Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-09-07
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 7, 1871.

sanction Of the law. If We consider tho legislative
patronage, dignity and support given TO the rafio in
ardent spirits, il becomes q serious oue.tion xhe,h.,
hs license law operates in the least, on the whole. To
restrain the evils Of in,emperance. From long OBJ.
sefvaton and reflection we ale decided in the con,ic.
uon that the paliry restraints Of the presen, lcens.
system are a mere straw laid down as a barrier TO the
sweep OF the tempest. The fiery flood will pour, q,
we Venly believe, through the twenty -and-upward.
eaiion gate, and the ten thousand pint and half-gill av-
enues as abundantly as IL the rulers had raised no EN-.
bankmenis whatever. ltis the law Of fluids. that when
they are partially checked they will press with great
Ell iofee. The river may be raised by a dam, but can.
not be stopped in its course; and a small opening will
soon empty the full ~hogshesd. So the food Of intori-
eating drinks, pressing out forcibly at the numerous
slulces opened and guarded by law, will desolate the
world equally as much as If the law imposed no limita.
ton or restraint whatever. Ofwhst use is a dam il open
'ngs are made every few feet 1t is no barrier at all
10 the Hood. One, two or three vendors Of alcohol in 9
town VIII supply the whole demand as really as il il
were exposed for sale at every corner. And further
The lega!ized monopoly encourages the few by the
prospect Of unrighteous gain, while tho general sale,
Without restraint would oyerdo itself, and give US hope
from the destruction Of the profits. But why do we
speak oithe license law as a restrain, upon intcmper
ance! So far as we can learn from the history of the
'""b "o' S'Sl pIe9tuucu Dy tUe Incense
system In any of its changes and revisions. The only
exception we have noticed, is the famous Gin Act" in
the reign Of George II. A committee appointed for
the purpose discovered that spiri,uous liquor, were
pernlclous 10 the health and morals OF the people and
IN ORDER 10 check the evil and increase The revenue, a
duty OF twenty shillings per gallon was laid on all spir-
ltuous liquors, and nifty pounds annually were required
ior a license TO "vend, barter, or utter any such Ii
quors'' The evils OF in,emperance increased fearful l.
iy, Tor when sin is patronized by law and farmed out
Tor revenue at a high price, many will evade the law,
and evil will mock 80 absurd a remedy. Blu, in the
Statute Book Of Vermont, increase Of revenue is the
only benefit pretended for the license system. 1.-The
county Court shall assess the persons lii ensed as TO-
taiiefs or inn-keepers, in such sums as shall be equita-
BILE, according to the circumstances and amount of bust
ness Of each, and not less than one dollar nor more
than thirty dollars, &c. (Sec. 0; ! Internal Police.) For.
~ years ago the same reason is implied for granting H.
censes, lie. revenue, and the tax was regulated by
tie profits OF the retailer. The avowed object then,
OF the license system has been tie increase Of rcuenue,
and this has now become the most absurd Of all loyal
specu!atlons and devices. Sanction by law the chief
source OF idleness and crime and riot, and litigation,
ana pauperlsm, and this TO help pay the expenses Of
government! Au,horise by law the means Of inlorica-
ton and its legion Of eyils-requiring, by a mary ellous
consistency, orderly drunkeries-and then punish the
wretch for crimes committed when lawfully in,oxi.
Gated, al a legal mandatory Of drunkards! Was
anything more absurd ever conceived Of since the fall
OF Adam! In legal consistency, the drunkard ought to
DO discharged from all crime committed under the in
huence Of his legalized arrangement. But revenue
from the patronage Of evil, the very mother OF abomin-
atoms, and the heaviest curse that ever fell on civil
government. We cannot find words and figures OF
speech 10 set forth such Inconsistencies The spider
in the fable is said 10 spin its web from itself to is own
harm. Some insects leave their sting and their life
behind, IN self protection. But these comparisons do
not reach The point. Suppose, then, that d man should
reduce his house TO ashes 10 procure manure for his
ned. or suppose a man attempt 10 support life by
using his own flesh for food A revenue from a tax on
licenses to scatter fre-brands, arrows and death, The
very sinews Of government cut up and sold for a
revenue to support the government! And all this in
the face OF a demonstration as clear as any proposition
in Euclid, that for every dollar that comes into the
treasury from the leralized retailer, hundreds of dol
lars are drawn out 10 defray the cos, of tina, one dol
lar. But we cannot coolly reason on such absurdities.
In the temperance efforts which have brought into eT-
else the loftiest talents Of the world, i, has been prov.
ed over and over that 10 furnish the means Of h.biiual
incompetence is downright and ~palpable sn against
God and mah-sin in It's most cruel form agslus, tie
husband, the wife, the child, the community. II Is sin
sgains, God. HIS universal law, founded IN love ut
tiers a curse On him who putteih the bottle 10 his neigh
bors lips and maketh him drunken. Tie whole spiui
OF the scriptures Is sgalns, incompetence, and, by all
panty OF reasoning, against iufMshing-and above all,
against f%egGhSng Tie mans Of lHtemperance. The
ProR4dence Of God, as clearly as his written code oil
laws, condemns drunkenness, and the known cause OF
this SIN, the wicked dislnleTy, and It's transfer Of bread
to poison. The wi! Of God IN regard to temperance
l. seen in the bloaied face, the palsied limb, the pfema-
ture death, and the legion ofcurse, generated boy strong
drink. Ills mercliul providence, no less than his word
says, Look not on the wine when II is red-ai the las
1t biteth ike a serpent and stingeIh like an adder
Shall the civil powers then, ordained Of God, sanction
and farm out for revenue known SIM Why not licenct
adultery, blaspheny, peyuryl Nay, sIars no, at ihi'
question, We rulers and judges Of lHe earth. You Dc
.egaIze al these aud other wees when you give III,
dignity and protection flaw to the vending of.u,oIicat
nag drinks Tor a daily beverage. You license tie Ger
tain UsaAs, why not us vetuiiSi You dignity lie ma,
sud hold over HIM ne rigs Of law, While Tor a milt
Of revenue Ee stands 90 A. place by your su,.or
y and takes the bread from tie widow sud digs d.
early grave for Der husband AID seats out upon ih,
community TIE sous Of dissipation, and not, aud crime
filing the aims house with Plupeu 10 10 supported b,