, 1854-04-01
Speeth Of tht Hon. ElttOr NOnroe.


Legislative Assembly and citizens of 0lym-
pia assembled in the hall Of the House of
Representative on Thursday evening, the
23d inst, to hear discourse from the Hon.
VICTOR MONROE, in favor of the enactment
of prOhibitory liquor law similar in its
provisions to the universally known Maine
Liquor Law" The distinguished lecturer
spoke substantially as follows:
FELLOw-C -CIfIzENs-So short time since
was requested to give my opinions to the
citizens in regard to the passage of law
prohibiting the use and traffic in ardent
spirits l cheerfully consented to do so.
An evening was fixed, but owing to circum-
stances postponement took place and this
evening was fixed. regret that | made
an arrangement this morning to meet a
committee Of the House of Representatives
and supposing another postponement had
been made, l am thus late in appearing be-
fore you, considerably fatigued after Sc
we're days labor. But / am satisfied to go
on and address you-another postpOnement,
and It might have been thought was jest
ing on this important subject. II
These are not the opinions formed from
momentary consideration, not from the
thoughts of the hour, not hasty in its con-
clusions, but the result of deliberate con-
viction, of thoughts long and often enter
tanned. l am satisfied that the best inter
ests Of every State and Territory demand
that the trade in ardent spirits should be
prohibited not curtailed, but totally pro-
hibited. 1t is rule Of political economy,
aye, q law, that trade in any article Of
whatever description, If injurious to the
community, ought to be prohibited and ex-
cluded. Is not this traffic so? Is the
manufacture, introduction or use of ardent
spirits beneficial? Is not injurious to the
best interests of society, morally, physically
and commercially? But we are met with
the reply: you may be right-it ought
perhaps to be prohibited, but custom has
engrafted the traffic so deeply upon our So
eial system that we cannot exclude it. i
answer, NO. This is not like reasoning on
an ordinary subject Of trade-it has for
its basis q great moral principle of right
and wrong-deeply connected with our
whole social system-at variance with eve
,,ry feeling Of right. 1t viii be sustained
convinced Of the truth Of the position now
assumed-the people must and will rise in
their might and majesty and abolish the
traffic. l say the law can be executed
The history Of the country gives evidence
Of that fact. Look at the history Of the
great temperance erefOrmatiOn--its brilliant
light adding another star to our glorious
galaxy. 1T
.NfT am ,,rond 20 ,o,, ~ n tor,,,o,.,,o ,.eo,,o
started in our country rising with bright
efulgence, it extended its genial ray to Eu-
rope and reTolutionized her nations
Spreading on further, Asia, and even Afri
ca, fell its cheering influence, and the world
was advanced in hope 1t never has retro
gaded, but always progress has been its
eourse.l 1t~ commenced in Virginia early
in our history. Pemberton was the first
reformer. He started the pledge that mo
nlanwould get drunk, y and circulated it pri-
i. .vafely. Based on this pledge, temperance
societies were fOrmed--ardent spirits were
alone excluded asa beverage The society
Aourished for years, but a dark hour came
lii ceased for the time, but the "leaYen !"
still remained. The gallant ship wash
ingtonian was brought to bear-she bold
ly unfurled her banner Of total abstinence )"
70 the breeze, and traVersed our whole
country from Maine to Georgia, from the
Atlantic 10 the Pacific shores. And how
many hundreds Of thousand were reclaimed
to society, their poor families and their
friendsi-
Again q crisis comes-dark clouds dark
en- the atmosphere, and the good cause
sinks In darkness for an hour, appalling the
friends Of morality, religion and truth itself.
} But soon look 10 the north--a bright star is
discerned-brighter as il shines forth from
the darkness around d-stiIl brighter iti
breaks forth higher - higher and the
glorious order Of the Sons Of Temperance
broke forth with bright effulgence. First
the reform began with mot getting drunk, +"
next ardent spirits are excluded, but now
cider and all other liquors are banished,
and fourth step Is taken to prohibit deal
ing in the commodity. A fifth step is now
about to be taken--a great progress in
this reform, in this great triumph Of right,
progress so marked that we can discern
il as i advances to completion. That fifth
step Is the entire prohibition Of either SELL
ing or traficing in It. But we are told the
country Is not ready. Maine commenced
the good work. Her star was rising, small
tbs true In magnitude and scarcely seen at
the south and west, but CALAMITY and firm
y she pursued her course, causing shame
and confusion to the residue Of the States
when contemplating the bright glittering
Of her pure banner.
Then why should not law be enforced
in Washington Territory I Gentlemen of
the Legislature, mark my predictiOn-vote
not against this measure through popular
iear-yOu know it is right-you know i'll
ought to be enforced-you know the traffic