The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-07

plause rom all. believe IN (spit) temper
ance, but don't pretend to be a talking man.
Ny heart is all right, (spit several times,) but
| amt no talking man, SO I'll quit" (Spit, and
sat DOWN.
"Mr. Moderator" said Jason, short time
afterward, rising in great haste, and hitting his
knee under the desk.
"Mr. Chesslebury," said Mr.. Moderator. bow
ing benignantly to Jason.
Jason had been so much ENCOURAGED nv the
success which attended Colonel WilGck's effort,
that he Immediately determined upon essaying
a speech himself. He had, indeed, ALREADY
risen thrice with that view, but had been each
time forestalled in his purpose of obtaining the
fioor, by other speakers, which was the occa-
sion of his present haste. He now found him.
self somewhat disconnected by the very readi-
ness with which the opportunity to speak was
awarded him. So he said again:
"Mr. Moderator"
Having thus made fair beginning, be turn
ed himself partly towards Salanda's seat, burst
into a little laugh, and Immediately smothered
his face into preternatural solemnity.
g hope, sir" he proceeded, when these pre-
liminaries had been adjusted, "that you will
excuse my occupying your time this evening !;
but l should like to contribute my mite with
the rest. don't intend to say but little. Pm
not any more of an orator than Colonel Willick,
nor so much; but suppose, ladies and gentle
men, that we don't come here to make orations,
but only speeches. So | should like to say that
what seems to me is, that we ought to do some
thing about temperance, as well as talk about
1t. It's Just as If man should see his house
on fire, and go on saying what a dreadful thing
it was to have ones house on fire, and how he
must begin to put it out, and shouldn't begin
to bring any water, or anything. Speeches are
very good things, sir, particularly when they re
short But what we want is, to do something
about temperance. We might sit here, and
talk and tell each other stories, and so on, all
night, and have good time; but the question
is, what good would it do?
Now, what | move is, that we get up soci-
ETY.. Form temperance society, and have a
meeting regularly once a week, or fortnight.
| should attend regularly, and think most of
the students would and
What rock Jason's smoothly-gliding speech
here struck upon-whether he found himself
upon the very verge of expressing an intention
to bring Salanda and Miss Blossom and cousin
with the same regularity, and could not connect
eddy draw back, cannot be ascertained. AT all
events, he here brought his address to an alb
rupt termination, with "a" that's all have to
say, sir" and took his seat; somewhat uncertain
whether he had been silly or had made the best
speech of the evening; and he scarcely knew
whether the applause which followed his effort
was intended in commentator of the speech,
or was called forth by the dilemma which hast
ened its termination.
Deacon Eicksom rose. "He had been re-
quested," he said, "to take some part in the
meeting, and he had come for that purpose.
He thought it was good cause, if prudently
followed, and not overdone He approved the
zeal of his young friend from the city, but
thought nothing ought to be done in haste. He
supposed there were good many people who
drank too much, and he wished they would re-
form. People would be a great deal better off
they were only willing to spend less money
in driak. He was glad that people were giving
more attention to temperance. Some people
thought total abstinence was the only remedy
for intemperance. There was good deal of
difference between temperance and total absti-
nence. There was no need of drinking so much.
He was not prepared to say that all drinking of
fermented liquors in every form ought to be
given up. There was certainly difference be-
tween temperance and total abstinence. Tenn
perance was certainly a virtue the Bible COM
manded it. But it was hard to say that total
abstinence was duty. st. Paul himself said
that we should take little wine for our stom-
Here the Deacon made pause; he was not
quite certain whether he had quoted the text
Alright He had an idea, in which he seems to
be supported by some modern commentators,
that it should read, take often wine for your
stomach's ache, and your little inhrmities."
But not feeling quite clear upon this point, he
proceeded:
"He thought that the only means was moral
suasion; every man should endeavor to persuade
his neighbor to be temperate-moderate-
"Ha! ha! hal" laughed wild voice. ~
say, Deacon, who did you ever persuade, eh ?"
II haye the floor, l believe" said the Dea-
con.
"Hal ha ha ! who now? Tell u.s."
"Please address the Chair" interposed the
Moderator, tapping that article of furniture
upon the arm.
III tell you," cried the wild voice, in still
wilder tones, with no laughter now, but with
terrible earnestness, 81 tell you, the man that
talks about moral suasion to sots and drunk
ards, is fool"
The whole room buzzes with astonishment.
SIS a fool" the voice repeats.
The speaker rose. He stood somewhat un-
steadily, leaning now back against the wall,
and now reaching forward in the emphasis of
his utterance, and leaning half over the desk
before him. His dress was very poor, his hair
and matted, and the Deacon, turning
round to see him, recognised the red-nosed man
he had often met enjoying the hospitality OF
Gregory Donoe's store. The Deacon said moth
ing, but he turned upon the assembly a mild
but impartial look, that seemed to sum up con-
cisely the law upon disturbances of religious
meetings, and to express the opinion that fell
low who would put out Deacon, ought to be
summarily put out himself.
"Moral suasion to drunkards it's no use,
and it's worse than no use. Iknoso ii. / tell
you l am one of 'em. l am, by the - -,
am. And l KNOW"
The whole room is startled into perfect 81 |
epce. In the pause, the very fire seems to
hold its breath.
"Pve been drunkard these ten years. You |
know it. You've seen me loafng about your
streets ten years, and you've had a chance to
Try your moral suasion-and l amt the only
chance, God knows. Yes, and you have tried it, |
100. You know l used to want to knock off,
You haven't failed to say kind words, and try
your suasion. You all try it. By -, the
very man that sells me rum, says, when he pours
ne out glass, Come, come, Jerry; you'd bet
er not drink any more.'"
His profanity was terrible, but the equally
<trible earnestness of his speech suffered not
fen the Deacon to reprove it.
4" You think drunkard needs persuading.
Caere's not drunkard in the State-that's
RArth saving-who doesn't wish, two hours out
#, three, every day of his life, that he could
trock off. They've got moral suasion. What
hey want is help helpl Good God! HELP
'GaCE! FORCE to back it up"
s'You've seen me-you see me every day sit
iRg round-loafng. You thought I've been
sleep, thinking of nothing. Outside, Pve been
le:sd as a heap of ashes. Inside, I've been
fire.
when mans a-going to sell himself to the