Litchfield enquirer., 1834-05-01
ron THE LlTclsElELD ENQUIRER.
AN ADDRESS.
delivered before the North Canaan Temperance SDci
ETY., February 25kk, 1884.

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Delivered 6ef0re the NORTH Canaan Ten.peronce Soe;
ely, February 25th, 1884.
! BY y. 9. ADAMS.
Esslshed al the request Of number Of individuals
The anniversary Of another Temperance Society,"
has AT length arrived. Anoiher revolving year. with
ito changes Of seasons, aud a change OF scenes. has
passed away since last met upon an occasion like
the present. Again are assembled 10 aid in pro-
noting cause, in the promotion Of which NOT onlv
we, but nations are concerned. Again We are asaem
6led the purpose Of putting IN operation some Of
those means which nature has placed in our power,
for exterminasng from our and and from the eaEsh,
the greatest evil with which the human race was 81.
er afflicted.
This 10 aday and anniversary which is big with in
terest. II 10 day which the people Of ssfFeren,
religious denominations, Of every age, sex, rank aud
statioG-the advocates Of opposing principles-fay
aside all party feelings, and unite together in celebr
ting. i is day which the affairs dedicated 10 the
worship Of Almighty God, resoaad with the voices of
the advocates Of temperance, not only 10 America,
but in Europe also.
And confederation Of she imporance ofthe oiisc,
Of this eelehFaiion-that s effect 10 10 be tc mot on
" darng the present, ba. through all the coming ages
Of times should excite within NC the submest feelings
Of the hnmaa heart.
Il is an occasion TOO, on which our micds canno,
bath 6lled with Mingled feelings Of melancholy and
delight When we look back for few short years
upon the past, see in,emperance holding unuoless
ted, aad increasing her mighty sway mankind--
few less, we zee temperance society formed upon
the principle Of total abstinence from ardent spirits
and mighty army arisen ia formidable array against
it, We now see tina, army greatly diminrhed, aud
fast diminishing. Different causes have combined to
effect its decrease Opposing millions have deserted
the standard which they themselves had reared and
enlisted under the baRaer Of temperance. Other mil
lions have faliea victims their god, and now gil
drunkards' graves.
The thought. that The numher Of he oppaaers o the
temperance reformation, and consequently the mum.
Der Of the desroyers Of tkeir owa happiaess, and
thai Of their fellow men, - now eomparasiyely 20
small, is pleasing inshe extreme,
Bot the Thought that iaieperance ssill exists among
ussiat the esiis resnling fom Il are s,ii lei. 10
great extent, deiracts much from ahe happiness we
otherwise might feel Yei this fact SHOULD stimuaie
osto make still greater exertiaas.
The motto Of every friend OF temperance total
abstinence Jiom ardent spirits 'ihough has been
thousand times done. should again and again. on ey
cry suitable occasion, be proclaimed 70 she WORLD
This mus. be the motto Of az before oar cause can
meet with 10 fiaaI triumph. And we firmly believe,
.ha. .here I period il coming time. when i win bs
! One reason why we urge men 10 act upon the pria-
cipIe OF total abstinence 10, because shat y acting
upon this, and this alone, there 10 safety. Men who
indulge in the Of ardent spirits almost always
first, do ii moderately. They think they shall
do otherwise.
Bot alas !<Aicohol like the siren who en,iced men
by her songs and then devoured them, lures them on
graduay, impercep,iby 70 themselves, all the while
crying peace, safety, danger! until she hurls them
hcadlous lotto the vortex Of insemperance. as
What reason have men now TO expect but that the
same causes will continue to produce the same etfectsl
What reason have they 10 expect bot thas they co-
mence and pursue the course wsich others have
commenced and pursued they shalt come 70 the same
dreaAfai ead They have none. Oahsss have talk
ed aad acted AZ those talk aud act, who Indulge
10 the sse OF ardent spirits. They, many Of them,
came upon the stage with brigh, prospects ind prom
isiag hopes Of the future; but those prospects and
hopes haze been blasted forever, by the Of niox
ica,iDg liquors. And only the hopes and prospects
Of these who have used them themseIves ba, OF their
drea 10 they were rising in the world had their pros.
ecis shrosded ia darkness by The iatemperancs OF
father. His shame has brought npon them the con.
tempt aad negleOs Of those around them. and they
hare sank down in espais to drag out their wretch
ed lives ia otscuriy f they have not sunk down
10 despair but have attempted TO rise 10 the world,
their hearts being adorned with every virtue. they
have had 10 struggle against an opposing current,
which has too often ovespowered their exsrtions.-
This may be disputed by some bot Ikaas TO be true
Aud if there any presen who are placed in such
situation, would say 70 them. SINK not down in Do
spar. but commeacs yosr s,ruggle and cOntinse sha
ssrusgle. ill yoa come Of triumphant lie down 10
yonr graves. You may be successful. Already !
brighter day seems 10 be dawnipg upoU you.
Often has the fair form Of innocence fallen help
lsas victim 10 the unrelen,iag cruelty Of him, Wit
was sadsr the demiaion Of iatempeEanee. She ask
him 10 pause IN his eoarss bst she asks in vain
yaa. are her psayers-in vain her tears-in vain tn
eaiseass Of his childreain vain 10 be told whss b.
oscs was and what be still might be-aIl = van; b
sbound BY aspell which be will not break.
If there are any pseseat. who iadulgs 10 . moderat
use Of ardess spirits. permit him. though yosag. VIII
nov addresses Jon, ensreat you BY ahas . sacred
aud all that 10 dear yoa. consider the consequsn
ces Of he course you pursuing, and stop ere ID
too late. These Consequences here have not hal