Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-03-10
CempfraafF,
Addres. OF Senator ReveIs, of rMississlpps.

Congressional Temperance Society was
held at the Congregational Church,
| Washington, at which Senator Pome-
roy, of Kansas, presided. Brief ad
dresses were made by Mr.. Pomeroy and
Others, upon the conclusion of which
Hon. II. r. Rsvels, the colored Senator
| from Mississippi, was introduced by
Senator Pomeroy, whom, he said, he
! had known when q resident of Kansas,
and whom he esteemed as warm ad-
vecate of the temperance cause,
Senator Revels said: 1t affords me a
great deal OF pleasure to appear before
yeu on this occasion. l am always
pleased to lend my assistance, humble |
though it may be, for the promotion of
the cause of temperance, and to do all
in my power to encourage Others to
enlist their sympathies, to devote their
| abilities, and lend their aid in strength
ening the work.
The cause of temperance is one, al
though approved and looked up to by
many Jealous advocates as something |
worthy of secondary consideration, that
is unquestionably leading issue in the |
cause of civilization. / know of no sub
ject better deserving the profoundestI
thought, the greatest sacrifice, the most
heroic devotion than the cause of tenn
perance, and to the extent of my ability
I have always advocated its principles,
and l always expect to do so.
approve it because it is good cause,
and L sincerely believe that its earnest
disciples accomplish more good than
the human eye can discern or the OBJ
Of ha ,nCfo orif aol 6or <Nfl
society can discover. approve it be-
cause the interests of humanity demand |
it. | approve it because it is my duty |
to do so.
The cause which we have met here to- |
night to promote has in times past. been
eloquently presented by men whose ex-
ample was, if it were possible, more
eloauent than their words. A cause |
which underlies the most sacred inter-
ests of society is worthy of the philoso-
pher, the statesmen, and the divine
There is not profession-not calling |
which society approves-that does not
demand from it's members the liveliest |
interest in the promotion of the.doctrine
of total abstinence. The welfare of our
country depends upon it; the morals of
every community depend upon it. Our
religious, our political institutions are
allied to the causes of temperance. How
often have these same ideas been eX-
pressed, and yet the evil which blights
society exists to-day as though no
guardian hand had ever been raised to
check its ravages; no warning voice to
canton the ensnared against its Seduc
tive influences.
Intemperance is the road to poverty,
and it's concomitants suffering and de-
graduation. In the life of those now
present how many are there who would
not be true witnesses of this statement?
How many are there who have not seen
the result of its baneful workings T?
Some who have acquired great com
potency, the fruit of years of diligence,
have in brief period wasted their sub
stance and died drunkards.
In the absence of intemperance we
behold family blessed with all the
ordinary comforts of Lille. The father
devoted to the care ofth household, the
mother engrossed in the education OF
her children and offspring that will be
qualified by the correctness of their
parents example to contend with the
difficulties which beset the pathway of
every earthly pilgrim. The fathers
sobriety is in itself pledge of their tenn
perate happiness. Such a scene as this
can be witnessed every day in every
community.
Behold that other picture. In course
of time the father had been persuaded
to depart from the path of total absttn
ence. Easy temptations lead him
astray and from an occasional glass lie
becomes an habitual drinker. The taste
for liuuor is at last unconquerable. He
suuanders his money, his property, his
home. There is nothing on the face of
the earth too sacred too holy, TO check
him in his mad career. The honor OF
his family, respect for his wife, for his
children, may have its moralreproaches,
but it avails nothing in quenchin9 a
fiery thirst for the Intoxicating draught.
Behold the family of such man. They
too. alas can be found in every com !
munity. Cities abound with them, and
the humblest village in our country is {
not exempt. \ mother pleads for aid, {
and children whose food has been con- 8
sumed at the dram-shop cry piteously-
for bread Does it not appeal to your 1
sympathy? Nay, does it not more pow
refuliy appeal to your energy to aid in e
the ravages of intemperance? 1
The improper use of liquor, and by a
that [ mean when it is not prescribed
by physician as remedial agent,
stupefies the brain, dulls the intellect, q
and renders man incapable of fulfilling q
the duties allotted him in his sphere of
life, If such a statement were made
for the first time in our day and gen. Il
Grafton we might not much wonder that
men tampered with temptations; but is 4
it not a solemn lesson that has come d
down to US in the very march of civiliza- S
tion, even beginning with the dawn of
the tribes of Israel? The voice of AL n
o.onl-iprr m TIia rNannIa Il
thousands ofyears ago, warned them of S
the danger in the winecup. Christian
and pagan alike have proclaimed this il
warning, while every aye has had its q
woful teachings by the blasted lives of n
its greatest men. How often in our
own country have the professions been ii
deprived of their most brilliant orna- is
mentsI Physicians, jurists, Statesmen, n
and even divines have not been exempt.
Society has thereby been robbed of men n
yifted as benefactors, but whose ex- d
ample, unfortunately, has entailed upon ST
It evils which no man can number
Who, then, will say the cause of tenn e
oerance is not the cause of humanity
yes, the cause of God?
How many young men endowed with Y
genius, blessed with health, after hav- u
ng completed a collegiate course, sac h
'ificed by intemperance benefits the u
wealth of the world could no. repurchase, ii
,artered away their birthright to true e
great ness for the sake of the privileges e
If the dram shop, and dieo unknown to o
anne? And what is the remedy for all b
his? Total abstinence. And what we II
.dvise others to do we certainly should
10 ourselves. Every member of society
yves it to himself as well as his neigh
,or to be consistent with the law of self
1t is wise -adage that
we should preach by example as well