Temperance > Autobiography and personal recollections of John B. Gough

REVIEW OF EXPERIENCE.
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ful triumphs of temperance; and then a magnificent prize
banner displayed its gorgeous folds to the breeze;1 after
which came a four-horse barouche, witli two marshals,
one on either side, in which was that truly great and good
man, Governor Briggs, the President of the Day, accom¬
panied by the President of the Washingtonian Temper¬
ance Society. High as was his situation as Governor of
the Bay state, never stood he in a prouder position than
on that day. Oh! it was a noble thing to see one who
possessed such influence exerting it in so noble a cause,
and there, by his presence, encouraging the progress of a
reform, the blessings resulting from which will only be
known in that day when all secrets shall be revealed. A
far nobler and more imposing sight was it than fields of
martial glory could ever exhibit,— fields where heroes
stood and received their laurels of triumph. The Gover¬
nor of Massachusetts headed an army which only pressed
on to achieve bloodless victories, and proclaim—
“Peace on earth!”
Such men constitute the true nobility; universal benevol¬
ence is emblazoned on their escutcheons; the happiness
of mankind, temporal and eternal, forms their motto; and
the gratitude and admiration of their kind, the rich seals
to their patents of nobility!
After a long and imposing procession of temperance
societies came the cold water army,— a legion of little ones.^I
A pleasant sightlFwas^—tfuit array oi cfiildren^ as with
tiny feet they marched along the crowded streets, looking
up to the vast multitude, who gazed on them with spark¬
ling eyes and delighted smiles. Some were there who
1 This flag was afterwards awarded by Moses Kimball, Esq., of the
Museum, to the county having the largest number in the procession, accord¬
ing to its population.