The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-04-13
Speech Of II. G. Cotton, Esq.

several weeks ago by Mr.. Cotton before
Ottawa Division No. Q, Sons Of Temper
ance, by whom he was, Immediately after
its first delivery, requested to repeat it at
the next meeting Of the Division, and also
to furnish copy for publication. Instead
Of repeating it before the Division, however,
Mr.. c., being solicited to do SO, read it at
the temperance meeting al the Court House
on Friday evening, after which it was pla-
ced in our hands. Although it may thus be
an sold story to many of our readers, yet
| there are many more that never heard it,,
and, besides, it will hurt nobody to have it
served up second, er even a third time:
| II is true that the subject Of temperance
is one we have frequently heard discussed /;
still, if we regard our own situation in life,
or the welfare of those with whom we as
socate, it is an important subject.
There are few individuals, at the present
day, who have arrived at years Of discre-
ton, who have not witnessed the effects of
lintemperance, and are not capable OF re lat
ing many calamities which dissipation has
brought upon friends and acquaintance.
We have all seen men whose prospects
appeared llatlering, pursuing honest, indus
trious, and sober lives; by economy and
perseverance secured those means whic b
insure comfort and happiness, commence
their visits to fashionable drinking estab-
lishmeuts, the resort Of the idle, the gay,
and those who esteem the qualification OF
the appetite gilmore excellence than sobrie
ty and the GUILTY. Of principles of virtue
and philanthropy. We have seen these vi.
sits attendedwith confirmed habits of drink
ing. We have seen the vo,ares of pleasure
and dissipation, one by one, fall under the
poisoned chalice, leaving kindred and
friends to mourn their unhappy fate, be,
queathing want and misery TO a suffering
family.
1t is true that the end Of all who indulge
in the intoxicating cup is not allke-tha
all do not go down to drunk ard's grave
yet it is true that the frequent use of power.
ful stimulants deraDges the heathiul actor
of the system and fits it for the attacks 0
all kinds Of disease.
Wehaye had our attention called to this par
of the subject, and have often heard il Illus
trated, and it is presumed that there art
but few who do not concurin the belief tina
drunk enness is an evil-an an evil which
not only destroys the usefulness Of the ndi
vduals addicted TO it, but which often shor
tens the number OF his days and brings hin
to premature grave. If any one doubts
let him refer TO his own experience in life
and see if there are not sufficient proof
within his own recollection to satisfy the
most unwilling mind. The scenes which
are at times transacted within our own OBJ.
seryation are mutely eloquent in showing
that man can disgrace himself in his owr
estimation as will as in that Of his neigh.
bors by indulging in the use Of intoxicating
liquors.
Notwithstanding the evils which are
brought upon mankind by the use Of liquors
experience shows that men who have ac
quired the habit will not forget the pleasing
delirium which an indulgence Of the ap
petite produces. Notwithstanding the
frighful rayages which this evil is constant.
ly making; facilitating, dseasing, aud de.
stroying thousands, yet but few regard the
admonition.
We see many in the morning Of thei,
days, who by nature have been blessed
with health, vigor, and strength, wasting
away under its effects. We see the bright
est, the highest order Of talents given &c
man shattered and destroyed. Daily do We
see individuals, and among them some o
the noblest 0! ourrace whose days have beer
numbered, consigned to the grave, there I,
mingle with kindred dust. Yet such les
sons produce but little ifany impression up
on such as are following the course oCthos,
who have been ruined or have passed away
Even when we see our kindred, our friends
and our neighbors falling around us, tn,
cause Of their fate is passed with the re
mark that they have destroyed themselye,
by drinking liquor.
The misery, disgrace, md mortality OF
casioned by in,emperance frequently pro
duce serious reflections and sometimes re
formation IN habits but the cases are few
where it remains pertinent and in it'll
time the desires Of the appetite overcome
the firmest resolutions. This seems 10 b.
an exception TO the maxims, that self pre
servation is the law Of our nature, for eve
~ candid observer must admit, that, by ex
cessive use, Intoxicating liquor is made on
| of the most severe seourges that aillic
2 the human race. There are individual
, who insist that there is no harm in indulc
2 ing in the social cup-that il makes mel
2 merry and happy, and banishes from III