The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-12-25

| been looking forward TO Legislative enact
ments, which should lay the ban of interdic-
ton upon The sale OF Intoxicating drinks as a
beverage; and enable them to complete what
has been so happily begun. The last Legis-
lature responded to the popular voice and
has left it to the people n-tEe several Coun-
ties to say through their Commissioner che
sen at the ballot box, whether the traffic in
arden. spirits as abevefage shall accelerated,
or not. The whole matter is left where it
should be, with you, Fellow Citizens; and
We trust you will ponder well your duty in
the premises.
Before taking leave Of this subject permit
us TO say we regard this as a crisis of fearful
moment in the progress of moral reform.
The friends Of humanity have thus far pro-
crossed in their god-iike enterprise through
evil reporSx through good report. The
cause has s1Wsd lairand wide carrying with
it sunshine, plenty, health and happiness.
Thousands and tens ofthousands have been
redeemed from q drunkards grave, and myri-
ads more have been arrested in their down.
ward course ofdisgrace and ruin. We re-
peat it this is The crisis in the temperance re-
form. Ii is impossible 10 retain its present
position it must advance or decline, it must
conquer or be conquered. Friends OF tenn
perance. a glorious victory awaits us or an
ignominious defeat. Who desires to return
10 the old order ofthings when drunkenness
wasthe Burning sin and shane OF our coun-
try. Where is the family rhathas not suffer-
ed more or less in some one or More Of its
members, from intemperance? Let us be
avengce by baniShing this crueland heartless
enemy from our country; and if needs be as
q consequence. his emisaries with him. BE
not deceived BY the whispers ofmoderdttsm,
nor inundated by the cry OF ultrdism.
Disguise il as they may. the issue IS be-
tween Cold Water and Rum.
We rally in this contest under the sa-
lubrious banner OF Cold Water. Our
escutcheon is the living fountain, and all
around and above it, is the bow of prom
Use, upon which is seen in characters, radi-
ent with living light, Health, Plenty, So
briefly Virtue, Be~nevolence, P~hllanthro-
ply, Order, Law, Religion, Happiness.
In the train, we see the men of Sci
ence; the men of Religion; the PhIlan-
thropists; the trueP atriots and the Moral
ists;-And lovely woman too, Is there,
yes woman, whose woes and sorrows who
can tell, is there, TO cheer and animate.
And i'll the rear we see the joyous bands
of Sunday Scholars, our country's future
hope
Upon the dusky banner ofonr adversary,
we see the tor,erous worm of the still, the
rum hoghshead, the gin key, the whiskey
Jug, the glass and the toddy stick.
All round about and amidst these devices,
we see moderation, 'judicious license" mod
crate drinking, drunkenness, disgrace, CRIME,
pauperism. litigation, wrath, misery, ruiu.-
In its train we see first and foremost rum sell
lers Of every grade and caliber. Next, rum
drinkers in great varieties and in every stage OF
maturity, front the bloated aristocrat who pays
$500 for cogniac, down to the poor ragged
fellow who saws wood for a coarse m
Far IN the rear, quite out Of harms way, is a
set of sleek looking men attired in fine cloth,
the elements of whose very existence is NOR
al disorder and litigation, engaged in TO
rensic hair splitting, and prompting the faith
full by their unfeed counsels.
Such are the contending parties.
We had much rather sustain an honorable
defeat in the coming contest, fighting man
fully under our pure and priceless banner,
than to swell the baccbanalian song OF a rum
victory.
The contest is at hand. The second OF
January is near. Rally, friends of temper
ance, rally 10 the rescue. We have Just
passed the ordeal OF a contested election, but
what was that in comparison with the one now
before us so far as the good Of this community
is concerned ? True,i it was an important cleo
ton, and the whole county felt Ito be so,
and acted accordingly. National policymay
indeed effect financial interest. Let it DO its
worst it can only make us poor it cannot
! invade our domestic peace il cannot poison
the fountain of public morals, neither can't rob
US of our religious consolation and our heav-
emily hopes. The enemy we combat strikes
at all these. Religion is with us, virtue is
with us, Philanthropy is with us,order and law
are with lis. The prosperity and glory ci the
state are with us. The prayers Of the wild
ow are with us. The imploring eye of the
orphan is turned to us. The salvation OF
many a poor incbriatei is depending upon the
part we take in this contest. Our children
and the rising generation urge us TO decisive
action, while our friends abroad are anXiously
waiting the issue. But avarice and appetite
are against us. And apathy and Indifference
too,are against US. The enemy is already in
inc feld-insiduous, active, persevering, and
it remains 10 be seen whether cupidity and
appetite shall triumph over principle, purity,
humanity and charity. Again we say. friends
of temperance rally, all rally 10 Tie polls on
the I'd day OF january, and vote for the men
who will carry out your wishes viz:
HARVEY MUNSILL,
CHESTER ELMER,
SANL 2. STRONG.
DELEVAN.