The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-04-15
VOLUME X. NO. Is.
From the Brooklyn Daily Transcript Of April 4th.
Temperance Speech.

Institute in New York, for which Mr..
Cooper has freely given the hall. On
last Wednesday evening, JAMES A.
BRroos, Esq, OF this city made the follow.
ing eloquent address, which we think
well worth reporting for our columns
LADIES AsD GESrLEaEN I'VE have
me, together this evening for high and
holy purpose. We have met as friends
OF Temperance. to aid the good cause, aud
to promote its benefits among men,
We may hot be ali agreed as TO the means
to be used to abolish Intemperance, but
we are all agreed as to the great end to
be accomplished. Some may believe
that moral suasion-that the law oil Kind
ness, have done their work F; that argu-
ment, and reason, and facts, and persua-
sion are exhausted, and are powerIess
for good. Others may look to II Prohbi.
tory Law, as the only means to be used
TO advance the Temperance Reforma-
ton, and carry it forward to complete and
final success.
yield to 70 man n my devotion to the
great cause Of benevoence and humanity,
we have met this evening TO consider.
For nearly third OF century, have
been temperance boy and a empcrance
man. saw the temperance cloud when
1t was no "larger than mans hand
when it was mere speck in the moral
heavens, and when very few even Of real
Christian men, would turn their eyes tc
look upon the silver lining OF that beauu.
full cloud as il hoated in the clear blue oi
the upper Geeps," with Providence Tor
its guide. Years have rolled away-ser-
mons have been preached-lectures have
been delvered-speeches have been
made-etfort has been put iorth-exam
pie has been given, and floods OF light
have been poured out upon the world
from poor-houses. and jails, and prisons
and asylums, aud from Legislative halls -,
and The widows prayer and the orphans
cry have made earth eloquent with the
voice Of woe and now that cload over
shadows the whole land and wherever
in the wide world, manhood in its strength,
or woman in her purity, or childhood in
its infancy, offers prayer to God, The
'silver lining" Of that temperance cloud
is to be seen.
believe in the future, as in the past
that whatever of good is to be done to ad
vance This good work, must be done un
der the influence of the Law Of Love
made mighty through the living God,
upon the human heart.
| do not believe that moral suasion--
that the law Of kindness--have lost thei
power for good and regeneratng iuiuenc'
over The human soul. As long AS deprave,
10, Inn at
passions dcbase and degrade his bette
nature, Just so long will he need the voic
of wisdom when spoken in gentle word
OF reprool for the purpose OF his reforma
tion.
] belive that the principles Of a Prohibi
tory Law, are unteniable and true. The,
lie at the foundation of society, and un
derlie the whole structure Of our socia
system. believe, with the great ant
good CuANNTHG, whose heart yearneC
over every suffering child Of sorrow anC
OF misfortune, "What ought not to b'
used as beverage, ought not to be sol'
as such. What the good OF the commu
nifty requires us TO expel, no man has
right to supply" Here is platform
strong enough for all the Maine Lay
men TO stand upon, and it is platform {
truth. The principle is correct one.
cannot be overhrown. 1t is rs old as 81
ciety-it will be as enduring as eternity
and would 10 Heaven that il was eve
as effective to cause the growth OF all I'll
moral virtues in the heart OF man, as I'll
genial rain and the warm sunshine al,
to make the earth in the glad spring tim
of the year bud and blossom with beaut.
But, in tho present condition Of socieI
in the present state Of public opinion
and in he social habits and customs &
our people, of all classes and conditions
could law prohibiting the sale OF intox
eating liquors as a beverage. be enforced
Ify-s, then let US have it--and dCclar
at once, that the sale of liquors as a be,
erage shall be punished by fine and in
prisonment. ltsuch an enactment CAT
not be enforced. then is it wise to ask f
such a law?
We live under government where Il
People are the source Of all power. The
make and unmake laws. Public opinio
hele is King. Ii is stronger than ali lav
1t is the law. Sometimes it is true, it
the unwritten law. Public opinion is ou
law. our shield, our support. Before i
governments as well as individuals mu'
Joto or be crushed. 1t is mighty to SAY
it is terrible TO destroy. Any law o.
posed to public opinion can not be e.
forced il is but as the struggling reed
ihe overwhelming torrent that meets
Now, what would be the prospects
enforcing Prohibitory Liquor Law in th
city? We have population of at lea
10000 male adults. OF this numbe
are there $4,000 temperance men, wi
"drink neither wine nor strong drink
who are consistent, exemplary, tec-t
tallers If SO. then one in six of Il
adult maie population Of this city are ter
perance men and the 10000 are o
posed by 100, 900, on the other side.
some Of the wards of this city there a
not enough temperance men, | am told,
organize even a temperance society, al
what chance would prohbitory la
stand in those wards. We may as W,
look this matter square in the face, u
pleasant as is its visage, and blotched al
caybuncled and boated as it may appe
to US. Go into these wards and threat
them with the law, and there would be