Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-04-12


OF attending to our own business enough
to save our neighbours and our own chill
dren from being ruined by the evil exam
Piles of others.
In making use of the pronoun |, so
much, would not have it supposed that |
attribute to myself the credit of producing
this great change in society. There are
other more efficient causes l have done
no more than my duty.
| To those men ofinfuence in town who
yet take little, when they really eoont it,
have few words to say. | hesitate not
to affirm that even in your own estimation,
your example of drinking seldom, openly,
does more to influence others to drink
than the decidedly Incorporate man does
by drinking often. The latter takes it on
ly when he thinks he really 2cants it; but
but by taking it he warns the youth to let
it alone, who witness the profanity and in
toxication which its use occasions. If it
is laudable for you occasionally to do that
which has made all the drunkards that ev-
er existed, then why is it not more lauda-
BILE for others to do the same thing con-
tinually? l have here purposely used
the word "openl " TO rebut the cant Il
don't do as you cold-water folks do, 60
into the closet TO drink do it openly,
saying gentlemen, our healths," and pour
the sparkling contents down.
Now ifa man drinks openly he certain
ly influences others to do so more than
the man who acts as if he was ashamed to
be seen drinking.
Again, ifit is fact that some pledged
members will drink spirits even secretly,
then certainly in this there is proofenough
that our appetites are too powerful to be
tempered with
But to return. Can any of you say, 81
can continue occasionally to use spirits, as
a beverage, and not be instrumental in in
fluincing others to contract Incorporate
habits ?" Sirs, you cannot again af-
firm, not one Of you thinks he cam l
therefore solicit you to come forward and
aid the good work-to assist in renovating
tins town. In so doing, your benign in
fuence will not be confined to Shoreham
but extend over the west, even as far as
your sons and daughters shall emigrate.
[ hope you will come forward and sign
the pledge. Yea, sign away the liberty
of doing what you finally believe, if 9TH
ers practice. will be the means of causing
some more drunkards TO be made.
To the former and present vendors of
ardent spirits in Shoreham: You well
know the effects which the spirits YOU
have sold have had on the inhabitants of
this town. You cannot but 6eliere that
you have been directly instrumental in
producing the present and past race of
drurkards; and have helped other good
citizens to form appettes which even now
urge them to seek for and procure some
of the good stuff" Can you look back
without being sensible that you owe
debt which you never can pay? Is it
possible 10 requite the comfort which
some families have lost through the aeen-
cy OF the rum you have sold? Their lives
cannot be lived over again. l rejoice that
the merchants have proved the old CIV
false, that it will ruin my trade if | stop
selling rum" | hope we shall hence
forth have your aid to save 2osterity from
the ills of intcmperance
But to the present Inn-keepers in this
town: DO you suppose you can continue
to supply the very much reduced number
of rum-drinkers in this town, with even
one fifth part as much spirits as all used
f to buy, without making some drunkards
Sirs, you cannot think so. There is not
one ofyou who does not fully beIiere, that
> if you continue the business, you will add
: new recruits to the present stock of inebri-
ates. therefore recommend to you to
inquire into the propriety ofseeking some
: employment, or of providing some means
} whereby you can carry on your business
with pecunlary success, without sowing
I the seeds of lntemperance. Will the peo-
2 pie ofthis town appreciate you for estab-
r fishing grog-shops for the sake of furnish
] ing travellers with places OF entertainment!
r Is there no other way to accommodate
r travellers.
= To the youth of this town let me say:
= The conduct OF most Of you in coming for
e ward and signing the temperance pledge,
E gives pleasing assurance that you are des-
= tined to pass through the world without
S seeing so many your associates ruined
: by rum, as has been the fate of those who
| have gone before you. But think not that
: you are out of danger. Soon you may be
d placed in neighborhood where it is fash
e ionable to worship Bacchus. l hope you
!. will think it exPedient to ponder we'll up
on the subject; for soon you will supplant
e US in all the avocations oflife; and yet, if
: you use spirits as your fathers have done
n before you, some of you will become (kind
l. heaven avert ~ drunken husbands, brutal
e fathers and bad neighbors. Finally, as
:, patriots, philanthropists, and christians, |
l. solicit all classes, ages, aud sexes, to lend
e their aid in carrying forward this great
S, work of moral reform in the town, and