Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-03-20
WHOLE NO. 1888.


had to make q speech to q political
meeting; whether l spoke against the
Nebraska bill upon the floor Of this
House; whether, as Governor, wrote
message, or published proclamation,
or prorosued q secession legislature,
(Great spplause,) the universal charge
of this opposite party was, that all these
acts were done pnder the influence Of
whiskey. Laughter.) Now, fellow
citizens, have concluded to put stop
to this matter. The editors and re-
porters of newspapers are an honorable
class of gentlemen whom respect; but
want those hbellous scribblers who
have made so many misrepresentation
as to my course of conduct, to under
stand that from this time hencefor-
ward their vocation in that respect is
gone, daughter and appIause,) and
they may now publish their ibels until
the hand that writes them shall fall
withere1 and palsied; but never in
tend that they shall have any license or
authority to publish me as q drunkard
again, even if have to abstain, as
will abstain, from the miliest glass Of
claret that ever the fair hand of the
fairest lady in this land should present
to me. (Applause.)
There is the evil of the thing; this
misrepresentation. this liability 70 mis-
representation. Why. sir, after had
made these speeches, some sharp article
OF abuse would be published in the pa
per, and some Friendly Indian" Of
mine, (laughter,) would mark around
it with black lines and send it to me
for my Christian contemplation and
supreme delight. (LaughIer.) 1 will
stop 1t. l have promised God; have
promised my country; have promised
that proud Commonwealth, which for
twenty-five consecutive years has hon
ored me with all her public positions,
IN the Legislature, as Governor, as
member Of both Houses of Congress; I
have promised all who love me, and I
have promised Katie and the children
loud applause that will never
touch, taste, or handle the unclean
thing, (applause,) and by the
blessing of God and my own unfalter-
ing purpose, intend to fight it out on
this line to the last day in the evening
of my life. (Applause.l If all YOU.
gentlemen, would do the same thing.
you would loose nothing in mind, body,
or estate. daughter.
Fellow-citizens: It NAV seem strange.
but l would, as l feel now, as soon
drink hre from hell as whisky, for it is
nell and damnation too. 1t destroys
the health, and mars the beauty of the
body; 1t can bow down to earth the
Nmcst giant intellect, and make it weak
az shst of child. It demoralizes snd
1t annihilates the immortal soul. II
makes man forget his children, or the
vile OF his bosom, treat them with harsh
unnklndness and barbarity, and even
murder them. Unaffected bv intem.
Peranee he would peril his life for that
wife OF his love; he would dive into
the oceans depths, face the cannon's
mouth, or peril his life amid the flames
OF the burning dwelling to snatch from
death his darling babe.
1 do not suppose at all that I am
superior to anybody else in intellect
l certainly have no special claims IN
consideration from birth or fortune;
but there IS one thing that l do claim,
and that is, that God has endowed me
with nobility of soul, with warm and
generous lmpulses-a heart as unfsth-
omable in its affections as the ocean.
and as broad a. the area of humanity.
and appeal to you, Mr.. Chairman,
from our sIght acquaintance, if you do
not think l have enough of the 4rde.t
ter.l
Mr.. Wilson. Yes; you have.
Mr. YataG I uofrl ~ - A. A. i. --.-
man that grandeur of human ca naracter
does not consist of transcendant 0eniaa
alone. 1t does not belong alone 70 the
statesman beneath whose eloouenca
listening Senates sit enrsptured; it
does not belong alone to the warrior
VINO bears his proud, uncoDquered ban
ner over every field; but it does
consist IN force Of character, in force OF
soul, feeling, thought and purpose
Cesar was a weak man when he saeri-
need the liberties Of Rome by suffering
Marx Antony to put the crown upon
his head. Washington would not have
been great If he had yielded to the
temptations of his willing army and
accepted a crown at the expense of the
liberties Of his country. The reformed
drunkard accomplishes 8 more heroic
achievement than did the Spartan band
at Thermopyle, because he conquer
himself. That man is only great who
seeks right, and truth and Justice and
adheres to them with strong, vigorous
and perpetual purpose.
As to the effects upon the nation,
Mr.. Jefferson said, many years ago,
that:
THE habit Of using alcoholic LIQUORS
by men in office, has created more in
jury to the public service and given
more trouble to me than any other cir.
cumstance which has occurred in the
internal concerns of the country during
my administration. IF had to COM
mence my administration again with
the knowledge have from experience
derived, the first question which 1
would ask from = candidate for public
favor, would be. is he addicted to the
use of ardent spirits"
The man who is to legislate for s
great country, to help make laws and
constitutions involving the destinies of
millions of human beings, ought to be
8 man of reflection, moral principle, in
tegrity, and, above all, q sober man.
lARPAaAoC-l w AnSO yOI Ackl3AaLlF0
halls, State and national, and behold
the drunkard staggering to his seat or
sleeping at his post, and ask yourself
the question whether he is not more fit
to be called a monument Of his cour-
try's shame than the representative of
freemen. Would it not be most fearful
to contemplate that ill-fated epoch in
the history of our country, when the
demon Of intempersnce shall come
into urlegislatiYe halls without shame,
remorse, or rebuke; when he shall sit
upon juries, upon the bench, and
drunkenness run riotamong the people.
Who then will protect the ship Of State
upon this maddening tide; who viii
steer her on her onward course amid
the dashing of billows; Widespread her
starry flag to the free, fresh, wild winds
of heaVenl
Watchman, what of the nighti We
have been engaged in mighty reVo-
luton. Your army and navy have
carried your arms under Grant and
Banks against the Gibraltars of the
Mississippi, and opened that stream
from its source to its mouth. Under
the gallant Joe Hooker your troops
scaled the heights, and above the
clouds unfurled 20 the sun the glorious
flag of the stars. Applause. Sher-
49,, v,,arobas f-or, H. 80 Tha -