What Presidents of the United States Say
The "Presidents' Declaration"
IN 1834 Edward C. Delavan, of Albany, New York, secured the signature of James Madison to the "declaration" given below. He subsequently presented the same document to every succeeding president down to and including Andrew Johnson, with the exception of William Henry Harrison, and secured the signature of each thereto. Mr. Harrison died before Mr. Delavan had an opportunity to present the paper to him. "Being satisfied from observation and experience, as well as from medical testimony, that ardent spirits, as a drink, is not only needless, but hurtful, and that the entire disuse of it would tend to promote the health, the virtue, and the happiness of the community, we hereby express our conviction, that should the citizens of the United States, and especially all young men, discontinue the use of it, they would not only promote their own personal benefit, but the good of the country, and of the world." "James Madison. "Zachary Taylor.
"James Monroe. "Millard Fillmore.
"John Quincy Adams. "Franklin Pierce.
"Andrew Jackson. "James Buchanan.
"Martin Van Buren. "Abraham Lincoln.
"John Tyler. "Andrew Johnson."
"James K. Polk." John Adams: "Several country towns within my observation have at least a dozen taverns and retailers. Here the time, the money, the health, and the modesty of most that are young, and of many that are old, are wasted; here diseases, vicious habits, bastards, and legislators, are frequently born."—Works of John Adams, by Charles Francis Adams, volume 2, page 85. Thomas Jefferson: "Were I to commence my administration again, with the knowledge which, from experience, I have acquired, the first question which I would ask, with regard to every candidate for public office, should be, Is he addicted to the use of ardent spirit?"—Fourth Report American Temperance Union (1840), "Permanent Temperance Documents," page 232. Abraham Lincoln: "The liquor traffic is a cancer in society, eating out its vitals and threatening destruction, and all attempts to regulate it will prove abortive. There must be no attempts to regulate the cancer. It must be eradicated, not a root must be left behind; for until this is done, all classes must continue in danger of becoming victims of strong drink." William McKinley: "The liquor traffic is the most degrading and ruinous of all human pursuits. By legalizing this traffic, we agree to share with the liquor seller the responsibilities and evils of his business. Every man who votes for license becomes of necessity a partner to the liquor traffic and all its consequences." William H. Taft: "He who drinks is deliberately disqualifying himself for advancement. Personally I refuse to take such a risk. I do not drink." Theodore Roosevelt: "The business tends to produce criminality in the population at large, and lawbreaking among the saloon-keepers themselves. When the liquor men are allowed to do as they wish, they are sure to debauch not only the body social, but the body politic also."