Among the means recently proposed for promoting this cause, and which belongs to the second period of our history, is a change in the pledge, so that it shall include all intoxicating liquors. This is the wine question, in an extended form. It is not alluded to in this place, for the purpose of discussing it, but to advert to one effect which it is said has resulted from its adoption, or from the alleged manner of pressing it upon the community. Upon some, perhaps not many, the effect is stated to have been, either to diminish their interest in the whole subject, or to lead them to withdraw themselves entirely from its concerns.

Let it be asked now, and it is asked respectfully, is such a course just, either to the cause or to truth? Do not the original principles of this cause remain as true as they ever were? Is not the use of distilled spirits as injurious, and as dangerous as it ever was; and is it not now as much the duty of every individual, who is fully acquainted with this danger, and this injury, to declare his convictions with the same zeal as he may ever have done? How doubly important is it for him to do so, at a time, when we hear of divisions, and strifes among friends, who have hitherto lost personal biasses in wide views, and most important and unquestioned general interests. The zeal, the whole moral and religious power of every individual is demanded for this cause, for on its success, depend the essential well being, and good doing of states and of nations. Let it not, then, for a moment be weakened by the agency, however indirect this may be thought or called, of any who have ever appeared its friends. The truth is ever the same. We may neglect, or refuse to use it for ourselves, or for others; we may overlay and bury it up, by its counterfeits, or by what we may claim to be of its own inherent nature; we may let in upon its fair domain the untrue of our own fancies, our own passions, our own mere prejudices; or others may do all this. Such a course may obsure, but it has no power to destroy the truth; this is essentially immortal in its very nature, for the truth is an attribute of divinity. There it is, always ready to minister to our

highest wants,-to aid us in the greatest and the best we may attempt, either for ourselves or for others. Is it, let it again be asked, is it just to this truth, to be driven from its promulgation, and its defence, by any or all attempts that seem to us unfriendly to its progress, or which propose to give new and increased life to that progress, by means which, we think, can only distract if not destroy it? Should not every friend to this cause take the high and noble ground of an apostle on another occasion, and say to the world, that neither height nor depth, nor any creature, shall separate him from this good and great cause.

How easy is it, if the spirit be good and true in this matter, to prevent schisms, or even an approach to them. The field is a wide one, and offers numberless occasions for useful action. Men are only to unite in the great interest of preventing intemperance; they may agree to differ in the means they will employ. They may adopt or refuse to subscibe to any or all pledges. They may unite in the support of what they believe to be true and best, and let others pursue the path of duty which they see lying openly before them. All men may and should see the good, the useful agency of others, under whatever banner they may be enrolled, and be ready to see and acknowledge both wherever they may exist. It is one of the saddest features of our times, in this and almost all other matters of great interest, that men who have adopted one set of doctrines, or are pursuing one course of measures, can see nothing to respect or to approve in those who differ from them, as if differences of opinion in politics or religion, have only moral delinquency for their origin, and tend wholly to evil, both here and hereafter. Should not this cause be saved from the inevitable consequences of allowing this spirit of the times to interfere with its action? Shall the mighty progress it is making, be for a moment checked by this unnecessary admixture of the popular infirmity, and men be kept from its ranks by an exclusiveness which does in no sense belong to it, and which, if allowed to operate at all, no matter how slightly, can do nothing but harm?

this cause.

What now has been accomplished by the means described, employed as they have been in an almost infinite variety of ways, and in a spirit and with a zeal which has never tired or fainted? This is a question of great interest. I can give it but a very general answer. This answer, in the first place, is found in the numbers and characters of those who have joined themselves to Thousands, nay, millions in our own country, have come forward in its support, and great numbers have united themselves to it abroad. Again, the change it has produced in the habits of society, is a most important fact in its blessed ministry. Distilled liquors, which, a very few years ago, were used by every body,—which were thought essential to the healthful use of the frame in labor, and which were offered to friends and casual visiters in token of hospitality; these drinks have long been almost entirely abstained from by a large and important classes throughout the land. The exceptions are so few to this statement, that they support what is advanced, rather than diminish its force. This abstinence from distilled drinks, has gradually led to a greatly diminished use of wine and other fermented drinks, which formerly were so generally employed, and in no very measured quantities. The quantity in all, has been lessened, and the quality less harmful. These are facts, and most encouraging truths are they. They urge us onward by an authority and eloquence which cannot be resisted, for they teach that multitudes have thus been saved from the certain ruin which awaited them. It is a very interesting fact in this history, that much of this change has been brought about without any direct agency of the cause which has produced it. So far from such agency, that many have made this great change in their habits, who have either been opposed to this cause, or have never openly applied its doctrines to themselves. They have showed that a moral power was in operation about them, which, however little they might note it, was acting upon, and within themselves. They have not resisted the influence, and their practice has, at length, harmonized with it. Much the larger number, however, have placed themselves voluntarily in

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the ranks of temperance, the light has come to them with healing in it beams,—they have opened their eyes to the faintest dawning of that light, and labored to dispense its best influence to all within their reach.

The cause has extended itself over both town and country. In the country its power has been greatly wanted, and it has been strikingly felt. Intemperance there has produced its most fatal effects. It has led to a reckless indifference about highly important interests. Real property has rapidly changed hands, and men who were in the possession of comfortable farms, and sufficient stock, have, by this vice, wasted their estates, and made paupers of themselves and their families. The last year's annual report contains illustrations of this fact, and shows that, in many instances, the same farm has repeatedly passed into different hands, and with a rapidity one can hardly believe. But vigorous measures have been adopted to prevent all this calamity. Whole counties, and numerous towns, have come forward as one man, and have voted in public, open assembly, that licenses shall not be granted for the sale of ardent spirits. Here is an expression of sentiment most honorable to the country. Here is moral strength, showing itself in moral acts, and at once producing results of almost overwhelming interest. How healthful must the tone of public feeling be, when it thus determines for itself that it will cheerfully make large pecuniary sacrifices, for securing a vast good. How sure is the progress of the temperance cause when ministered to by such a state of the public sentiment. It is grateful to dwell on such a fact in our State history. We may now look with the deepest pleasure to the whole fair south of our Commonwealth, for we cannot find throughout its whole domain, one man who finds his own subsistence, however unconsciously, in the unutterable misery of a single individual around him. And how is this pleasure increased by another truth, the fact that the intemperate have, in the completeness of such a work, a time of rest from indulgence, a time to learn again what a blessing is temperance, and to lay anew the deep foundations for present and future

felicity. There is every thing to favor the progress of temperance in the country. We find it in the general diffusion of education,-it the regular observance of the Sabbath, which collects together for the highest purposes, those who, for the week, are more or less separated by distance, and the needed labors of every day,-in the kind of labor, its regularity, depending on the season, the interest there is in it of a sure reward; and, finally, the consciousness of the honorableness of an occupation which is immediately contributing to comfort and competency. Men labor hard in the country, but the great majority are engaged in the same toil. It is of a nature, however, not to stimulate the individual to any ruinous exertion of strength, and the hard spirit of excessive competition is not every where abroad, to minister to the same excess. The spring comes with its seed time and its promise,-the summer, with its ripening influences, and autumn, with its full, rich harvest,-winter, which brings with it rest to the wearied earth, has the same blessing in its gift for wearied man, and, at this season, the school' house is opened, and the young, and the mature in body, are found side by side, in the useful labor of learning. Moderation and temperance are the peculiar blessings of a country life, and, though these have been deeply hurt by intemperance, how sure is the prospect that they will acquire their native power again, and bring back with them, what, for a time, has been so mournfully lost.

Under less favorable circumstances, this cause has made good progress in the cities of our country. In our own, this is manifested first in the great reduction of licenses for retailing spirits. Not one half in number are granted now, compared with a few years since, while, within the same period, the population has greatly increased. In the next place, the number of those who have joined temperance societies, amounts to many thousands, and these have constantly exerted a beneficial influence on the community. They are from all classes and from all occupations, teaching in this single fact, how applicable is the object to all and to each,-how great is the interest of every individual, of