The Columbian fountain., 1846-10-23
GREAT MEETING IN
THE PARK.
(Continued.)

@ (Contnued.) Isl
Begin with your magnificent stone Astol
/, House, where the work Of ruin is blocked
out and 60 down through the common
taverns to the fve-point groggeries, where
their customers are finally packed and sea-
led and sent to to the devil no man can
point out one solitary good that ever yet re-
suited from the business of rumseliing.--
But its evils-it would require the angel
Gabriel to point them out. Gods angels
only know them all. 1t has cursed and
blighted and blasted all who have come
within its influence. 1t has destroyed ia
theirs, brothers, sons, mothers, sisters,
daughters; it has ravaged through our pub
lie, private houses, our parlors and church.
es. And worse than all, it has done this
under the sanction of the law! We, the
people, who revere the virtues and triumph
in the name of Washington, whose image
waves before US, have legalized that which
continually destroys and damns our fellow
citizens Is it not then time to speak out3
Why have not the people Of New York
city right to say whether this system OF
legalized murder shall exist among them or
not, as well as the people in all other parts
of the state' Must this great commercial
centre be the charnel house-the great Col
gotha of the state9 Here you are with
your three thousand licensed rumshops,
and as many more unlicensed ones, from
the splendid drinking palaces down TO the
dark subterranean taverns and saloons Of
ruin and death, rum-ruled, ridden
Victims are falling all around you, wives
are murdered, and children are turned
homeless in the streets.
All your social and family circles are en-
dangered by the rum traffic. 1t has sent an
infectious disease, dry-rot, all through
your politics. No; it is rum-rot. Rum
carries the votes of your city, and rum puts
in your officers. The whole work Of e.
leclioneering is done at the groggeries, and
under the influence of grog. Why, j
would just as soon vote for the devil him
self, as for man who goes to rum shop
to find his constituency In Philadelphia,
we use plain talk, and call things by their
right rames. appeal not to political par
ties. They are all under rnm-domination.
Rum has ridden them all till their backs are
sore. Would to God we could unhorse the
william,
Your legislature has said, to all the rest
Of the stale, that they may determine for
themselves whether liquor shall be sold or
not; but in the city of New York it shall
be sold, whether the people will it or not.
Why is this Is it desired, to continue
killing your sailors, destroying your pro-
fessional men, impoverishing your mechan-
les, disgracing your ministers, running hus-
bands, wives and children? The poison is
the same, whether il is dealt out at the big
Astor or the little dark cellar, in an obscure
place. The "respectable" and ssashiona-
BILE" houses are the worst, for it is in them
that the drinking is mostly began. ] ask
the fathers Of your city, if they love their
sons--those boys who are the real bone and
sinew of our country? Wherein lies the
greatest dangers which surround them ,
| answer, the rum shops are ten thousand
times ten thousand the greatest evil which
besets their pathway. Rum mingles with
and instigates them in nearly all the evil
ways into which they fall. What arms the
burglar2 what inspires the gambler what
sustains the brothel2 what exciles the in
cendiary, but rum' Fathers! ! say to you,
|, too am father, have son, first
horn, now just entering on the first stage of
active life. Thank God he is a pledged
teetotaer; yes, and an uncompromsing
Son of Temperance.
Is there father here who desires to save
son or daughter Then ask you, with
fathers heart, to put away, wholly and
forever, this evil traffic. If you had the
power to rid your community Of that pesti-
lential scourge, the small pox, would you
not do it' Yet in comparison with the
rum traffic that scourge would be blessing.
Young men, you have fathers, mothers;
have you a desire TO sustain and cherish
them' Then array yourselves against the
rum traffic. You have sisters; do you not
wish to shield them from the horrors OF
drunkenness ! Will you not demand of
your Legislature the right to vote on this
subject (Cries of yes, yes.) You say
yes. God help You to succeed. If you
heard Of a foreign foe approaching your
shores, il a British army were about to in.
wade your city, your weapons Of war would
he soon ready for the fight, and death o.
victory would be your cry. You have /
r,nnh xyoroa anan,., on,1on 49,, ..al,,s.,