The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-03-07
Dick Yates Speech.

1he speech OF u. >. Senator DICK ates
of Illinois, at the meeting of the Con-
gressional Temperance Society at Wash
ington, on Sunday evening, has attracted
great attention we give below the clos
ing portions. The Senator is man of
strong character, but has been unfortu-
nately much addicted to "sprees," and
there IS much to rejoice at in the saliva
ton OF his manliness, his honor and value
as public servant. He said =
But some say this temperance business
is fanaticism-it's gloomy sort of life.
There never was greater mistake Ten
perance is one of the sweetest and most
delightful things upon earth it is the
very springfield of cheerfuluess, happi-
ness and joy-the very chivalry of man
hood itself. | have been temperance
man for fifteen days, and 1 am gayer
boy to night than | have been for seven
teen years. Laughter l think am
the gayest man in the Senate, except the
eompeer of Clay and Crittenden-the able,
.indomitable and gallant old cavalier of
Kentucky, (Garret Davis.) except you
also, MIR. Chairman. Laughter Tenn
perance gloomy? Not bit of it, Mr..
President. My pledge shall be perpe-
tual Charm" thing of beauty which is
a joy forever. not a cloud of gloom, but
as an ever present rainbow of promise,
hope and beauty. lam as proud of it as
of my wife and children, and that is the
strongest way have to express my pride.
[ Applause l am as proud of it as am
of the commission which entities me to
hold the position of an American Sena-
tor. By-the-by, Mr.. Chairman, l will
submit to you the question [ rather
think the commission and the temperance
pledge ought to go together. Applause.
What do you think about having "the
teetotaller" put into the iron-clad cath !?
Laughter.
You say, of what use is the pledge? I
viii tell you Twenty days ago there came
along friend of mine-a Senator-and
said, "Let US take drink" | said, "Cer-
tainly, all right" Another friend from
Illinois in about three minutes and half
came along and said, ''Let us take drink"
Said l, "All right" 1t is this way. One
drink of liquor is enough for me; two
amt half enough, [laughter;1 three is on
ly one third enough, aud four is chaos
After [ signed the pledge | was asked
several times to drink bat didn't do
any such thing. Laughter.
After | signed this temperance pledge
[ wrote to little lady ont in Illinois. who
weighs about a hundred pounds, has black
hair and flashing black eyes, aud "a form
fairer than Grecian chisel ever work ed from
Parian MARBLE" and l received the fol-
lowing answer =
My DEAR How beautiful is
this morning how bright the sun shines;
how sweetly our birds sing how joyous
the children how happy is my heart. |
see the smile of God. He has answered
the prayer Always proud of your sue
cess, you have now achieved that success
which God and angels will bless. 1t is
the shining summit of human aspiration,
for you have conquered yourself. All
who love you will aid you to keep the
pledge. [ love you my dear boy.
KATIE
Love. the SUM- soul and centre Of the moral universe
Love, which links angel and God to man
Love which binds IN two loving hearts How
beautiful Is love! lApplause.l
AS | look ov er this audience, composed
of Senators and Representatives of this
great, great nation, and these galleries
blazing with beauty and the worth of the
city, and sojourners from all the States
and Territories, ask myself why they
are here? Proud England, upon whose
dominions the sun never SETS. has but one
queen but, thank God, We have millions
of queens who
"Smne in beanty like the night
OF sunny climes and starry skies"
whose chains we feel, and yet we bless
the silken sceptre. You are here to give
by your presence encouragement to the
Congressional Temperance Society and |
propose, sir, that this society shall be the
beginning of societies throug the land,
and that we will push on temperance
column, move upon the enemy's works
and give him canister and Greek fire.
Applause. We will storm upon the
citadel of intemperance until it shall
crumble and totter and fall to the earth
[Applause.] Why do | refer to the Ia
dies? Because their example is nigh
tier than the eloquenee of thousand
Debateo vi thC pduutAS VI q lhOdS@hS AZ
gions.
You are here tonight to see the snowy
white flag of temperance as it is unfurled
over the Capitol of your country, as 1t
rises and rises, and unfolds to God, and
spreads until it shall cover the whole
land, and until there shall not be drunk
ard nor moderate drinker to take away
the bloom from the cheek of female beau
ty, and until all the hearthstones of this
land shall blaze with comfort aud Joy,
and happiness and gladness shall dwell in
green freshness there. Tremendous ap-
plause.l
"And We have taken the teetotal
pledge" said somebody to an Irishmap.