The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-04-03


consent to deny themselves, not the benefits, not
tho enjoyment, but the positive injury which
they sustain from the use Of into Xicatiug drinks.
The result would be equal TO the gift of ESQ.,
100000 year, from some foreign nation, to be
applied to the payment Of their national debt
Would this he Il trifiing benefit? Certainly not.
IL would be giving new Impetus to the national
prosperity, beyond ali former parallel.
have of late endured much labor, and suffer
ed much fatigue bug rejoice that aftera Jour
ney Of many hundred mile, find myself honor
ed to stand beneath this magnificent dome,
and to address such an audience rs is now be-
fole me; fer although do not enjoy the dignity
Of being an American citizen, yetyour sympathy
with the great cause advocate, has crowned me
with The honor so highly appreciate. aln full
lyaWalo that much must necessarily depend on
the example Of what may be denomiuated the
higher classes of society. before many Of whom
now speak. Heaven forbid thut, on the one
hand, should accuse you Of being more i'm
moral than others yet with the hrmness which
becomes the advocate of truth, | must say that
the great and efficient cause of the continuance
of this great evil OF incompetence in the world is
chiefly attributable to The higher classes Of So
ciety. Fifty years ago, the relative state of the
higher and lower classes in respect 10 temperance
was Just the reverse of what it now is. Then
the lower classes were comparatively sober while
those above them were notorious for their habits
of incompetence. You are ali perhaps, familiar
with the rroverb we have in England :-"As
druni; as a lord ~ Il proverh originating in the
fact that lords and wealthy men were formerly
among the most incorporate ofthe community.
Now though you have no lords titular, yet doubt
! less there are among you many who are lords IN
the Cuse and opulance Of their circumstances, or
who would at least he unwilling TO be placed
cutie on par with the lowest in society. 70
these, and especially TO The ladies h ere present
- IL. Il, sl,,,
Use OF wine operates as Il constant stumbling
block in the way of these who are endeavoring
TO draw the lower classes from theu o. intoXi-
eating drinks. When we demonstrate with them
on the subject they say to us in reply az oar
intentions, 10 doubt, are very good, your beuev-
oCnc9 unquestionabIc, and your arguments OF
great force, hut we should like TO see little exam
pie as well as precept springing from you. Leave
OIL your use oil wine and other stimulating drinks
and then we shall be the better prepared to lis
ten to you, when you tell us that alcohol is not
good. AS for US, we are not able 20 buy wine,
nor can we spare from our working time so
much as would be necessary TO sit over it as
gentlemen DO. Men who depend on their daily
labor for their daily bread. must huv that LIQUOR
which IS cheapest and which ihcy can drink
the quickest. Wait till we get so fur Up in
life rs to be ona level with you, and ihen we will
drink only Champaign, ladies' wine, rs il is called.
with perhaps an occasional glass Of Burgundy,
OF Caret Sdueme, Hook, and such delicate
vntages or even agree to do without it AZ all.
But we have secret suspicion that Wine is liked
by the gentry, chiefly for the alcohol it contains.
At least, we never heard Of the fact that any gen
tlcnan bad taken he pains to extract the alcohol
from it, and them drink the residue" When a
poor laboreg makes 30 you SUCH an appeal as
this, what can you answer? Nothing. You
can only resolve to 20 home, reflect on The sub
lcct, and yield the victory to the excellence o.
their logic, as well as to the knowledge and eX.
rionce of the uadical faculty on the subject
We follow their advice with great respect when
they recommend to us to swallow the most ma
uSeous and revolving mixtures. We close our
nostrils, and after endeavoring for some time TO
screw up our resolution, we al last gulP down
the determination OF denominations, which perhaps
makes us sick for days after. All this we do
when we believe our health TO be in danger.
Let It's then try to respect the same advice, when
tits given us in regard to alcohol, and show our
confidence in their Judgment by regarding it, as
they do las poison, never necessary to persons IN
health, but always more orle5s injurious.
But must hasten to an end. have done the
utmost that my strength would permit, TO lay
before you in the simplest language | could find,
facts connected with the great question of Tenn
perance, which brings us here. | ask you TO
pointer them well. l beg you to consider what
will be the moral effect of bauishng every in
eO@l'"h'iS IhiiOt ttIu your Lihi5j auu ny tH'S
example aided by corresponding efforts banishjng
it from your country. If yon are inclined to
spend the same amount OF money, or double the
amount which wine has hitherto cost yea. in
objects Of convenience, of instruction, or even oil
personal comfort or oftaste, nave no objections,
provided the money be invested in some innocent
form. !fyou desire your children to grow up
with an unblemished reputation, oh protect them
from the insidious draft. If you desire that the
Interests of religion, the cause Of education, and
the reign of general happiness should be aug
mented and accelerated, there is no one means
among all that you can employ, which in It's ef-
lects will be so extensive as this, on the moral
habits of mankind. 1t is too common TO say,
"WeiI, l am convinced, admit the truth of all
you say, but what can Tdo? Why should join
a Temperance Society? BY doing so, seem to
show a doubt whether shall hold out in tenn
perate habits. A pledge is proof Of Il want OF
confidence in myself; bat have that confidence,
q therefore do not make pledges think, how
ever, can furnish an answer to that objection,
which will come home to the bosom OF every
Is there tirh human life when the