philadelphia, who in 1908.
| 60 be, ff,.t x.,,x 9TH
constitution and by. laws, but ct that
period they did not apprehend the necessi-
ty Of total abstinence, only combined to
prevent the too fres use Of ardent spirits.
but the early moderation societies actual
ly died Of drunkenness. and In 1886 a
total abstinence.i society was formed In
Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
Theiflrst temperance lesson of the GEN.
fury was total abstinence, the only basis
upon which we can build with success.
The moral suasion movement and the
Wsshingtonian movement, and the en-
desvors of Murphy and Reynolds, wrought
great good, but the reaction from 1t shows
already that lines Of endeavors directed
to the victim Of the saloon alone would
not accomplish the overthrow of the sa-
loon, and the second great lesson Of the
century was moral suasion insufficient.
We see another uprising and another
phase of endeavor in the woman's cru
SADIE, but the reaction from that showed
clearly the third great lesson, prayer alone
will not close the saloon.
The women of the nation and the world
have taken this lesson to heart and are
seeking by every possible line Of endeavor
to bring human government In acoor-
dance with divine law.
There was an important lesson taught
In the first part Of the century, would to
Col we had learned 1t then, and that
lesson was license, Is no remedy. In our
day and generation 1t has been repeated
with painful illustration. The greater
the revenue a commonwealth receives
from the nefarious business, the more ar
rogant and aggressive the bust ness be-
comes. The century of temperance en-
deavor has also taught us prohibition
is the best means to be brought for the
suppression of the saloon.
In every campaign for the extension of
constitutional prohibition the liquor
traffic Is arrayed against 1t and pours out
unstintinaly of its money for its defeat.
A.few years ago the speaker was engaged
in a no license campaign in Springfield,
Mass, and young lady who was tele
phone operator and heard a great deal not
intended for her own ears when about her
own business, said that the men who were
engaged in the business in the city were
sending most alarming messages of one
another concerning the possibility to no
license carrying, saying that they must
pour out unstintingly of money to defeat
it on account of the great injury to their
business If it passed, and that they could
easily recover from the trade under Ii
cense the money spent on defeating no
license.
The necessity of national prohibition
was emphasized In order for the COM
pIete delivsrance of any state from the
evil.
She showed that national prohibition
could never be accomplished without the
of women. The liquor
men apprehend this and always combine
to defeat the extension Of the ballot to
women. But granted ideal prohibition
laws in every state in the Union no COM
munity would be delivered from the
curse, that failed to apprehend the great
lesson this hour is teaching us. That law
is not automatic. Our prohibitory law
is worth just as much as page in the
dictionary as far as its innate power to
close saloons. We have a fine weapon,
but 1t is useless without officer to WELD
1t for our deliverance. "a rusty sword in
a rusty scabbard."
When the same common sense is ap-
piled to the law against the saloons that
is applied to our fish and game then will
the commonwealth receive the benefit of
the enactment. Do we expect the law
to collect licenses on dogs, to be self en-
acting, I? No, we know without an officer
they will run the streets unhindered. A
law never stepped out of the statute book