The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-01-07
Troy Jan. 4, 1877.
For the Voice of Freedom.

y. HOLCOMB.
For the Voice of Freedom.
NR' EDITOR: In discussing the Temperance
question under its present form, there is but oue
point which can have a practical bearing on its de-
cision. The only question left for us is to decids
whether OF not, under existing circumstances. tho
prohibition of the sale of Intoxicating drinks as d
beverage would be expcdient. The action which
has been taken upon the subject from time to time
has leen based upon the assumption that TEMPER
ance is a proper subject of legislation The sction
OF the Legislature has imposed upon us the necesS!-
ty Of acting now for the whole State instead of act
ing as heretofore for a single town. or cosrfv 1t ia
now too late to raise questions either with regard to
the loyalty or policy of this set. If wo have no right
to legslate upon the subject of temperance egisla-
lators have been inexcusably blind But if all indi-
vidual action which affects the community ia sub
Ject to law,why then make this an exception d? Law
cannot have for its object any thing that involves
more deeply the welfare of society than temperance.
lntemperance in every form is q curse If all the
curses which the ingenuity of Popery can invent,
have ever fallen upon one man, it is upon the vic.
tim OF intemperance And so long rs law shall sanc
ton or permit the sale Of Intoxicating drinks so long
will it continue either directly or indirectly the srs
tenn OF drTlnkard making, so o6g will the law max
ing community be chargeable with the bitter fruits
that fall from its sale. TIE cry, You are choking
me,-you are voting away my freedom" which
came from the poor wretch, when this question first
came up, has long since been lost in tie echo from
the poor-house the Jail and prison. at is nothngt to
you, SIR says the drunkard, 81 shall drink when
where and what please, viii g | pay for it," But
stop, sir, as friend to yourself it is something to
meas friend to your family it is something to
meas friend to humanity it is something to me-
and as tax payerit is something tome Your con-
ditional clause "while pay for it." if founded in
reason could hold good but short time, while You
are consuming both your substance and your soul
AID who then shall pay for it?
1t seems to be the opinion of some that we should
trust entirely to moral suason. 1t is powerful
weapon, we admt,and could hope for little with
out its support. 1t has done much, and ia doing
much 10 purge from the evils of intemperance. Wa
have temperance societies of all descriptions ear
ne5t!y at work We have strong men ,devoting their
nobIest powers for tho promotion of the cause-sha
we trust the result to their efforts? Are We to be-
lieve that all who are worth saving must be saved
by moral suasion, and that only? If so, VIC can
have but fororn hope of many on whom Nature
has set the stamp of noblelnen. Why not place the
united strength of law and moral suason against tho
enemy2 Do we virtually abandon moral suasion
when we resort to the ballot Lox or do we lend il
the earnest and sanction of our actions If moral
IL, = 81,
which atfiict the community, why not trust nil our
interests to its efficacy? Why these endless acts OF
Legislatures touching every interest which nature
or the light of civilization has brought into oxist-
ence? Why not more preaching, and less law?
Let us come up to the ballot box upon this ques-
ton, fully persuaded that have right to vote on
it-that it is duty to vote on itand that action
strengthens a mere matter of opinion Let US act
from principle, and trust to tho sanction that law
will give to moral suasion. But if Vermont ever
gives majority against license, it must como from
others than teC-totalers exclusively. 1t is to como
from the young men, who drink because the temp
ation is before them. 1t is to come from that class,
who are aware of the evil results of indulgence, but
who lack decsonor do not the necessity Of be,
ing law unto themselves" 1t is to come from tho
poor, frcndlcss drunkard, who when reason stando
erectpours the bitercst upon the custom that
has robbed him of money, friends, home, and rcpu-
tation, and turned him upon the world an object Of
contempt and scorn The ipse dixit-" all who can
be saved must be saved from principle" will not pass
for an argument until we have tried all other means.
Let us cast aside the temptation, and we may find
principle where VIC never dreamed of finding eyon
its germ Let us try then, the policy of this ACT
Nothing stands against it--much for it, No mau
will become a thief sooner because the law prohh-
its theft. If law is any incentive to right action, il
is better to have law-honest than or-less commu.
nifty, n
Rutland Dec, 1916.