Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-06-10
krJeThe following very excslIert ort;-


we know not how it may suit the taste {
our readers, but think that there is moth
= ing Objectionable in it, even to the mos
devoted friends of the temperance reform
The TEMPERANCE MovEMENT.-It ha
, been long foreseen by all acquainted witt
The workings of a popular government, an,
ioretold by many, that reaction of tn,
impulse given to the temperance move
ment by the intemperance of some of il
friends, was inevitable. Blu, the recedin!
OF the tide has begun sooner than was ex
peced. In the state of New York, SEN
fence is pronounced against The restrictive
system, by exclamation, in the greater
number of districts, and by a vast MAORI.
~ of the people. A committee of then
Legislature, which was elected under the
anti.llcensc influence and fanaticsm, has
recommended not only removal of the
restrictions, but repeal of all laws affect.
ing licenses. They state, among other
objections to The system as it now exists,
the facility with which its absurd provis-
ions are evaded. Clubs are instituted
who form sub-treasu'ies. Each member
contributes a sum sufficient to buy five
gallons Of spIrlls-lhe minimum quantity
allowed to be sold-and takes it home,
where every one receives, at his conven.
lent leisure, his alipuot part The same
report states that the number OF indict.
ments for drunkenness in one year, in
Boston, where licenses are withheld, ex-
ceeds that of the city of New York, with
fourlold population, which is exempt
from restriction. The Legislature has
not yet acted on this report, but the peo-
pie have acted upon the principle, and
secuted it as a reproach upon free gov
eminent. In Maine, also, the note of pre-
para'ion is loud and deep. A newspaper
has been established at Augusta, for the
avowed purpose of crushing the tyranica
system.
In this city the symptoms of decided
opposition are beginning to manifest them
selves IN manner not to be mistaken
The waters are evidently agitated. Fan
neuI-llall bids fair to become the arena
o!open wars. Already one gentleman
has laid hands upon his opponent, com.
hitting, perhaps unconsclouslv, legal
assault and battery.
If that gentleman has read 'Slevenss
Lecture on Heads, he must have met
with the law maxim, that 'primus strokus
sine jocus aJsOtutcst prOrokus,' and such
Jokes in parts of our country meet with
repaltees in dirks and bowie-knives. The
true view Of this temperance project
lalse y so caled-is that it is a revolution.
arg movement. One of the most odious
and revolving character; an effort to
change the habits Of whole people; to
compel them TO dict themselves; topimp
into their houses and 10 see who drinks
wine at dinner, or glass of rum and wa
ter on going 10 bed; TO find out where
his liquor is purchased, and then, by him
self or some other inlormer, to procure
an Indictment against the seller
1t is fact that within few weeks. an in
divdual in neighboring county purchas-
ed an empty key, and carried it through
the street as an experiment, for fun. |,
succeeded tho was followed upon the
fancied scent by several of the holy broth
hood to his house, and TO their expostula-
tons he answered by drumming on the
cask, and showing that like some heads,
it was full Of sound and 'signifying moth
ing.
Seriously speaking, the history Of
Chrislendom affords no parallel to the G.
normity of the privations thus attempted
to be enforced by the leaders of this era.
SADIE. The founder of the Christian re-
ligion not only took wine with his deci-
pies, but manufactured it for festive oc-
casion. No Christian people ever for
babe its use, No Trainer of model repub-
lies and Utopian institutes ever limited
such prohibition. 1t is entirely Yam
kee notion in its origin, and even the blue
laws which made it penal to kiss one
wife on Sunday, did not forbid our ances.
tors the occasional comfort of ia glass of
wine, or "slirrup cup" Nor will it be
endured any where, when men come gen.
orally to consider the principle involved
in the position that man shall not buy
what he wills with his money, and dispose
of his purchase at pleasure, provided he
hurts not his neighbor. The sooner
therefore. that the CONSTITUTED aulhori-
ties" realize that all governments must
yield to the force of circumstances, and
accommodate their procedure lo.the hab
its of mankind, the sooner they vii put an
end to commencing aggitalious, which a(.
ter struggle and period Of discomfort,
longer or shorer, will not only establish
the irresistible law OF "free trade" bnt to
the great regret Of well disposed citizens
disgust the public mind with every
name of Temperance Reform.
4 Starting Fact. "A valuable s,aliscal
work published so'uc years since states the
number of who have those lived on earth at
49, nnn OOn mn nnD nOn -. ,,,o,,, o.o.,