Rev. Dr. Steele's Discourse

Rev. Dr. Steele delivered a very eloquent discourse Sunday evening on the enforcement of ihe present liquor laws. He argued that the time had fully come when the parties must take up this issue. He continued as foüows: In usmg the strong arm of tho law we will act in our public capacity as eitizens, and as members of the eommonwealth of which we form a part. We lay at the basis of our endeavors this most important and scriptural trulh that to engage in the work ot' making drunkards is a sin, and that a Christian state ought not to shield ihe act under the protection of its laws. He honored very greatly, and com mt nded m st highiy , whatever is beiDg done in this community or elsewhere, through temperance organizaiions, or the church of Christ, to prevent and cure this disgraceful evil; bnt while he would not have atiy single instrumeutality suspended, or tbe atrength of Christiau eudeavor relaxed in the slightest degree, yet he honestly believed that the great need of the hou r, was the beiter execution of the laws we now have, to be followed by the education of the people until they should de mand even higher enactmenta, that is actual prohibition. We have upon our statute books, he said, regulating and restraiuing laws, which are, tully aheast of the legialation of any of the older states. So lar as they go theae laws are good, and are guarded wilh sufficient penalties. Soine of the more important are these. One prohibits the sale of drink, or the opening of saloons or bars, on the hours of the Sabbath. One prohibits the sale in any place where buharda are played, or to minors, or to persons who at the time are intoxicated, or are known to be of the class of habitual drunkards. Then we have a law against the sale aftercertain hours ot the evening, and. on certrin specified days of the year. Now in reference to all these, and each one of them, he had this serious charge to make, that not one of them waa enlorced in this city. Htra especially, where we have in charge the great educational interests of our state, we should be a law abiding people, but in this respect we are not. If our present laws are not executed, we should ask with firmness that we have given to us offlcers who will carry out every provisions of the statute books. There is a growing sentiment here and elsewhere, that this is the only issue that is now before us, and I am just enough of a politican to know that this is the nick of time to fall in with the rising current and on this issue ride into power. We muat demand firmly that the parties give to utf the Barnes oí those whó are known to be on this side of the question, and who will not shirk responsibility. The party that. gives to ua cahdidates who are outspoken and true on this subject, will be the winning party in our cfty., and our state; the party that blinks at our honest and righteous demanda will go down, so sure as there is a Gad in heaven. The flght s a noble one, and we have no wish to atand in a neutral poaition. Nor can we. We should close up our ranks, and backed by the righteousness of our cause, and invoking the agency of the strong arm of the law, and above all else depending on the help of God, let us move against this great enemy in the midst of us.