OUDSPELLS. 23 



3ut generally speaking, the proportion which the aggregate of the 

 JDther citizens bear in any state to that of its husbandmen, is the 

 proportion of its unsoiuul to its healthy parts, and is a good enough 

 )arometer whereby to measure its degree of corruption." 



II. The Temperance Reformation among Farmers. 



" So, when our children turn the page, 

 To ask what triumphs marked our age, 

 What we achieved to challenge praise, 

 Through the long line of future days, 

 This let them read, and hence instruction draw — 

 Here were the manj' blessed, 

 Here found the virtues rest, 

 Faith linked with love, and liberty with law ; 

 Here industry to comfort led, 

 Her book of light her learning spread ; 

 Here the warm heart of youth 

 Was wooed to temperance and to truth ; 

 Here hoary age was found, 

 By wisdom and by reverence crowned," 

 ' Charles Sprague. 



I No reform of our day has been more marked and beneficial than 

 lie effect of the temperance movement among farmers. From the 

 loint in the progress of this cause which we now occupy, we look 

 'ack with a shudder at the effects produced by intemperance — 

 Is bounded by no particular territory and confined to no par- 

 cular class, but spread every where and affecting alike the high 

 lid the low, the rich and the poor, all ages and both sexes, every 

 ink, station and condition of life. We saw this monster of evil 

 Ivade the splendid abodes of the wealthy and overcome its in- 

 'ates by his fascinations. We saw him creep into the hovels of 

 e poor and make desolation still more desolate. We saw him 

 jeaken and paralyze the arm of labor — put out the light of learn- 

 Ig — strike down the loftiest genius — change the immortal 

 istiny of man, and degrade woman from her pure and exalted 



ttion. We saw him mar the face of youth and beauty — 

 ylay the path of usefulness — nip in the bud the unfolding 

 jlomise of manhood, and drag down to the tomb in disgrace 

 l|e white locks of matured old age. We saw him the worshipped 

 winity of every nation, and every community, the household god 

 ( every abode from the palace to the poor-house, at whose shrine 

 vre offered up the morning, mid-day, evening, and midnight sacri- 

 fe. We saw him robbing the generous sailor of his last farthing 



