The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-03-13

J.F. MCCLELLAN, Printer.

careful IclhileIS anu lhnhcePciS' many
more stood aloof, not unwilling perhaps
to see the experiment tried. But the ex~
pectaions formed on these assurances
have been wholly disappointed. More
than that; the result has made il plain,
that no commissioners elected in oppose
ton 10 US, ever can exercise any substan-
tial discretion in refusing licenses. Ihey
are the representatives of the anti-tem-
perapce party. They may receive other
votes, but their chief supporters must con-
sst of rum>dealers and their relinue, OF
every grade in society down TO the occu-
pants of the lowest under ground groce-
~. Such 10 their true Constituency. and
they cannot but feel its influence, and be
more or less directed by its council. II
they refuse they forfeit its good graces at
once, and must give way to more plable
nominees. What is more, they must see
that unless they satisfy this class OF men
they break up the party. Ii Is therefore
no ground of surprise that The worst hou-
ses in this country have obtained a liz
cense, some Of them in spite of well sus-
tanned objections to their abandoned char
acter, and the remonstrances Of The neigh
borhood. On the other hand, petition
uumerousy signed for license 10 sell for
medicinal and mechanical purposes has
been refused, and respectable communi-
" have been driven to house they Ioa:he,
detest, for necessary sup plies OF The artl-
Gle. Such must ever be the course oil IL
ceusing board. Every year they act will
make it palmer; will destroy the coyness
of their first elaboration, increase The NAL
contents and make unqualified compliance
an imperious necessity. Let US hear no
more of judiciou., discriminating Com
mis- sioners There can be none such who
license. The onl practicable line that
can be drawn, is entire prohibition
Our choice must be between an avowed
rum party, stripped by its very position
of all disguise and moderation, board
that is the song OF topers, and The boast OF
grog shops on the one hand; and on the
other board tina! will shut every avenue
10 intoxication, and its inevitable Train of
desoIalions. This will be understood
hereafter. The community will never be
imposed upon again Hundreds who be"
| fore were idle, or worse than idle, will
give the antiIicense tickle. a powerful
support.
Many Of the frieuGs of temperance
however did not dream of the result lha
took place, and took no pains 10 prevent
| it, because they thought it unnecessary
They had never measured the strength OF
their opponents. and supposed that public
opinion was all but unanimous. Humid
reds Of those who deposited hostile bal
lot in secret, have been osensbly The adj
vocates OF temperance, and not few were
members OF our associations. 1t was not
strange that the slaunch adherenls of the
cause were misled by these deceptive ap-
pearances, relied with too much confiS
dence on an easy victory, and made
hu!e exerlons. In no other way eau
we account for ii, that upwards of two
Thousand than one lhird-of those
Who voted last foil, took no part in the
contest. 1t will never be so again. We
have had lesson we shall not soon for
get, how much stronger the license party
is in the dark, and a, the ballot box, than
at the discussion or In open array. And
such of US as foresaw The late esuIt, cher
ish the conviction that another canvass
will bring out such an addition to our
numbers as will overwhelm the late ma
jority.
We do not despond over our defeat
then. |; will in fact contribute to the
frmness of our position when we shall
have gained the ascendency. Withou, it
the people mgh have yet 10 learn that
any board that would license, must in eff
feet license Unfortunately. The sud-
den and entire prohibition OF the trafict
might have alienated some who had not
reck oned upon the consequent inconveni>
ences and dissatisfaction. A victory al the
late election might, from these and va!i-
GUS other causes, have been followed by
severe struggles and possibly defeat, very
probably by vicissiIudes and strife highly
exasperaung 10 our fellow citizens, and
therefore detrimental 10 the interests of
temperance. We have no such sppre"
hcrsons about our success hereafter; but
pre- dict that the entire abolition of the
traffic will then become the settled policy
of The country.
The time has now come, however, to
put forth our utmost efforts aud achieve
this object as fast as possible. We are
rapidly losing the impulse derived from
The spectaces OF misery and degradation
once 90 abundant When ano h genera"
uon shall arise that know not Joseph.
when the aged meu are dead who saw
what wide devas,ations intemperance can
make, we shall lose the Incentives 10 that
energy and determination that character
lied oul former measures. That saying
Of the conqueror Of old, nothing is done
ill all is done,' is emlneutiy true Of our
We shall not be secure; we
must no, relax an effort, until it shall be-