The Washingtonian., 1845-07-05
Reported for the Washingtonlan.
ADDRESS ON TEMPERANCE.
BY EDWARD A. DUNsCoMB.


BY EDWARD A. DUNsCoMB.
Delivered before the Freemens Vigiant Total Absti-
nence Society of Washington, June 10, lSf5.
The cause of Temperance is high and a
holy cause. If we could behold the long array
of genius and of talent that have been rescued
from degradation, and restored to their families
and their country by its soul-renovating infu.
ence, none would doubt the truth of the re
mark, or hesitate an instant to contribute all
his influence for the promotion Of SO glorious
cause The King upon his throne-,he pea
SAINT in his hut-have been the victims of the
poison which sparkles, but to fascinate and de-
stroy. The most gifted intellects have fallen
before its whitening influence, and it has been
the cause, directly or indirectly, Of more than
one of the miseries that have afflicted the peo-
pie of this country. The rich drink to while
away time, the poor to be sociable and drown
sorrow; and yet, if the first would remember,
that time is given not to be squandered, and
the second, that sorrow can be overcome by
virtuous thought and calm resolution, an in
road would be made upon the destroyer, and
he would be banished from our firesides, and
no longer be recognised as our household god
If the poor would only see, that if they would
drink from the fountains-cod water and
knowledge-they would rise, instead of sink,
in the scale of society; that they would hasten
on the dawn of that day, when virtue and
merit, and not rank and wealth, would be pass.
ports to happiness and power-methinks they
would realize their wretched folly, in binding
themselves in bondage to vice, which has
never given one hour Of real happiness to
their existence
Blessed, as we are, with country not ex-
celled by any upon the face Of the globe, in
the fertility of its soil and the freedom of its
institutions, why should we sacrifice the boon
of liberty, and become degraded, when so high
a standard Of excellence is placed in our view
by the light of Heaven, and we have the abil-
ity TO reach it, if we resolve to be free from
every thing which enslaves the mind Of man
Who can describe the beauties of our forma-
tion, or analyze the perfection of the mind of
man? To destroy that which our Creator has
made clear and beautiful, to gratify momen-
tary taste, or to secure one hour of artificial
happiness, is doing great wrong to ourselves,
as we'll as to Him who made us for better pur-
poses What would you think of the wisdom
of an individual who would deliberately de
slroy machine exquisitely made, and bear
which had cost the labor of years to complete!
Would you not think him fool thus to de-
stroy the labor Of years? What, then, do you
think of him who ruins intellect-thought-
the handiwork of God, the perfection of reason?
There is way to avoid this danger; touch
not, taste not, handle not. Good never came
from the fumes of the distillery-neither has
virtue ever been the handmade of Intempe-
rance. Go to our populous cities and as the
shades of evening steal over the horizon, and
the hum of business has nearly ceased, wander
to the suburbs where black volumes of smoke
fill the air, and the clanking of machinery
gives notice that here business has not stop
ped. Go, when hushed in slumber the labor
ing man sleeps, when the breath of sleeping
innocence can scarce be heard, and when upon
the pillow, the sorrowing heart sobs itself to
rest, and see and hear the fires of the disli-
lery and the folly Of man.
The rye and corn intended, by the wisdom
and love of God, for the benefit of man, is here,
by his perverted talent and ingenuity, con-
verted into deadly poson--an agent of crime,
foe to happiness. Here, amid innocence,
crime is preparing for its victim, and avarice
has steeed the heart Of man against his fe-
low man. Here, amid clouds of smoke, the
almost ceaseless motion of the steam engine,
volumes Of noxious steam, and the fitting Of
forms before the glare and light of the furna-
ces, behold the beauties of the dstilery. Oh!
is it not sight to scken the patriotic al
most paralyze the efforts of the philan,hropis,?
And yet those who thus, by wholesale manu-
facture, as well as those who sell and retail
the liquid fire, defend themselves with the
plea that they do not compel any to drink
they do not force il upon them--it is their own
wish. Are they not the ministers to evil pas
sions? Do they not rob the laboring man of
his wages? Do they not fail to give him value
received for his money? And even if they
count their trash as worth price, because j,