Litchfield enquirer., 1829-12-31
ADDRESS


 ADDRESS
 Delicered before the Temperance Society Cf
 LitckfeLd. December 2I. 1899.
 BY JOHN P. BRACE.
 In reviewing the moral condition of this country, every philanrOpst has had reason to blush at blot Ou is otherwise fair page. Although our country has been increasing in wealth, power, knowledge, and respec,abili,y amOug naoDs her moral character has no, increased in the same ratio of excellence. Among the most prominent causes of moral deterioration has been tho baneful influence of ntemperance. For many years, this evil operated silently and unseen victim after victim fell sacrifice at altars and were unno,iced tn their fall, except by those who were sprinkled by their blood.
 The dark lurid stream of guilt and degradation flow ed sluggishly but surely on; undermining, in its course all that was valuable to society; putting out ,he fire of intellect, destroying the genial warmth Of talent by its cold touch pOIung the pleasures of fa- my intercourse by its debasing impurities; and bury. ing in its dark and muddy current, all that was gene rous and ennObng and elevating in human nature. This is not Reclamation alone, or the idle pomp of f- gures, used by one who wishes ito point moral or adorn a tale." It is not a bigoued attempt made to aix stain upon our national character, by one who wishes to gain certain object, support, by unfair and improper means, a cause he has embraced. The wide and wasting evil of Intemperance has been too extensively Iel. and realized to allow the exhibition of iss miseries to be called Reclamation, ,o consider Awarm and animated display of the principles of tenn ncrance advocating party from partizan feelings.- afacts inquired for? Are reasons demanded? Is she iusividua selected by the Temperance Society of shs town address you this evening" upon the evils of ln.emperance and the importance of the institution Co which he belongs required to prove to this enght- ened audience by statistical exhibition of facts, or a chain of we'll connected argument that, that habit which wastes the estate, embit.ers the family haPpi- ness blote out the in,ccct destroys the usefulness, vuins the heah and murders the soul of it's guilty vc- tim is an evili Or will he be demanded to prove that it is wde-sprcading evil Or will he be called upon to show who are in danger from iil The advocates ofsrmperance are not vsionary in sounding the alarm thas the cc0ntvy n peril from the progress Of intem- resance; Dgoucd In the A...-.:.-, .S.s .hn rI ' entire abstinence the only remedy for such vast ing pestilence As philanhropiss, they wish to res- cue their friends and neighbors from run and raise chem aSa'm to usefulness and responsibility; as pari- ots, they anxious restore healthfu vgor the members of the body potc as christians they desre to snatch from the burnings of the boomless pit of it's scorchcd aud almost consumed brands. Do you still look for proof of its havoc? Aas who is there that has not, through to his heart e that havoc? Who is ihcre that cannot look around upon the circle of his friends ncghbors connec- lions, and not see some victim of that havoc Among the aged and the young; among the roughness of is norance, aud amid the polish of literature; in every he ha.v nf and hra,v ter" the maker or cnorccr of the laws ofthe and even among the gentle renemenis of the fecbler sex, intemperance has numbered her yoiares her victims. Who is there, here, that has not seen, and often, with the deepest feelings of regret the young man, for whom ali has been done that education and reiine- meni could perform; ihe sunshine of whose early tal ens has excited the hope of his friends and the adm ration Ofihe world with all, which warmth of feeling and susceptibility of character could give to inter est and adorn; destroy the advantages of education, pol lnte the purtes of refinement, cloud the morning shine osinieeci, put out the blaze of the worlds ad mraton and the hopes friends, and smother all that as susceptible and generous aud nObc by the besot- fing influence of this incurable habit; live in menal or useless capacity, and die degraded and despised Icing. Have you known such Such instances Ire too frequent not be within the recollection of sevy one. The tears of parents shed in secret over eh degradation, and the regret of mortified and dis nored friends are too common to need repetition.- p you require more prOOfl Who has not seen gi-
 n,elIect contracted to pigmy size by the deaden'
 Influence of this hahii Elevated in rank; hon. &sD by ihe peoples suhrage the maker OF dispenser @z ahe laws; yet even such as he "haVe fallen from a high estate," and have died in poverty and dis
 or, after every spark of intellect had been extIn- ished and every particle of responsibility Os Sure @ burial of POmPey. ihe sea shore. by two adher- ss or the exile of Napoleon to the ses-girt St. He'
 a was hardly so grea. fall. But is not ooy the Hpng buildings of genius that have been npPed, or @ ripened frmiss of intellect that have been blasted,
 she Eel influence of Intemperance. The farmer
 fallen the victim of ardent spirit, using h as the eitement og his labOur; ihe mechanic has sunk un' R its power, employing it as the reiever Of his fA' he the invalid has still Esr.ber weakened hs frame, Hed has bsen hsrred to the grave, through the 'nu eious prescriptions Of some liquOr-Oving physician Dc wEetched have but deepened their miseries, m ipg is as solaee of tleir sorrows; every class o eety has felt its contrOl until 90 900 of oar citizens
 esy year, have sunk to she grave under its wIsher
 touch.
 know shas all these statements may be "tedious al