Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-10


The Massachusetts, Temperance Society
was formed without any pledge at all,
leaving it to the discretion of the members
how mnch to drink. This is discretiona-
ry temperance. The next is a Young
Mems Society l heard Of the members of
which were pledged not 10 drink except
when they went out oftown. This is ge-
ographical temperance. The American
Temperance Society set itself to cut off
some of the causes Of intemperance, leav-
ing others untouched This is numerical
temperance. Some advocate the disuse Of
all Intoxicating liquors, except on great
occasions. This is penuhimate temper
ance. Then comes the total abstinence
society, with what may be called ultimate
temperance This is the end.
We have been told of book that's pub
lished blythe American Society. should
like to know more about this book. AS
it seems to me, it does not come up to the
mark. Suppose you take that book to
England, they will laugh at all you say
about ardent spirits, while they get drunk
upon beer. 1t is to be published, we learn,
in France. But the Frenchman will
laugh at your feeble efforts, while you
leave him unmolested to drink his pure
wine Send it to your missionaries in
China, and the Chinaman drinks his
samshoo, and the Indiaman his arrack.-
Your sailors are not protected by this
warfare against ardent spirits. The truth
is, Sir, the temperance cause has been
circumvented by this old pledge. Sup
pose there should be a non-intercourse
with France, and French goods should be
introduced under the British flag; we
should be circumvented. So, Sir, we
have been circumvented in temperance by
the old pledge. You must not drink ar
dent spirit; but only call it wine, and you
may drink it.
S. S. Smith, of Fayetteville, Onondaga
CO., said, if this resolution is adopted, it
precludes us from adopting any other
pledge. If we say we adhere to the old
one, how can we adopt new one? be-
lieve it is time to take new ground |
know not how it is in cities, bat in the
country we can make no further progress
with the old pledge. The drunkard will
give us up one kind of drink, five only
allow him another that will make fuddle
come. These temperance men spoken of
have never made any sacrifices for the
cause Of temperance They have only
given up the coarser drinks, and taken the
finer liquors These city gentlemen have
made their speeches, and perhaps given
their money, and then drank their wine
and praised the cause Of temperance
One of them was travelling with his wife
and daughters in the northern part Of Yer.
mont-had great deal to say in favor O.
the temperance cause, but at almost every
tavern called for porter, and by the time
he reached Boston he fairly drivelled a
the mouth, he was drunk Now shall
we sacrifice the cause Of temperance tc
keep that man in our ranks Sir, an
unwilling to sacrifice our glorious cause
to any man who has never made sacrifices
for it. Let them go half way, let the low
er of wine and the lover Of strong beer
who will make no sacrifices, take thei1
!, course, they have hinderedus and brougk
reproach on our cause long enough
But when they undertake to tie up on
hands, and close our mouths and forbit
us from taking up new pledge when tn
, old one is proved insufficient, | will no
submit l do not say, cut them off, but
would 90 on, and let them dispose ofthen
! selves as they choose. One tee-totalle
will do more good than twenty-yes, tina
hundred wine drinkers They do u
f more hurt than good by their example.
s Mr. Hathaway. l would bear my ties
p timony to the correctness of the remark
: made by the last speaker. | have Learn
# ed with great surprise, and no little r.
!. gret, that the gentlemen in our cities, IL
e stead of leading the country forward, al
h deSirous of letting down the standard
e temperance doctrine and lowering the tor
t of temperance practice. This vote wou
l. be direct censure upon all that has bee
Ut done the past year, and all the efforts tn
f. are now making to extend the new pledg
J. oftotal abstinence from alfthat can intoz
" cate 1t is necessary that this socie
should come up, now, and take ne
in ground. At the outset, there was n
to such an abundance of drinks called win
in common use and circulation. b
s. now individuals have labored to circur
is vent our pledge, by the manufacture
wines, both for profit, and to put down t
of temperance society Now it IS time
~ us to be consistent. The men we wish
he bring over are keen-eyed to discover
en- inconsistencies there have been IN the a
In guments and practices OF the friends
K reform. They know that the advoca
of ofthis cause denounce alcohol and say
!er ought to be labeled, like other polsons, a
ID kept in the apothecary1s shop; Yet, WI
he they call on the people for their piedg
WIS they only ask for the abandonment OF
III dent spirit Nay, have known the We
IA men who made these speeches, refuse
{ is give up ardent spirit unless you all