Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-11-29
no THE VOTERS OF wINDHAM co.

Taverners This is most grave and welghty
responsibility. which is now laid upon us. And
surely we ought thoroughly to examine Inc
subject, that we may act wisely and rghleous-
lly. We ought to divest ourselves, ii possible,
of all selfish purposes, and personal biasses, ana
determine that we will do right, that we VIII
ac, for the best interests of the country; that
we will consult for the public good.
And let US look at the subject first in Pc
cunlary view. Suppose that fifty persons
should be licensed in the County TO sell intoxi-
eating liquors as drink, what would be the
pecuniary benefit that would result to the Coun-
" from the traficI To those fifty persons
grant it would bring profit, great gain. But
who else would be made richer therebyf-
Whose estates, except those OF the iiity, would
be increased Where is the man who has add
ed to his property by the drinking OF ardent
spirits? Have we not had a multitude OF IN
stances within this County during the last
twenty years, of persons who have wasted
their entire property by the use of alcohol
Look around and call to mind the instances
that have occurred within your own personal
knowledge, of individuals who have been beg
gard by strong drink; who have reduced them
selves and their families TO poverty and want.
But il may be replied that this is free Coun-
try, and men have a right to spend their money
in rum if they choose, and others have no
right to interfere. We'll then lei us look al the
subject for a moment in this light. Have you
not known persons who have so impoverished
themselves by the use of strong drink, as 10
require the assistance Of the town for their
support, or that OF their families! Examine
this matter. Has not every town in the
( County had paupers TO maintain who were
made so directly or indirectly, by the use of in
toxcatug liquors? Have not your taxes been
thus ncreased' Has not pecuniary burden
been laid on you by the drinking Of rum' And
is it no concern Of yours? II others tell you
that they have q right to spend their whole es-
tate in drinking alcohol, will you not reply, that
you also have n right 10 protect yourself from
the burden of supporting pauperism thus oc-
casionedf
And again. Are you not called upon repeat
eddy to abate taxes in the case Of rum drinkers'
In the case of those, who, were il not for this
unfortunate habit, would be able TO pay their
taxes; and even much larger sums than are now
assessed upon them! And who makes up this
defcit' Are not your taxes, and the taxes
Of oil those who do pay, increased in this way !!
And have you no interest in another mans
squandering his property and thus increasing
your burdeni
Again. Whose are the families that require
most pecuniary aid from their neighbors, 10
keep Ihcm from snhrrings Do you know
widow left in poverty with family of children
TO support by her hard toii What was the
character OF her husband! Was he temperate?
Do you know a family where the wife is dis.
consulate, and the children ragged, what are
the habits of the husband aud father? Does
he not visit the grog shop And have you not
often been called upon 10 give aid to such suf-
lering Iamiliess And is it none of your bust
ness whether men beggar themselves by using
alcohol!
Once more. Who are the persons that sup
port our voluntary institutions of learning and
religioni How much cid is attained from
those who squander their property and their
earnings at the shrine of bacchus, Who fur
nishes the means TO carry forward any great
work for the benefit Of the public! Does it
come from the pockets of those who have i'm
poverished themselves with strong drink?
And now suppose, that all the men in the
County Of Windham, who have for the last ten
or twenty years INDUCED to excess in the use
of alcohol, and thus spent their property, and
shortened their lives asl left their families in
indulgence, suppose that they had RETAINED from
strong drink and been industrious men, and
like other temperate men saved their earn
ings, or expended them for the necessaries and
comforts Of life, how much would they have
contributed towards deffayng public expenses,
supporting good institutions, and in tightening
the burdens Of the community? And how
much, fellow citizens, would thus have been
taken from our expenses and our pecuniary
burdens' And shall we then he told that this
selling OF rum does not concern us?
Is it not as clear as light that any other class
OF the community except the Rum sellers must
suffer pecuniary loss by the traffic? Are not
burdens directly or indirectly, by taxation or
gratuitous contributions, imposed upon all 9th
er classes of the community except those who
enjoy this monopoly!
But it may be said that this class Of persons
will be injured IL their business is stopped. Ii |
is taking bread out OF the mouths of their chill |
dren. Grant it for moment. And we ask,
must nine tenths Of the people be burdened for
the benefit Of the other tenth' Shall nine of