Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-09

For the Green Mountain Freeman.
Responsibilities in relation TO the License
System
NO. g.

System
NO6.
MEssRs. EDTToRs What benefit do the people
derive from the license system? None whatever 1t
is curse in every sense is only evil and that con-
tinually The people, by it. authorize men to hold out
the inebratng cup to the thirsty drunkad, well know
ing that he has not the power to resist the temptation
and that the legitimate consequences of drinking will
be- foolishness Madness and crime If the poor tpler
yields to tempation and steps aside from the path of
rectitude he is punished The language of the peo-
pie, expressed through the law, and by the officers
of law is in effect this The vender has paid for his
license, and it is Just that he should receive the bene
tit of it." Indeed, as the people party to the
contract and the recipients of the license fee it is
virtual breach of faith on their part if they directly
or indirectly prevent it. His profit must be derived
mainly from tipplers. If these become paupers our
laws provide for their support If they commit crime,
we have other laws, judges, jurors, constabes, shers
jas, prisons, lawyers &c. all which stand waiting to
pounce upon these poor deuded victims of the license
system, and punish them with fend-like malevoence
We pay the expense of their trial. and more liberal yet
erect scafod for their execution, and furnish the
ropes to hang them while our surplus funds 90 to
suppolt those miserable widows and orphans, whom
we, by tits miscrab!e policy, make paupers and mani
acs!--and in this way we increase our revenue, and
glorousy tighten the burden of taxatt;2c!n!
What miserable policy-what wFotched economy is
this
AS long we legalize this traffic, we have no rea-
son to complain of grog-seers. We have made a
law by which they obtain a right We have shut our
own mouths. We should not complain of them if at
every tavern we encounter a gang of intoxicated
wretches, hear their basphemous curses inhale the
noxious efuva of the bar room nicely compounded of
tobacco SMOKE alcoholic BREATH and the contents vom.
tied from the drunkards stomach. Nor yet, if the
landlord is "haseas over" on his voyage to drunken
delirum, and wholly incapable Of administering to the
travellers wants. Is he not privileged man-engag-
ed in LaytM calling? Does not the 'pubLic good"
require that this traffic should be encouraged? Is it
not customary for mechanics to exhibit in their ware
houses the specimens of their skill? And what OBJ
lection can be made if he who has special license to
manufacture dpnkards, exhibits in his barroom his
handi-work, and hangs himself out "Sgn?" 1t is
idle impertlnence and bare-faced inconsistency to
make such complaints while we support such laws.
But some say, that taverns could not be supported
it not for the sale of spirits. What then? Shall
we do evil that good may come? Must the United
States maintain standing army of five hundred thou
sand drunkards, support their families be accountable
for all the losses and damages occasioned by their
crimes and msdemeanors and send Thirty thousand Of
them annually to a drunkards grave and to drunk
ards hell in order to support averns and grog-shops?
Instead of bearing all the burdens and responsible
ties resulting from this traffic, how much better would
it be for each town to appoint tavern-keepes town
officers whose duty it would be to entertain Travellers
even at public expense were it necessary.
A man needs no more alcohol at a tavern than his
though created superior, drinks and degrades himself
below the beast he drives And all this is for the
benefit of taverns.
But, say some "acohol is creature of God and we
ought not to prevent people from its moderate use"-
mad dog is a creature of God; but does it follow
that every creature of God must be devoured by man?
If So it is high time that those who advance this arg-
ment should set themselves to carry it out in practice
But is not man the "noblest work Of God" Has he
not above all Gods works. the supreme honor of being
created Sin the image of Cod" And shall Gods i'm
age be brutalized by alcohol, this abused plea?
But what would we say off law forbiddng the de-
struction of mad dogs and licensing people to keep
them for the purpose of destroying their neighbors
lives and property? And five look at the fruits Of
the license law have not reason to believe its poll
cy hundred fold more wicked and destructive? What
better is hydraphobia than delirium tremens? Ofwhich
would prefer to die and go, by its summons to the
judgment? For the latter, man is accountable, but
the former may be, and generally is, unavoidable.
How very great, then, is the responsibility of those
who sustain the license system.
Yours Truly, A. H. b.
EnoSbwgh, March 1916.