Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-08-05
ADDRESS
Delirered before Myrtle Union, No. 5, Daughters of
temperance, By one Of the members, July sth


circle us, and gaze out at intervals through the
long vista of years, and mark the changes and re-
volutions that have passed over the world As
wave succeeds wave upon the bosom of the great
deep, so has revolution followed revolution upon
the boisterous of life; bringing up from its
unreasonable depths the whole mass of moral en-
orgies, which have swept on with increasing force
until the entire aspect of this globe has been chang
ed, until here and there, and all over, have sprung
ur fowery and sunny landscapes, amid the gloomy
and extended wilderness. Great indeed has been
the improvement in the moral intellectual, politi-
cal and religious condition of man. And what
achievements in the arts and sciences have not been
wrought for the promotion of his physical and So
cial wants The mind can scarcely credit what
the eye beholds! Man, though fallen from his
high estate, is still splendid wreck, and like Eter-
nal Rome, sublime even in ruins" But of all the
modern lights which have doomed out in the mo,
raj horizon, none my dear sisters, have done SO
much for ameliorating mans condition, for ref
ming, advancing and elevating his intellectual,
raj and social being as the beautiful star of Tenn
pcrance. Oh how many hearts have been glad
uCHCu, NOW tHtChS HifS DStIi Itil'siCu ny
the tear of joy, how many eyes have grown bright
at the steady approach Of this new luminary, over
whose rising the bright, angelic guard of mans
happiness shouted Jubilee. Much very much has
been done TO promote the great Temperance cause.
The age in which we live is characterised by efforts
at rcformation;-t efforts being made to bear
not only on individuals, that they may be rccovc-
raI Ill. IL,
social and organic evils and man has worked on,
yea, and woman too. But where are we now!
This is an inquiry worthy our deliberate and scri-
Gus consideration. Where arc we? All is not gal
ned that VIC once hoped for, perhaps expected
Yet something has been done; much indeed, dear
sisters, could we compute the numbers rescued
from drunkard's grave and adrunkard's infamy;
and the still greater numbers saved from the evils
and pcrs of forming habits of intempcrancc, wc1
should look upon the work as worthy of ten thou
sand fold more money and effort than it has actu-
ally cost. Within the last thirty or forty years a
great principle has been established and widely en-
braccd, which heretofore had not been understood
or believed. 1t is now known that alcohol is not
mans beverage, and that to make vend, or it
as such, is moral urong. Its medicinal use also,
is now moro vigilantly guarded, indeed its connec
ton with social life is, with Il large class Of the
community (would it were ally entirely dissolved.
But oh ! aud the thought sends painful thrill to
our hearts the work is not done yet; the chains
of scrvitude arc still upon lis. Yes: after all the
effort which has been put forth, the whole mass OF
society are still subjected to temptation, taxation,
casualties &C.; and what is worse, the ruin of sons
and fathers from the sale of Intoxicating drinks.
Whittier, now, shall we flee for protection! AS a
last measure, we hare gone to the strong arm OF
civil government, Invoking aid and shelter.
Some of the states belonging to the noble broth
crhood have been listened to, and the Maine Law
has done, what nothing else ever d'd do III tins
mighty enterprise. The wholesale trade stopped
instantly upon the passage of this law, and the re-
tail traffic is now with them as disreputnblc rs
picking pockets or stealing sheep. We, (and to
the shame of our legislature be Spokcnl were de-
ned this law but we had right TO it and IT should
have been adopted.la last winter. But let that pass.
\ voice of gladness has reached us the people can
now decide. All! Wisconsin will have this law,
and that she may have it soon all must be active,
using their talents and influence, be it much or lit
tie, in creating a public feeling which will cry out
in thunder tones, give! give us the law!"
1t is not strange that anxiety sat upon your
brows, dear sisters 1t is notstrange that sadness
filled YOUR hearts when we were denied hearing.
Could we have come in body, small though it he
before our legislature, last winter, should we have
bowed in submission to the powers that be, and
said when they riyeting the chains upon us,
lit is wcll!" MOI no! Standing up in the pride
of our pilgrim mothers, we would have demanded
by what right they were casting all these petitions
to the winds; thus opening wider the fountains OF
pollution and pouring out upon the people flood
of poison Miserable Men-hcartless and design
ing, who for bit of gold would sell their We
~ souls stand in the back ground and with smooth
speech attempt to thwart the mercitul designs OF
heaven But they shall not succeed, for the peo
pie will labor and pray.
We, my sisters, care not, wish not TO vote but
let us wake TO our fearful responsibility and excite
every voter within our magic sway to take stand
Mt the polls against this horrible tyranny. Shall
men fattcn on the life blood of their fellows! Shall
our virgin soil continue to be disigured by jails
and poor houses and the infant struggling church
es Of Jesus Christ be vacated? Is there not cause
for trembling and dismay? Look at the foreign po-
pulation now rolling in upon both sides of our con-
tinent, presenting theme of serious and thrilling
contemplation. This mass crowding in upon us
bv thousands, create mighty demand for the ma
nufacture and sale of liquor. The business of rum
selling seems, very attractive to the foreigner.
Look over the doors of most of the grog-shopS in
our cities there is written the name of foreigner.
Now we have perchance, almost converted the ma
tive population but how are we to educate and
control these new corners. Here we have to con-
tend with uncnlightencd and unconvinced judg-
ments and unsubdued appotites What shall we
do! We must meet them with the Maine law,
They are so entirely accustomed to submission 10
law athome, that they come to us prepared to yield
to such healthy measures here. Only meet them
and whisper that it is unlawful to engage in this
destructive employment, and our country will no
longer be cursed with these foreign dram shops,
whose name is legion.
For the sake then of the poor, oppressed foreign