The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-01

melancholy are the effects Of the traffic and use
OF Intoxicating drinks upon the interests and mo-
rails of this community, that our Physicians, in a
resolution unanimously passed at meeting
called by public notice, at the Medical College,
on Monday the 9th April, 1885, state: "That
IL Is the opinion of the Medical Faculty Of the
city Of Washington, that ardent spirit is great
source Of disease, ofpoyerty, and Of wretched.
ness IN this community, and that the total dis
useoi It would greatly promote The health, pros
perity, and happiness Of our citizens"
This EVIL, however, owing 10 the strenuous
and united efforts of the friends of temperance,
in which our Catholic brethren have taken dis
tinguished and prominent part, IL on the decline,
and your Committee while wholly opposed TO
coercive measures TO aay this evil, still deem il
but an act of duty TO sate that they think legis-
ation on this subject should keep pace with pub
lie opinion and probably no better provision
could be desired, should the present charter Of
the city be altered or amended, than that the de-
cision oil the question OF granting licenses should
be left TO the people themselves, who, by their
votes in each ward, could declare their wishes.
whether taverns and grog shops should be licen-
sed In those wards, or not.
In conclusion, your Committee would sug-
gest the propriety Of this Society taking acfire
measures for the formation of Juvenile Temper
ance Societies N ouf Sabbath Schools, and in
every way by which the youth and children Of
our city can be brought within the influence Of
the Temperance reform and they would ear
nestly appeal to heads Of families, and all friends
of good order and religion, to lendther aid to the
extension Of the good cause, by at once enroll
ing their names among the friends of temper
ance, and one and all giving prompt and regular
attendance on all temperance meetings, whether
Of the Society to which they belong, or of any
other. In this cause all the friends of mankind
OF morality and religion, can unite heart and
hand, without fear of discord from sectional or
sectarian feelings. Let us, then, present an I'M
broken front, and shoulder to shoulder, war on
against the monster lntemperance, until, by pub
lie opinion, he is driven from our land
To the ladies we appeal for the exercise of
their influence, all powerful il is, and everex-
erted in behalf OF humanity, philanthrophy and
tie welfare, temporal and eternal of the human
family for their own good we are aware that
there is no necessity for them TO unite with us
they have rarely become victims of the fell dis
ease OF intemperance, and s. the whole have no
need OF a physician, but those who are sick :
bat although their own good does not require il,
that of their fellow-citizens-of their fathers
husbands, brothers, sons does, and we are assn
red, that when once convinced of the fact, they
vii be foremost in this, as in every other good
work. Let them unite, them with us heart and
soll, and we have no fear of the result Let
them one and all discountenance the insidous
use Of ardent spirits by children, unless prescrib
ed by skilful physician.
Let not woman, the weaker vessel, arrogate to
herself the power to resist the syren that bnt
lulls to destroy, when man has shown that he
has yielded TO the embrace of the tyrant, like the
majestic pine TO the devastating wild-fre.
The demon of lntemperance is far, very far
from being destroy ed-it is not even vanquished,
but only partially discounted, and unless the
friends of temperance hold on to all the ground
which they have gained, rally and renew the
contest at every pont---stand firm and united,
they will soon again have TO deplore the extern
sion Of this evil. The number of its victims will
increase, and strengthening itself on the defeat
Of each effort for its final suppression, il will
finally triumph over the most Jealous efforts of
All which is respectfully submitted
JOHN WILSON,
John C. HARKNEG8,
~. r. ANDERSON,
&. II. NOURSE,