The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-20

White Cottage, .Nou. IL, 1916.
REMARKS OF MR.. .R. M. HARRISON
Before the sFreeman's Vigilant Total Abstinence
Society"
Mr.. President: 1t has been so long since
helped to pull the Temperance car, that ]
feel awkward, extremely awkward in the
gear, and if | should faulter, sir, you must
not ascribe lit any lack Of zeal on my part,
but to want of practice in the good work in
which we are engaged Sir, ! felicitate you
all upon the revival Of this ancient Society;
it commenced from small beginnings, and
under inauspicious circumstances: but like
some friendly and fourishing tree, it struck
It's roots deep in the earth, and has spread
its branches far and wide, and thousands
have taken shelter thereon. Sir, remem-
Der well, when ! pledged myself to this in
stitution-t was a stormy winters evening,
when but few Of us were gathered together;
my heart has been with you ever since. Ev-
(. . 4 .
cry sun that rises and sets; every moment
that speeds its onward way; all the expe-
rience of the past-thc death of the drunk
ard-the life of the temperate man-all, all,
and every thing around and about, confirm
my belief in the absolute necessity of entire
abstinence from alcoholic drinks Mr.. Pre-
sident, the friend who made the opening ad-
dress tonight, seems to enjoy confidence
in his strength, as a temperance man, which,
for the world, would not deprive him of.
He says his position is bold one, and that
he feels not the cravings Of that appetite, of
which Others complain. Fortunate, thrice
fortunate for him, and peculiar as fortunate!
Mr. President never have been moro forci-
bly, reminded of that admonition contained
in the book of wisdom, than by recent events
in the history Of the Temperance Reforma-
ton" Let him that thinketh he standeth,
take heed lest he fall" who stand at the
helm and guide the vessel, beware that some
billow do not shake your hold!
Leaders, champions, captains! ye that are
purest, bravesl, best, and from whose lips
flows eloquence sweet as morning dews from
fragrant flowers, even ye, take ye heed lest
ye fall. Sir, while would not encourage
an overweening confidence in the strength
of our single arm, would be far from favor
ing the idea of our inability to meet danger
in its worst forms and gain complete VIC
tory in the end. Let the glorious fact which
has been developed in the progress Of the
Temperance reformation, be proclaimed to
the world, that IL is in the po,oer OF every
man to hroac off the uice Of intemperance,
and become a sober man! Sir, what re-
lieving, what cheering, what a heart-sooth-
ing fact how the poor mothers bosom will
dilate with joy, when she reads this fact and
looks at her child, who, peradventure, may
have just taken the pledge, and is now nobly
against this fell destroyer of his
peace!
What an amount of comfort and consola-
ton it will impart to the thousands, who just
before were drenched in tcars and yet there
are those who affect to be entirely indiffer-
ent to this happiness on the one side, and
this misery on the other. Nay, there are
those, it would seem, who can look in upon
the great charnel-house with stern indiffer-
ence, and turn away without sigh over the
appalling spectacle Of the thousands that are
therein But, sir, whatever 9th
ers may do, and however others may think,
let it continue to be our province and our
pride to bind up the broken hearted, to di-
minish, if it be possible, the amount of hu-
man misery. And has not the amount Of
human wo been lessened by the Temperance
Reform' Sir, never, since the early stars
sang together, has there been more Joy on
earth, than has been diffused every where,
over mountain and plain, by the newly risen,
and still rising star Of Temperance. Sir, let
it rise higher and higher let its benignant
light chase away the darkness that yet lin
gers in the low places and high places Of
&c "a, ,il 1at ~ ba.tIa L..1 IL. IL = L..rL.