The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-21

K
Brotherhood The question Ms hot, t6 what politi-
fai party does he belong, or what arc his religious
opm.o but ices ~ drink .iatorioatiqig A9u0s,
can we safe him from that sin If we can we shall
make hlma better, Happier, aud more useful man.
Adhelllg 10 this fundamental article Of our faith
and animated by confidence in the truth aud h6li-
hess-oi our mission, we went forward in our work.
Men OF talent and eloquence sought our midst We
heid of meetings, private ard public, in the Diyis-
ion Rooms and IN the Tents In our public squares,
and IN our churches, on the streets aud public high
wtNsi we held up boldly and aifectionately before
our fellow citiaens the blessings Of Temperance, and
The inducements for them 70 unite with us andas
faithfully We warned thel against the vice of nts-
beraucS It's suiferings wretchedness and degradation
We held our public festivals, and our heightened
professions. Oh, how did my heart bound at the
sight, q thousand hardy, study men, clad in the
T2SalS Of Temperance with emblems. floating and
banuers lying IN full march through our streets.
fPrhy ~ was IN army with banners, which TO be
seen was ~ be ten Such was the state of things in
ls52 the perod to which you called my attention.
Inc public saw II and the proud and Che lofty curled
the up AND scorned the city saw that there was
honesty, rtue and intellect there, as well as true
pietSS and they could not look upon it ANNOYED.
The history Of Che time affords abundant proof OF
that Our!p4bIc men felt and were moved by it,,
andsrNn palaces, as well as grog shops ,trainbled
and tottered, whist their occupants giinshed their
teeth and vented their curses. st TAU II a
1.-THE Mayor of the city,, Walter Lenox, Esq. felt il
his duytocaIl the attention of the City Councils to
we III us SeuCr1L
lnb2, IN the following terms: u, W
~ & earnestly invite your atentionio theinecessify
OF arevisdn Of the laws in relation to the retail Of
LIQUORS am fully satisfied, not only from the
returns Of Tie Poles dhd Asylum but from my oii-
cla observation oiherYse that NTpNrERtA&GE IS the
cause, alt Ere5Q$ae3Y Of all the disturbances and
panperism which aflict our community, Our laws
should seek TO restrain, and not foster AN ey such
yitightful magnitude. The charter does net regard
the retail Of liquors Rs business from hu strict
revenue is h. be drawn, 6at qnes yeStraiy6a
or pgnAJ&ai by the e2actiOn 0f licenses, or such
other means as are authorized by IT, With this
fs s5 S ,d. g many m9sl r nssssssl
added. Difficult it is, and may say almost inn
possible, To esa blish by legal proofs violations Of
the esstIng laws the only true remedy in my opinion,
$50 Ear as our powers apd legislation Con ofactir +,
10 SedFee Hda5tf and etSSeS II Steeses, with eddi-
iuuai restrictions upon those whca may BE- grnnted
Ia addition 70 the Forfeiture of tho license upon
second conviction 10 ceptority Nj existing laws,
extend 10 The Mayor q discretionary power TO sls-
Pend the licenses for a limited time in cases of
ilaeTant violation of the law upon the first conyic-
ton and for the sale of liquor without licenses,
lntiicg the stverest penalty which the charter will
allow. In advance OF any General action upon this
subject l'iavite your immediate attensen 10 the
defects Of the ID Section of the iActof October 80
l3lS and the Sth Section of the Act of November s.
1882, in relation 10 minors and persons of color"
This was the first official act Of decided encourage
nGnt gwen 70 the cause of pemperanceby any of the
Of the city There were members Of the
Council known to synpathize with us and some of
them vert 50 far as to 0in us in the public discts
sols Of tie aubjectbeore the people; but as body,
they had taken no action on tho subject. And it was
well known that great axity prevailed in tho grant
ing of licenses to taverns and grog shops. 1t was
generally understood that forms for these licenses
wera signed by the Mayor, in blank, and left with the
Register 10 be filed up by him and delivered to per-
sons who should apply for them, with papers fledup
with the forms TeauIredby lawa There
still greater aXity in the enforcement Of the law
for the suppression and restraint of tseniperanceby
the,polce. The complaints against them were many
and loud
In view OF the facts the message of the Mayor was
hailed the harbnger of better times the dawning
of now era in The history of Washington the
Temperance Army rallied under it., A new energy
Infused throughout the ranks in this CITY, and in
Georgetown in the Dyision-rooms of the " Sons y
and the Tents Of the Rachabitesin public meet
ngs on streets and public squares and in churches
by night and by day, the great doctrines Of Temper
anee were urged upon our fellow citizens, as also
Warnings against the Wees crimes and sufferings
consequent upon intoiaperance. Il need not remind
you Of the part you took in these discussions You
were absent from none of these meetings at whchit
was possible for you to be present and no said
did more in the cause than you and few with more
effect. 1T we had among the public speakers mort
eQnUen tongues, there was none Whosezeal and fer-
ycl,cy .eyoeeded yours-noge to whom the public
Judgment awarded more praise and trpay add that
there was no one upon whom the curses of the rum
cellar were 50 fercely hurled. ------- r-t---
Ny own part in these proceedings was less proni-
nent, as have no prctensons as public speaker--
indeed, up 10 tis time my observation in regard to-
shC vice of inienperance had been restricted yery
peh to it's effects on official friends and associates
and ;iat class of society in apparently easy crcum-
stonces u isitFne had seen many fall iom these
circles the cutters, and snk into degradation in
THAR Iough and filth-but now, my position in tho
Temperance associations made il my duty 10 visit
the abodes Of the aboring poor==thnse who had ne
regular acome TO look to, or house or farm to shelter
- - lar vasfr lFnNnEr ak Al.
bread by their daily labor And in these .abodes
from the wretched mother and the starving children
learned 20 know and 10 feel the horrors of this
sCurset traffic never can forget Ia pray to
Cod in his nfcrcyto put an end 10 IL or cease TO use
tie best efforts Of which | aht capable TO persuade
ny fellow men 30 abandon and Danish 70 forever
In addition 10 these measures, the Temperapee
men attacked Z rum traffic in the public prints and
opened a dire correspondence with the Mayor and
The effect of ihese discussions and operations wero
Fon, ysi5lc--'hg public mind vas Weakened up, II
breame the subject Of general conversation in an
sTe,ss and 9nE , Fs,i e the sty The rum traffic
opon any public defence Of their business They
saw tint such u step would be fatal, and wisely and
Fruden0y kept silent. They sheltered themselves
nuder the plea that their business was lawful and
therefore righ and especially, they harped in a
private way, upon the words Liberty" and freedom
The right of every mqn In our free country 20 act,
drink aud wear what they pleased, &c, DC n ~
lt00s Madame Roland think who, duFipg the
horrors OF the French Revolution on her way 10 the
place q execution whilst the popuace in the Wild
hess OF their phrensy, were shouting the words
LIBERTY AMI FREEDOM " exclaimed: q o freedom
what crimes are committed in thy nauiGli" and Thus
it il and will continue tO be. .Gft# ..L ~
IN this state Of public opinion, the Mayor and
Councils became seriously concerned 81 know what
70 do,he public Judgment demanded that something
should b. DONE The temperance friends demanded
prob ibiion" This the Councils we're afraid 10
grant, but set themselves % work ona more stin-
gent and efficient license system. They labored
long and hard aud finally in the spring Of 1853
determined 20 repeal III existing laws authorizing the
granting Of licenses 10 taveTns and or1inaries and
81 shoEs for the sale Of spirtuous liquors. and pass
Jaws establishing more stringent system t..a
~ Preparatory 10 che passage OF this new and ia,
proved SysteIn, and sort Of introduction of them
70 the people Of the city the Councils passed on the
18th OF May 1868, the following restitution, author
ling the citiZels 10 vote az the general election
which wss 20 come off on the 9Th juno 1855 on The
question of Hliceuses or "no licenses ~ To Wit;
iis60Lyea de-, That the Regstero the citf Be- and
he il hereby directed 10 have prepared a sufficient
number Qf tickets, printed with the word licenses
upon eneset and the word pliceases upon another
ses ald hHyethe deposited AZ the several ward polls
on he lifst Monday OF June next when IL shah be the
datyW tb9 Commissioners of Election % have a. box
Tor the purpose Of receiving said tickets which tickets
shall be counted after the closing Of the polls and ii
correct return othom made to the Register showing
the number cast for licenses" and the rntfilteI
against liceHscs;' the persons entitled st III yo,