The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-12-25

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shame that nantes the cheek OF mortified
and disappointed relatives. and the crying
wants Of community, robbed oftheir bright
est talents by the fell destroyer. answer.
And are these facts so common have they
been so often repeated as to have lost their
power TO rouse our fears, enlist our aIten.
ton, and excite our sympalhies2 Ia the
name of insuled, degraded and suffering
humanity, we ask how this fell and insid-
Ious agency. can be allowed to operate its
fearful results in any community, without
arraying in formidable and uncompromiss
ing resistance, the philanthropy, the vir.
tue and the talent of the people? Which,
again we ask is The duty of the Freemen
in the coming election, TO provide by law
drinks,& thus give The sanction of the pop
ular will to the free action of this destruc.
tive agency; or to guard The bodies and
souls of men and The fresides of their
neighbors, from the ruthless attacks of
this deadly foe?
But once more; are we al liberty 10 shut
our eyes 10 the important truth that we
are members Of the social compact! That
The Freemen of our nation are the guar
dams OF The public liberty and of the pub
lie virtue? And can there be any doubt
as 10 the demoraIizing tendency Of this
traffic? Can the National heart be pre-
served amid the free and general use of
intoxicating drinks? Is it not perfectly OBJ.
vious what must be the inevitable late Of
nation Of drunkards! And to what are
we 10 attribute it, tina! we are not so this
moment? 1t appears 10 us that The sin,
cere answer must be, 10 The great Temper
rnce reformation. But the tendency to
relapse is alarming, Indeed it is clear
that if we cease our efforts, the evil will
recoI upon US with redoubled energy, ond
the calanties with which our nation has
50 long been threatened will soon be upon
us, Can any man who loves his country,
who wishes 10 preserve his integrity, and
perpetuate its freedom, prefer The false and
mistaken interests Of The drlnker and vend.
er, 10 The interests Of The nation the scr,
did demands of tho few, 10 The rights Of
the many, and by public consent, inaict
lasting injury upon the persons themselves,
merely because they desire it?
Fellow citizens; In addition 10 all our
former bitter experience we have had one
year Of fatal experiment. Last year the
Freemen Of Rutland County gave their
consent 10 the unobstructed sale of ntox.
eating drinks. They virtually said 10 the
man of morbid appetite, you shall be &C.
communicated upon our responsibility! TO
the vender, are aciN make arrangements
for gon to fill up yoar Golfers fromtAe scan
ty means Of tie unfortunate, the sOretched
and Tie poor! And TO the wives and
children of miserable drunkards with their
hands literally stretched out 10 them, in
tears Of anguish for relief, a0e wW do er.
cry thing IN our pOwer to male u respect
able and popular for your husbands and
fathers 10 drink! At least we will see
that the bolt,e is lemptingly exhibited be.
fore their eyes, though the craving o! their
burning appelies are stimulated to mad
ness by the sight! We will open the
doors Of taverns and groggeries which
have been shut by the force Of popular
Indignation, aud thus invite reformed in
cbrlates who have been rescued from the
deepest degradation. and given 10 their
families measurably restored to return
to their bacchanallan revels and chase
away the tears O. joyful gratitude. by the
scalding tears of disappointment and an.
gui$h! 1t is true that most Of them did
not wish 20 DO it, that large minority
struggled with their might to prevent it,
and nearly all who voted for it, hoped for
less disastrous results. But The fatal deed
was done The flood gates were hoisted
and the river of death rolled out upon US,
without obstruclioni And eternity alone
can tell, the harm that has followed TO our
afflicted community! We have seen with
our own eyes, the young men and the
honorable men of our county who had
long been restrained by public sentiment
walking boldly up to the bar and taking
their drains We have seen the unni!at.
ed who have heretofore looked upon
strong drink only with feelings of un-
mingled disgust, tasting, tamperng and
learning TO love ii! We have seen the
reformed drunkard returning like dog
10 his vomit again, and instead of minis.
tering comfort to his family, and standing
up in all the dignity of a man, as he was
expected 10 do, dying in all the horrors of
deirium tremensl" From facts upon
which we are compelled reluctantly 10 re,
ly, we are obliged 10 believe thai drunli>
enness either incipient or confirmed has
increased IN our county a! least fifty per
cent. as the direct consequence of the
vote OF last year Again we ask, shall
we in full view OF the results of this ex.
perience, consent 10 run like hazard
again, or upon any account whatever,
longer prolract the fatal perversion of law
which is made to destroy the very in.
teresls il was ordained of Heaven 10 pro-
tecl.