The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-18

love and serve his God and his country, according
TO the dictates Of his conscience with no man TO call
him in question. This was our Bond OF Union and
The question was not, 10 what politi-
cal party does he belong, what his religious
opinions but docs he DRINK Intoxicating liquors,
can we save him from that SIM five can, we shall
make him shelter, happier, and more useful man.
Adherng 10 this fundamental article Of our faith,
and animated by confidence in the truth and holi
ness of our mission, We went forward in our work
Men OF talent and eloquence sought our midst We
held our meetings. private and public in the Diyis-
ion Rooms and in the Tents, In urpubc squares,
and in churches ON the streets and public high
ways we held up boldly and affectionately, before
our fellow citizens the blessings Of Temperance, and
the inducements for them 10 unite with us; and as
faithfully we warned them against the vice of intern
perance its suferings 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, allcad in the
regalia Of Temperance, with emblems floating and
banners flying in full march through our streets.
Truly it was ''army with banners, 2 which to be
seen was TO be e Such was the stateio Of things in
1852, the period TO which you called my attention
The public saw 1t, and the proud and the lofty cured
the lip aud scorned; the city saw that there was
honesty, virtue and intellect there, as well as true
piety, and they, could not look upon it unmoyed.
The history Of the time affords abundant proof OF
that. Our public men felt and were moved by. 1t;
and rum palaces, as well as grog shops trembled
and tottered whilst their occupants gnashed their
teeth and vented their curses. siz g.
The Mayor of the city, Walter Lenox, Esq, felt II
his duty to call the attention of the City Councils to
the subject in his general message Of August 2oth,
1852 in the following terms: .a.'
81 earnestly invite your attention to the necessity
Of revision Of the laws in relation to the retail OF
liquors ] am fully satisfied, not only from the
returns of the Police and Asylum, but from my OIL
cal observation otherwise, that rEMrERANcE is the
cause almost ercsirci of oil the disturbances and
pauperism which afllict our community. Our laws
should seek to restrain and not foster evil of such
frightfnl magnitude The charter does not regard
the retail of liquors business from which strict
revenue is to be drawn but as an emf 10 % restr0ae
On. prohibited by the exaction of licenses, or such
other means as are authorized by it, With this
smpo,taat principle IN vio,o, many most necessary
changes can be made, and wholesome restraints
added. Difficult as it is, and may say, almost I'M
possible to establish by legal proofs violations Of
The existing laws the only true remedy in my opinion
$50 far as our powers and legislation effect t is,
to recs the number and classes Of licenses with adds
iona restrictions upon those which may be granted
In addition to the forfeiture of the license upon
second conviction in conformity with existing laws
extend TO the Mayor a discretionary power to sus-
pend the licenses for limited time, in cases Of a
fagrant violation Of the law upon the first conyic-
ton; and for the sale Of liquor without licenses,
inlict the severest penalty which the charter will
allow In advance Of any general action upon this
subject invite your immediate attention to the
defects Of the I'd Section of the Act of October 49,
lsl9 and the 9th Section Of the Act Of November s,
1882, in relation TO minors and persons OF color
This was the first official act Of decided encourage
ent given to the cause Of Temperance by any of the
authorities of the city. There were members of the
Council known to sympathize with us, and some of
them went SO far as TO join lis in the public discus
sions of the subject before the people; but as body
they had taken no action on the subject. Audit
wen known, that great laxy prevailed in the grant
ing of licenses to taverns and grog shops. 1t was
generally understood that forms for these licenses
were 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 filled up
in accordance with the forms required by law There
was still greater iaxity in the enforcement ofthe law
for the suppression and restraint OF ntemperance by
the police The complaints against them were many
and loud. I. t4t,fse .e{stG
In view Of the facts the message of the Mayor was
hailed as the harbinger OF better mes the dawning
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 in
Georgetown. In the Diyision-rooms of the Sons,
and the "Tents of the Rachabites-in public meet
ngs 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, also
warnings against the vices, crimes and sufferings
consequent upon intempeTapce. I need not remind
you of the part you took In these discussions You
were absent from mono of these meetings at which it
was possible for you 70 be present, and man said
Or did more in the cause than you, and few with more
effect. five had among the public. speakers more
eeHe s sScseded yours7-none to whom the public
Judgment awarded more praise. And may add, that
I'd
VIZ were SO lercey hurled, m d ilna ggli 10 gig
My own part "a these proceedings was less pronli
tienf as have no pretensions as public speaker.
indeed UP to this time my observation in regard to
the vice of intemperance had been restricted very
much 70 its effects on official friends aud assoeate
and that class of society in apparently easy circus
stances IL is true had seen many fall from these
circles TO the CATERS aud sink into degradation in
their slough and filth A-but now, my positienn the
Temperance associations made it my duty to visit
the abodes Of the laboring poor those who had NJ
regular income TO look to- House or farm TO shelter
them but Woodworking men, who earned their daily
bread by their daily labor. And in these abodes,
from the uretched mother and the starring children
i learned 70 know and to feel the horrors ofJthis
apcnrsed trafic-and never can forget TO pray TO
God in his rnercy put amend toit or eease to use
the best efforts OF which am capable TO persuade
my fellow men to abandon, and Danish IL forever. 81
y In addi,ion TO these measures. tbe Tennerance
men attacked the rum traffic in the public prints and
opened direct crrespontience with The Mavor and
Councils of the ty.n'nfltoi 9A Hf9iA'0 y
The effect ~ these discussions and operations ware
soon visible the public mind WINS wakeped nm, II
became the subject OF general coryersation IN ali
circles and quarters of the city The rum traffic
became mad and sdlleni They did not yent,,ere
mon any public defence OF their bus;ness They
saw that such step would be fatal and wisely and
lprndcnty kept silent They sheltered themselves
under the plea that their business was lawful and
therefore right-and especially, they harped, in "a
private way upon the words Liberty" and freedomi
The right Of every man in our free country 10 act,