Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-21
ADDRESS

ADDRESS
De!;reredby Mr.. WIN. X. McDoNALD, before the
.4leTandria Temperance Society.
Auy thing having in direct view the promotion
of happiness. must be interesting to society-in-
terestinr, at least, to majority of those persons
who take an interest in the cultivation OF the be-
neyolent affections, and in the sanchty OF the So
cial compact. For some time past, the benevo-
lent and humane have witnessed the rapid march
of A vice which not only should be unnatural, but
unnational. Their fears have been alarmed by
the mournful cries of Perjury; by the CHASTITY APP
pearances of Want; BY the tears OF excruclated
Sensibi!ity; and by the haggard and wretched
looks of the victims themselves. Sanctioned by
the force of public opinion; sustained by the ap-
probation If conscience; uphfted beyond the
reach ofreproach, and mpeled by the knowledge
that Intemperance is growing evil, this Society
has thrown itself into moral Thermopyla, and
has determined to abide the issue. Though re-
semblius that gallant band, under Leonldas, lat
least in numbers) which de6ed the hosts OF mighty
Persia, we still trust that we shall be supported,
and not overpowered, in the conflict.
By the vote of this Society, have been cho-
sen to address you--a vote cOnferring on me an
honor more complimentary than just. Acting
under the authority Of this high trust, can only
promise to do the best in my power.
The subject selected for this essay is, The
effect wrought by Intemperance upon the COM
munity. but more especially upon young men
M, effects ,pbich an Indulgence in this rice ,0ifl
produce upon their habits. repufal,on, and pros
meet, in future life" shall. therefore, COM
mence with this general proposition, 'Ihat this
vice h,, been deprecated in all ages, and that
-, How nm
of antiquity. either as sages philosophers, or war
riors. have regarded temperance as cardinal
y;rtna - Virtue itself has been divided bv ETH.
cal writer's into benevolence, prudence, fortitude,
and fempero,,ce;s and bv all modern writers on
the subject ofmoras, temperance and justice have
invariably been ranked among the cardinal vir-
tues. =.
SO This vice has been deprecated in all aces
In Sparta. it was common practice with parents
70 intoxicate their slaves, and in this degraded
situation TO exhibit them to their children. So
fearful were they of this vice, that they could not
content themselves with precept alone, but en-
deayored to enforce that precept by example,
At Athens. those who engaged IN debaucheries
were not permitted to speak in public: and the
reason qiven bv Scion the Legislator was. that a
man who had no shame, was unworthy OF being
entrusted with the feelings of the people 1t must
no rememembered that these sentiments existed
only in the DAYS of her freedOm-when, renOwn
ed in arms and in the sciences, she was mistress
. of the world and queen of empires. Those ills
which nrophetic vision had seen, at last came on
hr. and those calamities which her sages of old
had anticipated and acclaimed against, were the
very means of appending her, In provincial ca
pacitv, to the possessions Of Imperial Rome
WHY was this? The answer is inscribed upon
the pages Of her historv-Luxury, effeminacy.
and iniempera,ace. BY degrees, crept in. and de-
stroyed that superstructure which was founded
in wisdom, and cemented by the experience Of
ages.
Rome herself. when in the plentude of power
was conscious that to her temperance and simpl
city of living, she was indebted for all her glory
Younp men were not allowed to drink wine un
III they had attained the age of thirty years; ane
their women were not permitted 10 drink 1t a
any time. II we we trace the Romans through
centuries. until we find them under the dominion
of the Emperors succeeding Augustus Caesar. We
shall find them gradually relapsing from tha
state of temperance which had formerly distin
gaished them. Instead of repairing to the ielt
to fight the battles of their country. thew con
tented themselves bv employing mercenaries t.
do the work which they had usually performed
What was the consequence! lhey lost that cha
racter which they had won, for bravery in arms
and simplicity in life. Nolouger feared by thei
enemies nor countananced BY their allies, the,
suffered Rome. which had been ornamented b,
magni6centtenplesa and palaces-whichh had beer
consecrated bv the halls of science-which hat
heen enriched bv the treasures of literature, ant
rendered holy bv the ashes of their ancestors, t
H. Numbered by the Northern tribes in the yea
Il t1o until finally in the year 900 n
the Christian era. Charlemagne Delivered tn
Roman empire into the hands of the Pope VIII