Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
October 20, 1886
Smyrna Times
Smyrna, Kent County, Delaware
What is this article about?
Senator Gray spoke at a Wilmington Opera House meeting, defending Democratic principles against Prohibition while supporting liquor sale regulation, amid mixed audience reactions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
96%
Excellent
Full Text
SENATOR GRAY was one of the speakers at the Opera House meeting in Wilmington last week. The following is the closing part of his speech as reported in a Wilmington paper.
"I respect temperance and those misguided persons who believe in Prohibition, but the Democratic party believes in those abiding principles that are at the bottom of all good government, that prevent the enacting of sumptuary laws against the private rights of the citizen." The applause here was tremendous. "I believe," he went on, "in the regulation and, if you will, the restriction of the sale of liquor. The great majority of Democrats are temperate people." At this point the silence could be heard four blocks away. The Senator protested that other speakers would better occupy the time and sat down, looking as if he had got through an unpleasant job very creditably.
"I respect temperance and those misguided persons who believe in Prohibition, but the Democratic party believes in those abiding principles that are at the bottom of all good government, that prevent the enacting of sumptuary laws against the private rights of the citizen." The applause here was tremendous. "I believe," he went on, "in the regulation and, if you will, the restriction of the sale of liquor. The great majority of Democrats are temperate people." At this point the silence could be heard four blocks away. The Senator protested that other speakers would better occupy the time and sat down, looking as if he had got through an unpleasant job very creditably.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Senator Gray
Speech
Prohibition
Democratic Party
Temperance
Liquor Regulation
Wilmington Meeting
What entities or persons were involved?
Senator Gray
Where did it happen?
Opera House In Wilmington
Story Details
Key Persons
Senator Gray
Location
Opera House In Wilmington
Event Date
Last Week
Story Details
Senator Gray delivered the closing part of his speech at a meeting, respecting temperance but opposing Prohibition as sumptuary laws infringing on private rights, while believing in liquor sale regulation; audience applauded first part but fell silent on the second, and he sat down after protesting other speakers should continue.