Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-06-01
Temperance.
Remarks of John P. Hale

At the late anniversary Of The Am Temperance Union.
The Hon. John P Hale, Of the u. S. Senate
was then introduced, and was received with the
most enthusiastic applause. We can give but a
meager sketch Of his remarks as furnished by
the N Y. Papers.
Having offered the following resolution, viz
Resolved That as the prosperity and happiness Of
people, and the permanence of civil government, de-
pend upon their intelligence self control and high
state Of morals the temperance reformation must be
cherished by every phanthropst and patriot as one
of the safeguards Of our republic.
He proceeded to address the assemblage and
said that it was with the greatest dfidence that
he appeared before such numerous and respec-
table audience, when he had to speak in the
Epresence of men whose genius and eloquence,
while laborng in this cause, has given them
universal name; but as it was considered by
the committee that his position was a pecu-
lar one at the present time, they invited him to
appear the night before he left the city He said
that the laws which regulate an individual and a
nation are, and forever must be, one and the
same and there is a spread of in6delty i'll the
land, caused by those who teach that there is
one law for private duties, and different one for
public A more false or more deceitful sent-
ment could not be entertained. The Chinese
among many of their peculiar habits, had the
following one: When they had found, in pay
ing their deyotions to one out of the multiplicity
of false gods that they worship, they had given
all their prayers and offerings without receiving
an equivalent, they proclaimed a solemn edict
through the country, calling upon those who
had any thing to say concerning this idol and
when all had agreed that they had received no
profit for all their worship, they hurled the idol
to the ground, and punished the priests for ma
king them worship false godfather inquiring
whether there were not any false gods amongst
US, he proceeded as follows For long series
of years we have been offering costly SACRIFICES
TO the demon of intemperance, and what profit
have we gained Ask the grey haired old man.
who comes with lettering step, what profit he
had receivedl and he would point to his with
cred cheeks as an answer, and tell you, that his
first born and his last, were gone down to their
narrow bed that the wife of his bosom had died
of broken heart, and that nothing was left for
him now but an infamous name and the prospect
of going down to a drunkards grave. Ask wo-
man what profit she has received and she will
tell of her crushed affection, her broken heart
the only thing left her is to drag out a miserable
existence in the abodcs Of crime and poverty
Pale and diseased forms could be summoned up
to Join testimony to this issue, and the verdict
would 60 forth that, as we have SACRIFICED our
health, wealth and character, on the altar of this
demon he should be cast down, and his minis
tiers prevented from assisting him. When the
Judgment is pronounced, why is it not put in ex-
ecution? There are two reasons that prevent
it. The first is, that We arc too much the slaves
of fashion, and feel it almost disgrace to be a
teetotaller The Americans generally promise
and determine with "but" and an "if' and
thus fad many loop-hoe, to escape from their
PROMISE reminding him of the ASsyrlan that
was cured of leprosy by the prophet. Believing
that it must be the true God, who had showed
that power he determined on worshpping him ;
but going back to his masters house, he found
him praying to his favorite idol, Ammon, and
joining him in the deYotions, concluded by praying
if he had done wrong, may God pardon his master
Fashion is your Ammon, and you bow down be-
fore it, and partake of the Intoxicating cup, be-
cause it is Questionable not to do so. The Sec
ond reason why execution is not put In force
against this demon is, because you refuse to take
the pledge You say "Why should sign It?
do you take me for child, not able to take care
of itself, that | must put myself into your keep
ing" In answer to this, look to the many pied
ges that the condition of society compels you to
give. You cannot sue for the recovery of a
shilling's worth of property, in any court OF law
without first holding up your hand, and Pledglng
yourself before God that you will speak nothing