The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-03-03

SonSfesstona AeaRefenee Assoehs"
tion.
~ e Gz-----nrMIu
Prom the Washington Chronicle February a1st1
We give below the powerful and eloquent
addressed Senator Yates, sdelivered at the
great temperance meeting held on Sunday
evening last, in the Hall of Representatives.
uker q Address OF SENATOR YATES. g
elktprEs AND GEsrLExrs II vas not ny I'M
tsotion TO address yous Ut all until this after
noon, and feel the need of more prepare
ton llefore speaking to so large an audience
as this. The reason why did not propose
to address this assembly was became shssing
so recently associated myself with The Con
gressional Temperance Association, / did not
ike to make parade of myself before the
public. Men sometimes sign pledges, and
break them but, Mr.. President, | have
signed for good, [app ause, and l. sve made
my covenant with God that win keep mine.
But felt il we're better to prove first that |
was well established in my new position be-
fore atte mpted TO express sentiments on
this question in that earnest and enthusiastic
manner, in which | always address my fellow
citizens in behalf Of any cause which has the
conviction Of my judgment and the approval
of my heart.
Some two months ago your distinguished
chairman, the able and eloquent Senator
from Massachusetts, in his kindness, in the
goodness Of his great big heart, came to me
witha petition numerously signed BY mem
bers OF Congress, and said Governor,
want you 10 sign call for . tenperance
meeting With all my heart said l.
signed 1t. But the temperance meeting did
not core of. | became impatient. | we.s
TO toe honorable Senator aud told him | was
tired of waiting; could not he. furnish me
pledge He said be could tomorrow. The
next day be furnished me with a printed
pledge OF the Congressional Temperance So
ciety. put it in my pocket, took II home,
took il to my room, read it carefully, and,
after one look 10 God and one TO home,
signed the pledge, | raised myself to my
full height and was FREE. IGreat ap-
plause- If l refer to myself in the remarks
l have made, and which | intend to make,
assure you 1t as not from egotsm, for take
no peculiar pride myself in having been ad.
dscied the use of ardent spirits. Bnt there
is another reason why feel permitted to se
fer to myself, and that is, because while
have considered thai l was only moderate
drinkei II BIAS been published all over the
land that | was drunkard.
. fSuoE clnSens, there was some t.pth IN
this, and there was vast deal Of error in it,
TOO. J Was addicted to drinking occasionally
a. a s'ilnuiant. es ! supposed, to strengthen
my res. .A.rbterl and as lgnlenef Of
ISL ~ J7v, Bat, Nj Chairman, differently
from other inca, had most unfortunate
alihcnity with myself, and that was, | had q
wonderful facility, whenever I drank, Of LETT
ting everybody know it. Laughter. Ny
sprees we're not frequent, but they were long
and they we're loud Laughter The grand
pratries Of Illinois did not furnish area enough
for one OF my forward moreneul=. Laugh.
ter. That was not only the case, but what
ever | have done for the last seventeen years
whether had 10 make = sPeech TO poiit>
ical meeting; whether | spoke against the
Nebraska bill upon the hoor OF tits House:
whether. as Governor. ! wrote a message, or
rublHhed a proclamation, or prorogued
secession legs ature, lgrest applause, the
a..v1.--l ch-lFe Ct tbs cT1osl.e party vas
that ell these acts we're done under the nau-
enee OF whisky II-sughter.l Now feliow-
citizeus. ! have concluded to put stop 10
this matter. The editors and reporters Of
newspapers ART an honorable class Of gentle
men. whom | respect; bat want those libel
Gus scribbers, who have made so many mis-
representations as to my course Of conduct,
TO understand that from this time heucetor-
ward their vocation IN that respect is gone.
laughter and applause, and that they may
now publish their lbels until the hand that
writes them shall fall withered and palsied.
but never intend that they shall have any
license OF authority ia pUblsh me as dranS
ard again, even If have to abstain, as ! will
abstsin, frota the niildsst glass Of eisret that
ever the fair hand Of the fairest lady in this
land should present me. Applause.
There is the evil OF the thing-this MIS-
representation, this liability to misrepresenia-
ton Why, sir, after | had made these
speeches. some sharp article Of abuse would
be punnsnea IL TIE papeI, aea sens lFlen4
ly Indian cf mlne laughter would
mark aro4nd il with black lines, and
send 1t 70 NE for my Christian contemplation
and supreme delight Laughter. | will
stop ii. have promised God | have prom
ised my country, ] have promised that proud
Commonwealth which, for twenty five con-
'secuiive years, has honored me vita all her
public positions. in the Legislature, as Gov
ernor as members Of both Houses of Con-
ssess. La,e p.ou.lse.s g., vkc love RE. and
| have promised Katie and the children
loud applause that | will never touch,
taste nor handle the uuelean thing, APP
plause and. by he blessing of God and my
own uutaltering resolution, | intend to fight il
Vii CO this linz &c the last day "a toe eyenlng
CT 10y life. IAppanse. If sil you, gen
lose nothing mind body or estate. Ap.
plause
Fellow citizens: Il may seem strange. bni
] would, as | fell now, as soon drink Ere from
hell as whisky. for il is hell and dannarion
TOO. 1t destroys the health and mars the
beauty of the body; it can bow down Il
earth the most giaut intellect, and makes II
zeal ns that of achid 1t demosahses and
a1ni Hates the immortal soul. 1t makes q
man forget his children or the wife of his
bosom, and treat them with harsh unkindpes:
and bsrbarity, and even murder them. Unaf
fected by incompetence he would peril his
hfe Tor that wife Of that love he would divs
into the oceans depths, face the cannon
mouth. or peril his life amid the flames of
burning dwelling to snatch from death hi
darling babe.
| do not suppose at all that | am superio
IN anyboay else in intellect Icerianiy hav
NJ special claims to consideration from brit
or fortune; Ina there s cre tslas | ~ esa.h.
shd ffM' IL. Mat God bas endowed me wit
nobility of soul, with warm and generou
inputscs-s heart ms unfathomsbis IN isf ri
fections as the ocean. and as broad as ID
era Of humanity, and appeal TO you, Nj
Chairman. from our Slight acquaintance,
YOU do no, think have enough Of the al
4 dent about me without ardent spirits
Laughter
Mr.. Wilson. Yes; you have.
Mr.. Yates / would say TO The young man
that grandeur Of human character doe
nos consist OF iranseenisu. genius alone.
does not belong alone to the statesman be
meath whose eloqaence listening Senates 8
enraptured IT does not belong slone 20 III
warrior Who be;irg fs rrodj, nncouq1ere
banner over every he.d; bnt it does consis
in force Of character in force of soul. feel
ing, thought, and purpose. Caesar was wea
man-wheI he had sacrificed the liberties {
Rome BY suffering Mark Antony to put tn
crown upon his head. Washington woul
not have been greatif he had yielded to ia
Temptations OF his willing army and sccepte
crown at the expense of the liberties OF hi
country. The reformed drunkard accom-
plishes more heroic achievement than di
the Spartan band At Thermepyir. because b
conouers himself That man is only grei
who seeks right and truth and justice, and az
heres 10 them with strong. vigorous and pc
pemal purpose.
As to the effect upon the nation, Mr.. Je
ferson said, many years ago, that
The habit of using ALCOHOLIC liquors
-. i, cfTca ha Il created ruore fDinry to IL