The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-12-16
N.G.L.U.D Department
Mrs. E. Van Hood, Editor
A Gem Of Temperance ELoauence


If called upon to mark the richest,
most eloquent fve-minute speech
made during the hour dedicated to
the presentation of distinguished
| speakers" hundreds of the w. C. T.
/ u. convention would be compelled to
award the palm to Hon. Joseph G.
Camp, the orator preeminent" of the
Southern lecture platform. The con-
vention cheered heartily his declara-
ton of purpose to dedicate himself to
the cause of nationwide prohibition
Although Mr.. Camps speech was
surprise to himself he has written
what he said in response to an earnest
request for its publication. We hope
his wonderful eloquence will be speed
lily and continuously employed in the
cause of national prohibition.
Mr.. Camp said:
This is an honor of which | had
never dreamed-the honor of being
presented to this convention of white
i hammered evangels of nobler and bet
ter living.
/ The surprise of the moment has so
confused me that / am embarrassed
/ to the point of awkardness, which
am sure, you will be generous enough
to excuse.
My attention has never before been
so focused on your great organization,
and the mighty, constructive work
you have accomplished, and will con-
tinue to accomplish, as since you have
been in session in Georgia's capital
city. | want to say to you, in this
radiant and consecrated presence, and
/ speak words of soberness and dead
| ly earnestness when / say, that I
heartily endorse all the great things
for which you stand-particularly ma
tion-wide prohibition. | profoundly
admire the w. C. T. u, because your
marvellous social organization, in its
various departmental work, stands
for social purity, for civic betterment,
for righteous achievement, and, more
than all, for national eradication of
the liquor traffic.
/ have been in favor of national
prohibition ever since it has been made
an issueAbut, my friends, there is a
vast difference between passive en-
dorsement and positive advocacy.
promise you, therefore, that what lit
tie ability with which the good Lord
has endowed me, whatever influence I
may possess-my energy of body,
mind, and soul-from this time for
ward is dedicated to cooperation with
you in driving from our beloved land
| all forms of intoxicating liquor.
In the beginning of your wonderful
organization, your great founder and
leader, together with her co-workers,
dared an uncharted sea, but she and
all of you who have come after her,
have been the makers of your own
charts; and with the white flag of tenn
perance which now symbolizes the alb
solute destruction of the liquor traffic,
floating at your mast head, you have
sailed on through wells and mists of
doubt until today, in this sunlit hour,
despite the devilish schemes and ma
chinations of the liquor interests, de-
spite the lack of faith of small souls,
despite the cowardice of politicians
and men of high public standing, you
are catching a glorious vision of the
! shining goal of your hopes, your
prayers, your faith and your dreams.
Some of you, with sacrifice beauti-
full and unselfish, with faith sublime
and steadfast, have been in this great
work till your hair is streaked with
silver, but, l dare say, your hearts
and your hopes are not streaked with
gray.
You, my sisters, and those whom
you represent, ARE the most faithful
the most daring and the most heroic
womanhood that ever blessed thi:
woodland may God continue to bles:
your labors to the complete fruititior
of your aims and your hopes.
You are building an empire-ar
J empire of righteousness in which ev
cry man, woman and child in thi!
.. great country shall be free from thu
damnable, debauching influence o.
strong drink; and in the building o.
that empire you are working for big
ger things than crowns and fo
higher seats than thrones.
Some time ago 1 stood on Pennsyl
vania avenue in the city of Wash
ington, and as / looked at the CAPT
tol of my country from which f1ut
tered the stars and stripes, that seem
: ed to burst the very atmosphere int
i -.