Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-07-02
ADDRESS.

GEsrLrMEN---OfMe Order Of the Sons of Tenn
peraace Of the Valley Dluision:
The ladies of Mt. Sidney and neighborhood,
now here assembled, have made me their organ,
and they have honered me highly, too, to com
munlcate to you their warmest wishes and most
earnest desires fer the welfare and prosperity OF
your Institution, and to present to you this beau
| tiful banner in token Thereof.
These ladies have moi been disintefested spec
tators OF the glorious work which you have be-
gun and conducted up to the present time with so
much success. No, gentlemen, they witnessed
the commencement of yQuasgreat work Of philan-
thropy with much anxiety and socitude; Tor they
had friends, near and dear to them, who We're
not beyond tEefeach of the Tenpter., and they
now behold your success-the realization of their
tondest hopes with Joy and delight inexpressihle.
Yes, they see the good that you have done with
no ordinary emotions of pleasure and gratitude
By year efforts, they :haTeseen the Demon Of
evil driven from his haunts, where he brought
naught but proverty-squalid and wretched pow
erty--sickness disease and death, They have
seen their friends and acquaintance snatched
from the very grasp OF the Destroyer and placed
upon rock of safety. They have seen the poor
miserable, degraded drunkard lifted up out Of
the mre and filth in which he wallowed as a
brute and assume fair and respectable position
among his fellow-men. They have seen peace
where there was once no peace-eplenty where
once there was naught but desttution. They
have seen the path of the Destroyer made de-
sert by his whitening and blighting footsteps
they now see that desert ':reioice and blossom as
the rose" They have seenall this, and more,
as tho result of your noble undertaking. Then, is
it to be wondered at that such as these the fair st
of Gods creation, and alike the most tender and
sympathzing-w hearts are full Of sympa-
! thy for others woes-is it to be wondered at I
say, that such as these should feel an interest,
aye, deep and an abiding interest in the pro-
gress of an Institution which has so much to do
in alternating the sorrows and sutferings of man
kind. No, gentlemen, but they bid me to tell
you that they feel an interest which language
would fail to express-they bid me say to you
Go on-let your cry be, onward, nor rest I'M
til every yestige OF this genius Of ruin and woe be
swept from the face of the earth" They have
come here to-day for the purpose of giving a
manifestation OF their feeling towards yoa and
your noble IiGtitution
Some time since they engaged in what they
termed E'labor of love" Here is the result of
that labor, and you see thai loves labor mas not
been lost, bat from it has sprung this beautiful
banner, SO neat and appropriate which they
this day dedicate to Temperance, III token OF
their love and gratitude to that good and glorious
| Divinity. Into your hands as the firm and devo-
ted followers of Temperance, they delivered it.
believing that there it will be safe from violation
& that it will only be used in the war which you
wage against the mighty empire of Old King AL
cohol. Let it ever be kept at the head of your COL
umns. Let it never be said that any one of you
ever deserted this standard, around which clus-
tiers so much fall that is bright, beautiful & good
but rather let it be told in time to come that thro
! your exertions many more have been gathered
in to rest under the shadow of its broad wings
and that you left it but With your latest breath.
Then gentlemen, in the name of these bright
eyes-'brighter than the beams of the morning
sky'-which looks SO approvingly on you. In
behalf of these sweet lips
''Sweeter than the desert fountain's wave,
To lips jllst cooled in time to save u
whose cheering smiles you have, and whose
prayers" pure as the prayer that childhood watts
! above';-are offered up for youth the name Of
all that is lovely and good-these ladies here as
sembled-I present you this banner. Take it,
cherish it and ever keep in remembrance this day
and its most pleasing associations, and | feel
sure that your ranks will know no deserters