The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-02-13
Tbe Robert Burns Dinner.

Church. Nineteenth aud Green streets,
who had been invited by the President OF
the Robert Burns Association to respond
to the toast: Scotland, " at the anniyers-
ary dinner given by the Association on
Monday evening last, sent a lette1 deelin-
ing the invitation on the ground that
liquor was to be used at the dinner. The
letter, of hich the follow ing is a copy,
said:
"~Philadelphia. 18th January, ls01-My
dear Sir-Your favor IF the 18th inst.
reached me on vest iday | thank you
most heartily fcl tie honor you weuid
confer upon me in permitting me to ex-
press myself On the occasion OF the 3
anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns,
upon the insl iring theme Scotland. But
| ar exceedingly sorry that am under
the necessity Of sending you a negative
answer.
.'How gladly would be with you and
enjoy your annual dinner, but | regret that
the presence of liquor on the table, as yen
state in you letter, shuts me out. MOI
will you consider me narrow or cross
grained. | am sure, when Rave taken the
liberty of giving you, somewhat in detail
or at length, my reason.
SIN this case it is not SO much any an
ta2onism to the liquor in itself, although
my feelings in tina direction are very
| strong; it is mainly because Of the INJURY
which liquor did to our national poet that
l cannot add insult to injury by recog-
nizing its presence in connection with the
| observance of his natal day.
when | remember that alcohol SO COM
pletely enslaved the grandest genius Of our
native land as to expose him during that
aw ful night to the damp and chilly air, in
which he slept off his debaucl, in the
snow drift, and which brought Oh his last
and fatal Illness, how can | consider with
patience the presence of his greatest ene-
my upon an occasion When VT meet to
honor the poets memory. What would
the American people say if the admirers
of onr martyred President should con-
vene from time to time ard give a con-
spicuous place OH the banquetiipg table to
| the revolver by which he was levelled to
the dust? How much more loudly would
our land protest if the contents of the
weapon were to find a lodgment in every
guest? There would soon be au end to
| such reunions. Nor is the difference in
the results so very great. In many i'll
stances the same result is reached.
"Who shall say that the Instrument of
Burrs' destruction does NOT Kill more,
year by year. than that which brought to
an untimely grave the body of Abraham
Lincolu?
Il think / might safely aver that the
difference 10 the results is mainly a differ
euce of time. But to proceed. When |
bring to mind the fact that alcohol cut
DOWN in the strength of early manhood a
mind whose superior, as a poet. the world
has not yet seen, and thereby deprived his
couutrymen of numberless volumes OF
poetry and song upon their library shelves,
which, even more than that he has be-
queathed to us, would have immortalized
not only this child of the muse himself.
but the land aud its sons and daughters of
whom he sung, | cannot but eulist myself
IN the army of those who shall wage a
perpetual warfare against the 'gill.stoup.
"Oh, alcohol, alcohol. then mighty
6end. THY victims are legion, and thy
sway is all but universal,
las a minister of Christ not only. but
as a loyal scot aud an admirer of Roberl
Burns, through. whose country of Ayr
shiie 1t was my privilege to carefully
travel a year ago last summer, | mus
forever decline TO join my conutryme il
tosstirg lis memory, or that of GU
splendid country in the How lug bowl
Il cannot do it! | will not DO il
Il must not. l cannot. | will not forge
its ravages in dear old Caledonia.
II was more than ever impressed in THU
direction When | was abroad a year ago
1t is, indeed, Aud Scotia's' bane. NJ,
hatred to whisky increases as my age ad
vances.
The liquor traffic. in my opinion, il
very much like Pats wife, all worse to
gethrr.'
"Fourteeu years ago, if you will pardo,
the personal allusion, | was asked to re
spofd to a similar sentiment in an impor
taDt city i'll Illinois. | declined, for til,
anne reason that | now most respectful,
ex press my inability to accept your cordia
Invitation. The committee reconsidered
they decided to Danish the liquor. Subse
quently they expressed themselves as NOR,
than gratified with the result.
Il accepted The invitation to address
the assembly. Three years in succession
| enjoyed the same great privilege.
"The interest in the anniversary in
creased in that city. Native-born AmeIi
cans claimed a share i'll the celebration
upon the piea that Robert Burns was The
poet. not only OF Scotland, but humanity
The 25th day Of January became a notice
date in that community, and the Burns
anniversary the event of the season, witt
the elite of the town in attendance. Sc
much for the Punishment of liquor. Why
should the American people have the OPP
pottunity OF saying, as is frequently said,
'Scotchmen cannot get together to cele
brate any thing in connection with theil
native land without the presence o.
whisky
Pardon me, il / have seemed to ex.
press myself in the language of dictation
Such was not my intention. Let every
man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
| am satisfied, however, that the largel
portion ofthe real admirers of the Scottish
poet will, when they give the matter
serious thought, much prefer the absence
of that which. to say the least, is danger
GUS in its use as well as fatal in its abuse.
at was Sir Walter Scott, when he was
so years Of age, who said-and Sir Walter
as a youth was well familiar with the bac
chanaiian customs of his countrymen-
.Tnekbaft NV mani dep,rd upon II nj