The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-12-09

love and serve his God and his country, according
to the dictates Of his conscience with no man 70 call
him niquestion This was our Bond Of Union and
Broiherbood. The question not, to what polite
cal party does he belong or what are his religious
opinions, but does ~, drink iRtaricatieg liquors,
can we save him from that sin five can, we shall
make him better happier, and more useful man.
Adhering to this fundamental article Of our faith,
and animated by confidence in the truth and holt
ness Of our mission, we went forward in our work.
Men OF talent aud eloquence sought our midst. We
held our meetings, private aud public, in the Diyls-
ion Rooms and in the Tents In our public squares,
and in churches on the streets and public high
ways; We held up boldly and aftectionately, before
0ui fellow citizens the blessings OF Temperance and
the inducements for them to unite with us; and as
faithfully warned them against the vice of intern
perapce its sutferings, Indebtedness and degradation.
We held our public festivals and our Heightened
professions, Oh, how did my heart bound at the
sight of thousand hardy, study men, all clad in the
regalia OF Temperance, with emblems floating and
banners flying in full march through our Streets
Truly it was IN army with banners, " which TO be
seen TO be fcH Such was the state of things in
1882, the period to which you called my attention.
The public saw it. and the proud and the lofty curled
the lip and scorned the city saw that there was
honesty, virtue and intellect there, as well as true
piety, and they could not look upon il unmoyedy
The history Of the time affords abundant proof Of
that Our psJtic men felt and were moved BY It;
and rum palaces, as well as grog shops trembled
and tottered, whilst their occupants CRASHED their
teeth and vented their curses.
The Mayor Of the city, Walter Lenox, Esq, felt it
his duty " call the attention Of the City Councils to-
the subject in his general message OF August 18th,
1882, in the following terms; g FL, ei
earnestly invite your attention to the necessity
of revision of the laws in relation to the retail of
liquors. l am fully satisfied, not only from the
returns of the Police and Asylum, but from my Off
cal observation otherwise, that lNTEMpERANCE is the
cause, almost ercusiUe of all the disturbances and
pauperism which affiict our community. Our laws
should seek TO restrain, and not foster an evil of such
frightful magnitude. The charter decs not regard
the retail of liquors rs business from which strict
revenue is To be drawn but as an epk 10 lie gest,uRe
or prohibited by the exaction of licenses or such
other means as are authorized by it. With this
important friacipte IN 0ieW, many most necessary
changes can be made, and wholesome restraints
added Difficult as it is, nnd may say, almost inn
possible to establish by legal proofs violations Of
the existing laws, the only true remedy in my opinion
ESQ far Us our powers and legislation can effect it, ls
70 reduce the number and classes Of licenses with sdd
tional restrictions upon those which may be granted
In addition to the Forfeiture Of the license upon q
second conviction in conformity with existing laws
extend to the Mayor discretionary power to sns-
pend the licenses for limited time, in cases OF
hagrant violation Of the law upon the first convic-
ton and for the sale Of liquor without licenses
nfiict the severest penalty which the charter will
allow. In advance OF any general action upon this
subject, l invite your immediate attention to the
defects Of the I'd Section Of the Act of October 49,
1879 and the sth Section Of the ACT Of November
This the first official act Of decided encourage
mentgyen TO the cause Of Temperance by any Of the
authorities Of the city There wer members Of the
Council known to sympathize with u.s. and some Of
them went so far as TO join in the public discus
sions of the subject before the people but body,
they had taken no action on The subject And twas
well known that great laxty prevailed in the grant
ing of licenses to tayerns and grog shops 1t was
generally understood that forms for these licenses
signed by the Mayor in blank and left with the
Register, TO be filed up by him and delivered TO per-
SONS who should apply for them, with papers filed up
in accordance with the forms required by law. Th re
still greater laxity in the enforcement of the law
for the suppression and restraint OF intemperanceby
the police The complaints against them were many
and loud.
in view Of the facts the message Of the Mayor was
hailed as the harbinger of better times the dawnng
Of new era in the history of Washington--and the
Temperance Army rallied under it. A new energy
was infused throughout the ranks in this city and
Georgetown. In the Division-rooms of the "Sons,"
and the Tents" of the Rachabites--n public meet
ngs on the streets and public squares and in churches
by night and by day. the great doctrines of Temper
ance were urged upon our fellow citizens, as also
warnings against the vices, crimes and suferings
consequent upon intemperance. i need not remind
you of the part you took in these discussions. You
were absent from none Of these meetings at which 1t
was possible for you to be present and no said
or did more in the than you and few with more
effect II we had among the public speakers more
eloquent tongues, there none whose zeal and fer
vency exceeded yours-none 10 whom the public
judgmentawarded more praise. And Imay add, that
there was no one upon whom the curses of The rum
seller were 80 fercely hurled
Nv own part IN these proceedings was less nro,o;
nent as have no pretehsions as nnbI;c sn.pt
indeed. up 70 this time nv Observation In regard t
The vice of intemperapce had been restr;cted yerv
muob 10 lin effects on o;cial fr;endsa ass,s;a,a
and that class of society in apparenty easy crcnr,
stances N Ia true had seen many I'M fo, ,lasa
circles 10 the cutters. and sink into degradaton n
Their slough and 6Ith-but now INV nos;ton In he
Tcrnperance associations made n INV duty tn VI; ~
the abodes of the laborino poor-tbase Who bad nn
regular income TO look TO- or house or farm 70 shasr
Them. but hardworkng men who earned th.;r da;ir
bread by their daily labor. And in the.e ahoda.
from IRE wretcbed mother aud he
learned 70 know and TO feel thS horrars ~ M,
acch,sed traffic-and never can fi,rrct a. ~. ~,
God In his mercy 10 nut AN end 10 n or =, ~
the best efforts Of which am CAPABLE 20 nersnaSe
INV fellow men 10 abandon and hanish n S,rrar.
y, ,,aa;,;o. a, 49,. ....-'..- ~. r
~, a,.aarad ~ ese nessu.es, .ne temperance
,osd dr. Nne pnDhc prints and
T,',.;,s ~ a. ~, sPo"ue"Se wan ips Mayor ana
op T,s - ~ ~. ~ . Ivy.
,'..,,; ano operanons were
pupre nno was wakened up, IT
,;,.,.s "a IA y, ssue,s Conversation IN al
$3.50 ",,u qaa. Az M 'ne my. Inc rum trafnc
,,,'or snx 'a ranhI;c dssan ney o,a not ren.ncre
~. ar. ,,rh 49, n..Ia " e business Iney
saw a., ~. ~ w wVu ~, NC 'a.a ana wisely and