Year: 1878

rThe following excellent address was re-
eeiyed by the Alliance too iate for hearing
before that body.-FD.l


To the President Of the Temperance
Alliance II had the pleasure Of attend
ing some Of the meetings of your honor
able body during its last annual session,
which convened at Albany, and was
much pleased by the remarks Of some Of
the delegates in reference to the cause of
intemperance, while I was delighted to
see so much anxiety manifested to sub
due it.


The subject of allowing the women to
vote. in the hope of thus preventing the
sale of licenses to saloon-keepers,
was introduced, which l heartily en-
dorsed. Although not a member Of
your society, am, and have always
been, emphatically a temperance wom-
an, and exceedingly anxious to see the
cause prosper. Living at a distance,
and unable to attend your meetings this
year, would like, If not presuming too
much, to contribute my mite in the
way of a few remarks regarding three
classes Of persons, who WELD uninten-
tionally a wonderful influence against
the cause, for much Of which the saloon
keeper is wrongly blamed.


Now, while have no respect for CT
sympathy with the saloon-keeper, be-
lieve it is but justice to him to say that
in very many cases Of confirmed drunk
enness he does only the finishing work,
the habit being formed before the per-
son becomes so lost as to enter so low a
place as a saloon or grog shop.


First l would speak Of the influence Of
parents on the minds of children, eaus-
ing them to form correct or incorrect
habits before reaching the years Of dis
cretion. How carefully and prayerfully
we should guard each word and action
Of our own, lest we create erroneous i'm
pressions in the minds Of the little ores
/ God has given US to train for him. Can
we be too persistent in urging them to
shun the paths OF sin, lest, ere we are
aware, they enter the broad road to de-
struction, from which it is hard to turns


As an illustration of the effect of ex-
pressed opinions and actions of parents
upon their children, 7 will state the case
Of two young men with whom became
acquainted many years ago, the boys
being at that time l. or II years Of age,
bright and intelligent, each being the
youngest Of his family, and also the
pride aud pet thereof They attended
the same school, and were Intimate
friends. The father and mother Of the
younger lad Of the two were strong adj
vocates Of temperance, and taught their
boy that the way to become a temper
ance man was to taste not touch not
the unclean thing" And he, like a
dutiful boy, adhered strictly 10 the
principles taught him, applied himself
diligently TO his studies, and, as he
grew TO manhood, all who looked into
his mild yet fearless eye respected him,
and many there were who predicted for
him brilliant career. Whether they
were prophets or not, il is pleasing to
know that he has already filled positions
OF honor, and now stands at the head OF
his profession in this State, and is re-
spected by all who know him, besides
being a stay and comfort to his now
very aged parents.


/ wish l could describe as successful
a career for the elder boy, but as this is
not an imaginary case, | am compelled
to state the facts as they are. His par
ents were very excellent people, aud
protesting Christians. They desired
their boy to do right, but allowed him
TO do pretty much as he pleased. Know
ing that he was a boy Of intellect rather
above the average, they determined &c
give him every advantage within theil
{ power. He was accordingly, from time
! to time, placed in three or four different
Institutions Of learning, all Of which h'
was allowed to leave at pleasure from
some whim, yet he was their darling
boy, and was set up in business will
fine prospects, still making his father''
! house his home; and in that home h,
J had not failed TO notice, that though hii
= father was outwardly a temperate,
= man, there was "behind the door, ,
, bottle of 'tstimulant" Of which his sir,
] was in the habit of partaking wheI
greatly chilled, or oppressed with heat
! or when depressed in mind and body
In short, he was early impressed will
the idea by his fathers actions, that i
was manly to drink, but shameful ant
: beastly to become a drunkard. All
| we'll, he would never disgrace himsel
or family by becoming q drunkard. No
but his father now and then took lit


tie behind the door, and why shout
r not he? As time passed, the father AM
mother became aware that he, thei
. petied boy, the good fellow among asso
q ciates, the generous and afiectlOnat


brother, the gallant, entertaining beau
{ had become-oh direful thought
e drunkard Vain then were entreatie,


expostulations, or rreprimands. The habi


was too deeply seated. And now, afte
years of grief, those parents sit by thei


lonely fireside and mourn that a son {


theirs should have become so debaseC
: the father innocently wondering wha
J, influence could have caused his son {
e sto0p so low. For be it known, tina
= father considers himself temperate
! man, and sometimes makes speeches o


the subject! But as he is growing old


he feels the need Of stimulants, nor