The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-02-05
Report Of the Temperance Central
Committee,

To the Termont State Temperance .Socieiy :
The aspect of our cause to-day, so far as
it relates to our own State, is quite differ
ent from what it was one year ago The
character of Vermont has been nobly re-
deemed. The freemen have spoken with a
voice to be heard; and by majority that
would have settled any other question for
ever. After such defeat of an issue so
plain as this, no political party would have
thought to rise again. An ordinary question
once answered with such distinctness, had
been answered forever.
But this is no ordinary question. 1t is a
subject OF 10 common interest. If there
ever was monster Of thousand heads, the
cutting of Of one of which only gave
birth to a myriad of new ones, that monster
is lntemperance. Ii seems almost as if death
were impossible TO it,-and as if there were
no end to his serpent forms. Intempcrance
had indeed come tn be a system oil colossal
stature, old and venerated. Its power was
like that OF some vast system OF idolatrv,
adopted in the infancy of nation. inwrounht
into all the forms of government, into all
the arrangements OF every family circle, into
all the thoughts and sympathies of the peo.
pie. Such system is no. easily broken up.
Monarchs have found it easy 10 conquer a
nation, but hard to change their gods. This
is what few have dared to attempt and what
fewer still have been able 10 do. Perhaps
no system Of idolairy was ever more thor
oughly incorporated with the systems and
habits of any people than the system of strong
drink with the systems and habits Of this ma
tion. Surely no idolatrous system ever had
greater number and variety of images, and
shrlnes, and temples, and festive days, or a
more universal devotion to it, or more abun-
dant sacrifices. 1t had grown with our
growth and strengthened with our strength.
There was not town in the land however
small, without temple and priest to ollici.
ate. The family which did not maintain an
altar, covered with idols-demi.ioh and
decanters-was sure to lose caste and be de-
serted. All public days, without distinction,
were appointed times for pouring out oba-
tons; and as if intemperance was the very
goddess OF liberty, these libatons were larg.
est about the ballot box, and the halls of leg
islation, and the bar of jnstice. Children
were initiated even in the cradle. Worship
was performed at every social interview, at
the family meeting, the marriage and the
burial. The victims offered in sacrifice an
nually were computed at fifty thousand, and
not less than five hundred thousand were
constantly IA course of preparation for the
sacrifice. Such was the violence of public
sentiment, that if any one ven;ured to op>
pose, he was met by a cry louder and longer
than when all Ephesus cried for the space Of
three hours, " Great is Diana of the Ephe-
slams"
Now the wonder is not that intemperance
has not been brought TO an end in the space
of twenty years. We rather wonder that
any thing should have been done towards
breaking down such a system as this that
any mortal should have been bold enough to
make the attempt. The work could not have
been done at once. 1t was necessary to pro.
ceed little by little. And thus in the provi-
dence of God it has been begun and carried
on.
The first step was the formation of Nor
al and Benevolent Societies." The princi-
pie Of those Societies was, that every mem
Der pay tax of fifty cents for every gallon
purchased by him. The object of the tax