The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-02-11
lincoln and Tsmperanee.


enthusiasm aroused by some temper
anee orator; his attitude was con-
viction within. All the influences
surrounding him in childhood and
young manhood were Of a character
to induce him to drink In later
years referring to the drinking Gus
toms of that period, he said:
when all such of US have now
reached the age of maturity first
opened our eyes upon the stage OF
existence, We found intoxicating liq-
uors recognized by everybody, used
by everybody, repudiated by nobody.
It commonly entered into the first
draught of the infant and the last
draught of the dying man. From the
sideboard of the parson down to the
ragged pocket of the houseless loa-
fer it was constantly found. Physi-
clans prescribed it in this, that and
the other disease; government pro
vided ii for soldiers and sailors; and,
to have a rolling or raising, a husk-
ing or 'hoe-down, anywhere about,
without 1t, was positively insufera-
BILE So, too, it was everywhere a re
spectacle article of manufacture and
of merchandise The making of 1t
was regarded as an honorable liveli-
hood, and he who could make most
was the most enterprising and re-
spectacle. Large and small manu-
factories OF 1t were everywhere erect
ed, in which all the earthly goods OF
their owners were invested. Wagons
drew it from town to town, boats bore
it from cline to cline, and the winds
waited it from nation to nation; and
merchants bought and sold it by
wholesale and retail with precisely
the same feelings on the part of the
seller, buyer, and bystander as are
felt at the selling and buying OF plows
beef, bacon, or any other of the real
necessaries of life. Universal public
opinion not only tolerated but recog-
nized and adopted, its use"
No reader of the Bible ever imbib-
ed its spirit or learned the lessons 1t
taught more fully than did Lincoln.
Its truths appealed to his reason and
especially to his experience. Its dec
larations as to the effects of strong
drink were fully confirmed by the
condition of those about him who
used liquor Before he had ever tast-
ed liquor he resolved to always to-
tally abstain from its use. This was
courageous decision to make In that
| day, much more so, indeed, than 1t
would be today. He even refused to
sell liquor in his store at New Salem,
and, when his partner insisted, on
the plea that its sale would draw Gus
tom, he retired from the business ra-
Their than consent. His unfailing
practice of his temperance principles
attracted attention, and, when he was
grown, some Of his associates deter
mined to make him break his resou-
ton. In order to get him to take at
least one drink of liquor, they dec
Jared that he could not lift full bar
rel of whisky and take drink out of
the bunghole. Lincoln accepted the
challenge, lifted the Darrell above his
head took mouthful of the liquor,
and set the barrel down on the ground
At once the shouts was raised, We'll,
lAbe, you've taken a drink of whiskey
for once in your life, and broken your
lpledge!" But the sentence was scar
cely completed before he spit the
liquor out of his mouth, and quietly
said, And | have not done so now
A more astute politician than Mr..
Lincoln America has not produced
and a greater temptation never came
to any mere politician than came To
Mr., Lincoln the day after his nomi-
nation for the presidency by the Re
publican National Convention, which
met in the "Wigwam," in Chicago, in
1860. II occurred in connection with
1.-THE visit of the committee appointed
by the convention to notify Mr. Lin
coin of his nomination. A number
OF the citizens of Springfield, know
ling Mr.. Lincolns total-abstinence ha
bits, and believing that he would il
all probability have no liquors in the
house, called upon him, and suggest
ed that perhaps some members of th'
committee would be in need of SOM
refreshment, wine, or other liquors
Il haven't any In the house, said MI
Lincoln. 1--WE will furnish them,
said the visitors. Gentlemen" re
: piled Mr.. Lincoln. 81 cannot alloy
4 you to do what | will not do myself.
Some Democratic citizens, however
who felt that Springfield had bee
honored by the nomination, sent se'
eral baskets of wine to Mr.. Lincoln
house, but he returned them, thanl
ing the senders for their intende
kindness. After the formal ceremol
les connected with the business {
the mommittee of notification ha
I passed, Mr.. Lincoln remarked tina
as an appropriate conclusion to a
interview so important and interes
ing, he supposed good manners woul
1 require that he should furnish tn
committee something to drink; an
/ opening a door, he called out, Mary
\ Nary" A girl responded to the cal
to whom Mr.. Lincoln spoke In a
undertone. In q few minutes ii
1 maid entered ebarng large ira
/ containing several glass tumblers al
large pitcher, and placed it upc
the centre table. Mr.. Lincoln the
\ arose, and, gravely addressing II
distinguished gentlemen, said; "Ge
y tlemen, we must pledge our mutu
healths in the most healthy beveraG
= God has given to man. 1t is the on
beverage | have ever used or above
= in my family, and l cannot console
I, tiously depart from 1t on the presel
occasion; it is pure Adams ale fro
the spring" And, taking a tumble
he touched it to his lips, and pledge
them his highest respects in a cup
cold water. A few months later l