Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-28

Senator Pomeroy presided, the exercises
commencing with prayer by Rev. Mr.. Beck
| with.
Senator Pomeroy congratulated those pres
eut on the attendance tonight. IL was en-.
iuently proper such meetings should be held
on Sunday night, and In church. The
great apostle OF the Gentlles spoke OF saliva
lion and temperance IN the same discourse.
Il was encouraging that 90 many young
persons, especially those who attended Sun
day school, were taking an interest In the
| temperance cause. With them tho good
work should be perpetuated and carried on.
There was hope while the children OF the
country took lively interest In the sacred
cause Of total abstinence. He thought Il
was emlnently proper that I'D this edince,
cousecrated to the service Of God, the In
terests Of temperance should receive tho
greatest encouragement
clses would consist Of a poem on temper
/ ance, by Mira. Fletcher, Of Iowa, lady who
had been a Jealous laborerin the good work,
and an address by Hon. II, r. Revels, sena-
Mrs, Fletcher was then Introduced, and 10
q clear, pleasing voice, distinctly heard In
/ all parts Of the house, read q poem desorlp-
live OF the evils OF lntomperance, taking for
her subject the prophecy, Hrho sins OF the
father shall DO visited upon his children? l
| luc tame occupied IN - 0NllN v ~ AuOuN
| an hour, and the audience lstened 70 the end
with the greatest attention. The poem was
descriptive Of the curse which follows the
children OF those who are addicted 10 tho
use Of intoxicating drinks. ~ r.aua.rN
Senator Pomeroy then introduced Hon,
Hiram r. Revels, tho eolorod Senator frum
Mississippi, whom no had known when
toemed as warm advocate OF the tempsr-
ance cause. Lama f.s.y 20 So Trr .I.Hr
Senator Reycls said, II affords me great
deal OF pleasure 70 appear before you on this
occasion. Am alvays pleased 10 lend my
assistance, humble though II may DO, for the
promotion Of the cause Of temperance and
TO do all 10 my power to encourage others 20
enlist their sympathles, 70 devote their ahll-
tiles, and lend their aid IN Strengthening the
work. .-..,.f ....rs7 fts.arnr.l- bs.I....
Tho cause Of temperance Is ono, although
approved and looked up TO by many Jealous
advocates as something worthy Of econdary
consideration, that ia unquestionabJ Lead
Ing Issue In the cause OF clyiliEAtlon. 4
know Of no subject better deserving the pro
fonndest Thought, the greatest sacrlnes, the
most heroic devotion thnp che cause 81 tenn
perance, and 10 the extent Of, my ability
have always advocated Its principles, and
| alwAya expSst To do 80. Hrt o.. .Haa
! APPROVE IL because II il a good, cause,
ava I slncerely believe that Its. earnest dis
4
man eye can discern, or tho observation OF
tho most critical readers OF society discover.
approve It because tho Interests OF human
lty demand II. Iapprovch becauseh Ia my
duty TO do SO. ~ by, '..f.Ht-rl
The cause which We have met bere to-
night TO promote, haS, In times past, been
eloquently presented by men whose example
was, II II were possible, more eloquent than
their words. A cause which underlles the
most sacred interests OF society Ia worthy OF
| the philosopher, the statesmen, aud tho
divine. There Is not profession-not q
calling which society approyes-that does
not demand from itS members the uyGllest
interest In the promotion Of the doctrine Of
. total abstinence. The welfare OF our conn
Try depends upon II; the morals OF every
community depend upon II. Our religious,
our political Institutions are allied To the
cause Of tsmperanee., How oflen have these
same IDEAS bean expressed, and yet the owl
. which bllghis society exists to-day as though
no guardian hand had ever been raised 10
check lts rayagesi no warning voice 70 eau
tlon the ensnared against Its seductive In
Intemperapce Is the road to poverty, aud
It's coneouitants suffering and degradation.
. In the life Of those now present how many
are there who would not be true witnesses
~ Sbds 4 bsys statement ~, H. ,c.nl S are there
| worklngsi Some who have acquired great
. competency, the fruit OF years or diligencs,
= have In brief period wasted their substance
I and died drunkards. ,i,-, DO. ...-. 81.
In the absence OF intemperance, We be.
. hold family blessed With Al the nrdiss y
| comforts of life. Tho father devoted to the
{ care OF his household, the mother engrossed
e | In the education OF her children, aud of
0 | spTIug that will DC qualified by the correct
+, ness OF their parents example, " contend
with the difficulties which beset the pathway
Of every earthly pilgrim. The fathers
sobrlety is In itself n pledge OF their temper
! ate happiness. Such scene as this can be
witnessed every day In every community.
Behold that other picture. In course Of
time the father has been persuaded 10 depart
q from the path of total abstinence. Easy
4 temptations lead him Astray, and from an
, occasional glass he becomes an habituRl
! drlnker. The taste Tot nquor iS at last IN
, | eonquerAble. He squanderS bis money, bis
! property, his home. There is nothing GU
! the face Of the earth too sacred, too holy, TO
! | check him In his mad career. The honor OF
hls family, respect for his wife, for his
children, may have lts moral reproaches,
but II Ayails nothing In quenchiUg hery
thirst for the Intoxicating draught. Behold
the family Of such a man. They, too, alas
can be found in every community Citics
abound with them, and the humblest village
In our country Is not exempt. A mother
| pleads for aid, and children whose food has
! been consumed at the dram-shop cry pitSous.
~ for bread. Docs II not appeal 70 your
i sympathy Nay, docs Il not more power.
! fully appeal TO your energy to aid In check
4 ing the ravages Of intempemnoef
= The improper use Of liquor, and by that
mean when II is not prescribed by phys.
h lclau as a remedial agent, stupstea the brain
y dulls the intellect, aud renders man incapa.
4 BILE OF fulfilling the duties allotted him In bis
a sphere OF life. II such q statement were
made for the hrst time In our day and gen.
Grafton We might not much wonder that men
= tempered with temptations but is 1t NOT a
E solemn lesson that has come down to US In
4 the very march Of civilization, even begin
4 ming with the dawn Of the tribes OF Israel !
a The voice Of Almighty God, speaking 10 His
Q people thousands OF years ago, warned them
Il Of tho danger In the winecup. Christian
b and pagan alike have proclaimed thla warn.
4 Ing, while every age hAA had Its Woful teach,
g iugs by the blasted lives Of Its greatest men.
!. How often In our own country have the pro-
) fessionS been deprived OF their most brilliant
d ornaments Physicians, jurists, statesmen,
. and even dlyineS have not been exempt. So
elety has thereby been robbed Of men giilet
as benefactors, but whose example, uufor,
!. tunately, has entailed upon II evils which nc
!. man can number. Who, then, will say thu
4 cause Of temperance Is not the cause Of hu
4 mainly l-yes, the cause Of God
How many young men endowed witt
i genius, blessed with health, AFTER having
completed q collegiate course, sacrificed By
: intemperance benefits the wealth Of thu
4 world could not repuTchasej bartered RWaJ
i their blrthrlght to true greatness for the sake
i Of the privileges Of the drRm-shop, and diet
unknown TO fame And what Is the remedy
for all thlsl Total abstinence. And whal
I. we advise others to do We certainly should
4 do ourselves. Every member Of society
2 owes II to himself as well ne his neighbor "a
? DO consistent with the law OF self-preserva
/ ton. II Is a Wise Rdage that 1--WE should
preach by example as well as by precept.'
) Il Is not for the want Of good advice thal
the world is not better than II Is, The &C
lions Of men are the noblest, most eloquent
when they inspire In others desire to imi
s tate them. Precept without example Is Boul
s less. II needs the fat Of will to give II life,
and good deed will never lack for expires
o Elon In words. ...s
:. will not further detain you this evening
= as the hour Is already late. But before
4 | close I cannot refrain from abiding TO thl