Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-03-20
Address of Senator Yates
Before the Congregational
Temperance Association,
Washington City.


We give below the powerful and
eloquent address of Senator Yates, de-
livered at the great temperance meet
ing held on Sunday evening last, in
the Hall of Representatives, which we
copy from the Washington Cironiels.-
In introducing the speaker, Hon.
Henry Wilson, President of the Asso-
citation, said:
We have passed through { great
war, in which we fought six hundred
battles for the Republic. In that great
contest Illinois played q glorious part.
The Governor of that State linked his
name forever with that grand struggle
for unity and liberty. 1 have the hon.
or and the pleasure to present Cover
nor Yates to this assemblage. Zap
piause) God grant that in the great
struggle in which We are now engaged
against the enemy of human nature he
may associate his name as gloriously as
he did in the war against the enemy Of
his country. (Applause.
ADDRESS OF SENATOR YATEs.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: 1t was not
my intention to address at all until
this afternoon. and feel the need of
more preparation before speaking to so
large an audience as this. The reason
why did not propose to address this
assembly was because having 30 recent
ly associated myself with the Congress
sionsl Temperance Association, l did
not like to make . parade of my
self before the public. Men sometimes
sign pledges, and they break them; but,
Mr.. President, / have signed for good,
(Applause,) and l have made my cove
nant with God that will keep mine.
But l felt it were better to prove first
that | was well established in my new
position, before 1 attempted to express
sentiments on this question in that
earnest and enthusiastic manner, in
which 1 always address my fellow citi-
zens, in behalf of any cause which has
the conviction of my Judgment and the
approval of my heart.
Some two months ago your distin-
guished Chairman, the able and elo-
ouent Senator from Massachusetts,, in
his kindness, in the goodness of his
great big heart, came to me with pc
tition, numerously signed by members
of Congress, and said Governor, |
want you to sign q call for q Temper
ance meeting" with all my heart, /"
said 1. l signed it. But the temper
ance meeting did not come oS. be-
came impatient. l went to the honor
able Senator and told him l was tired
of waiting; could he not furnish me q
pledge He said he could to morrow.
The next day he furnished me with a
printed pledge of the Congressional
Temperance Society. put it in my
pocket, took it home, took it to my
room, read it carefully, and, after one
look to God end one to my home, l
signed the pledge. 1 raised myself to
my full height, and 1 was FREE. (Great
applause.) IF l refer to myself in the
remarks have made, and which in
tend to make, assure you il Is not
from egotism, for 1 take no peculiar
pride myself in having been addicted
to the use of ardent spirits. But there
is another reason why feel permitted
to refer to myself, and that is, because
while 1 have considered that was
only moderate drinker, it has has been
published all over the land that l was
a drunksrd.
Fellow citizens, there vas some truth
in this. and there was q vast deal of
error in it too. 1 was addicted to drink
ing occasionally as a stimulus, as | sup
posed, to strengthen my nerves laugh
ter) and as heightener of social joys.
But, Mr.. Chairman, differently from
other men, l had most unfortunate
difficulty with myself. and that was, |
had a wonderful facility, whenever l
drank, of letting everybody know it,
Laugbter.) My sprees were not fre-
quent, but they were long and they
were loud. Laughter.) The grand
prairies of Illinois did not furnish area
enough for one of my forward move
ments. daughter That was not only
the case, but whatever l have done fol