Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-19
An Address.

Washington Temperance S0c'efy'
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: - The
undersigned were appointed by your
delegates at the last meeting in Platte
vile, 10 prepare an address setting
forth the objects and prospects of your
praiseworthy undertaking. Unavold-
able casualties have prevented prompt
attention to the duties you imposed
upon US, but we now cheerfully under
take the task with which you have
honored US, relying on the doubtful
maxim, sit is never too late to do
good" Our zone idea is not hidden
in corner; Total Abstinence from all
that intoxicatcs, has risen like a star
of hope over the civilized world, and
its altitude is now such that every eye
sees it in every cline. We dare to
assert that our address will not meet
with reader who in theory at least,
does not approve ofteetotalism. The
premature death and ruin of untold
thousands, prove that it is a dan
gcrous and bootless experiment to as
certain how near mariner may sail TO
the whirlpool Of Norway, and yet es-
cape the vortex-how near a voyager
may approach the cataract of Niagara,
and yet avoid the awful somerset in
to the boiling abyss. Well knowing
and humbly acknowledging human
frailty, the solemn warning of the
Washingtonian TO every son and
daughter of Adam born, is, for the
sake of Heaven, Of all you hold dear
on earth, of your soul, body, charac-
ter and happiness, do not come within
the attraction Of appetite at aldo
not tempt the descending, deceitful
current which has hurried conquerors
and kings, and men OF The mightiest
resolution to an untimely and shameful
end. Those who feel secure in the
castle of their own resolution, evince
such erroneous views of human char
acter, as to ensure TO the destroyer an
easy victory. Let Van Amburg en-
ter into the lions cage and confde his
head to the jaws of the king OF beasts;
but lntemperance is monster of more
savage instincts, with whom no man
can tamper with impunity.
And what reason can any man ad-
vance for Withholding his name from
your pledge? Whatever ostensible
reasons he may assign, in nine cases
out of ten, if you will observe his hab-
its, you will find that at heart he loves
the bottle. He sees the propriety.
the necessity of total abstinence; but
withholds his name affirming that he
is tenacious of his blood bought liber-
ty. But scrutinize his habits. Area
DIV YOU discover, he holds secret as
signations with the crimson eyed
daughters of alcohol. His objections
to your pledge seldom arise from bis
reason or conscience, but from his ap-
petite.
On the score Of liberty we would
say one word in Standardization. The
friends of total abstinence are the last
men to abridge the liberty of any Of
their fellow-eitizens. Their object is,
not to restrict, but 10 enlarge, and pro-
tect this exalted blessing. Who is
tenacious of the liberty of becoming a
slave TO appetite? Whoever believes
that the use of intoxicating liquors as
a beverage, is morally wrong, as tenn
perance men do, is deprived by this
very conviction, OF 'he liberty to use
them in the same scrse and to the same
extent as though he had signed thou
sand pledges Another objector says,
intoxicating liquors are the creatures
of God; therefore he will use them
with thanklulness. Grant this-but
must every creature OF God 90 one
way--down the throat! As well might
nitric, sulphuric and prussic acid assert
their divine origin and plead for ad-
mission into the stomach. This objec-
ton too is in most cases receivable in
to appetite. 1t is far more gallant and
chivalrous to become the vindicator Of
the honor of God and his creatures,
and the knight Grant Of the Goddess
Of Liberty than to acknowledge ones
self the slave Of a despotic and debas-
ing appetite.
We therefore adopt the conclusion
that the theory Of total abstinence, like
that Of christianity. Isl approved by
almost every intelligent man and wo-
man in the county. The work to be
accomplished then, is to bring the
practice OF our citizens up TO their
theory. That practice sooner or later
fellows our opinions, il as certain