Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-02-24


a meeting. Our former opponents now
repeat TO us our arguments in favor of
temperance. 1t is undoubtedly owing to
the Roman Catholic clergy having taken
up the cause, that it prospers SO greatly.
Extract from Speech delivered by
Daniel O'Connell, Esquire, M. P. for the
city of Dublin, at the entertainment Civ
en- by the Citizens of Cork TO the Cath
lie Prelates of Ireland.
" But there is another moral and ma
jestic miracle performing at this moment
among the people of Ireland (hear and
cheers y and, my Lords and Gentlemen,
| attest Father Matthew to bear me out.
cloud cheers.) There is a great moral
miracle operating. Don't we know that
there are in this Province alone fifty or
sixty thousand persons who have embra-
ced the principles of Temperance, and
have engaged not to drink any intoxica-
ting liquors whatsoever? (hear, hear -
And do we not see around us the priests
of this great moral revolution? Do we
rot witness its effects in our streets
Where are now the riots, and drunken
ness, and disorder, which some time since
dsgraced them? Why, | could myself
mention many instances, were it right to
partcularize any. There is, for instance,
poor man in Tralee named Higgins,
who was so abandoned a drunkard, that,
at the time of the Cholera, he actually
affected having the disease, in order that
he might be sent to the hospital. and have
an opportunity Of drinking the brandy
which was given to the patients. He is
now a sober and comfortable individual
| know that it is said that all this is but
transitory, and the work of a day, and
that it will soon break down. But there
have not yet been many examples which
would give symptoms of its breaking
down. And ask those who say so, are
they ignorant of the fxity and firm adj
hesion to principle, as well as the yivaci-
ty and mirthful disposition of the Irish
character? I am convinced that God
has blessed the Irish people with these
peculiar and apparently inconsistent traits
of disposition, that, in the midst of mis-
cry, and privation, and distress, they may
possess remedy for their evils, and have
a reward to compensate them, and lead
to others which are never ending"
Important letter from the Mayor of Linn
erick to the Rev. Theobald Matthew.
Richmond Place, Limerick, September
"a, 1889.
Reverend Sir,-I beg you to except
my grateful acknowledgements for your
polite attention in sending me a valuable
little work on temperance. That sub
ject has for considerable time engaged my
serious attention, as I have for several
years on principle abstained from the use
of wine and spirituous liquors. was
anxious that others besides myself should
be brought to feel the beneficial effects
arising from adopting similar course
but for length Of time I almost des-
paired that the doctrine of general tenn
perance would be looked on in any 9TH
er light than as a visionary one. AS
Coroner, the numerous instances of sud-
den and awful deaths, arising from in
temperance, which came under my OBJ
servation, were most appalling. | have
held about one hundred and forty in
quests since the LIST Of October, 1898
and can safely affirm that one half of
that number caused, directly or indirect
ly, by intoxicating liquors. There were
eight cases of death by drowning, several
by burning, and many from apoplexy,
while in state ofintoxication and with
in a short period four individuals COM
mitted suicide while under the hcllsh in
huence of strong drink. But, thank God,
brighter prospect is now dawning.--
Your unparalleled exerions in the cause
of temperance have been, under God,
crowned with the most signal success,
and | believe no place more SO than in
Limerick. A moral regeneration has ia
ken place among the people of this city,
which is really most astonishing, aud
truly gratifying TO every philanthropic
mind. Our police reports are much les
soned, petty sessions business consdera-
bly, reduced, and even summonses in the
Court of Conscience have fallen off one
third. Our streets and places of public
resort are regular and quiet; and that
which must be most gratifying to you is
the fact, that although reports have at
different times been industrously crcu-
lated, of members of your society having
broken their Temperance Pledge, have
not been able TO make out solitary in
stance of such being the fact. But those
who have for SO many years fattencd on
the decentralization of the people will die
hard; although they may as well give up
the ghost quietly, as their game is COM
pletely up. That you may live long to
continue the noble work you have so sue
cessfully undertaken, is the sincere wish
of, Rev. Sir,
Your very faithful humble servant,
Q. ii. FITzGERI.p. Mayor Of Limerick.