Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-01-26
state Temperance Society.
REPORT OF THE CENTRAL CoMMrTTFE
. OOmlu1lIEE,
j JANUARY 1892

~, JANUARY, 1923.
r lhe Central Committee congratulate the members
oil THIS Society and The friends of the temperance cause
on 'he continued progress of this good work The
lasl annual meeting characterized by earnest zeal
to see the principles of the Maine co,,o
anFeiy ae~-incoraorsted with ihe laws Is ihs Siatc
we then saw other States moving toward The same
OBJECT In two of these the result has been attained
oher states, IN the midst of defeat are still confdent
oil victory; and others still are wabinpsto effort
AS the one great object of this Society was TO Sc
cure the passage Of "A law similar 10 that of Maine
the Genital Committee have directed their efforts to
this single Poit. They early procured and circula-
ted some twenty thousand copies Of the Maine Law in
all the Counties in the State. Efforts were made to
secure the services of an efficient agent and agreea-
bly, to Instructions application was made 10 DR. Jew
eit, but the season far advanced before decided
answer was obtained from him and his constant ser.
vices could then be secured for three or four weeks nm
y previous to the session Of the Legislature AS il
seemed doubtful whether the Committee could make
any general arrangements for so short period al that
late day. they resolved TO leave il to the several conn
ties and towns to employ his services at their discre.
ton, and gave notice accordingly The Committee
found no other lecturer at liberty whom they thought
best to employ, and have commissioned no one.
The Committee appointed to draft Bill to be pre-
scented to the Legislature, did not make their report
to us until the last of August. This delay arose in
part from desire to see the result of efforts in Mas
sachusetts and Rhode Island, and gain all the light
which might result from action in those States. The
Committee from the several Counties to revise this
Bill were early called together, and had the BIZ I'M
efr ga the %ssng Of he hsgssSEs
lish it.
A large number of forms of petitions were printed
and diligent effort made to furnish copies to every
town and school district (,ircnlars also sent
out calling attention to the duty of circulating these
petitions diligently. The result was not all that your
Committee had anticipated but it has clearly indca-
ted earnest public sentiment in favor of prohibtory
| legislation.
The result of all is, that a law has been enacted
embracing the principles of the "Maine Law, CON
ditioned however, that it shall take effect on the Sec
ond Tuesday in March next unless majority of the
eemen of the State shall by their vote on the second
Tuesday in February declare against it. .,.
We have now distinct issue before us Shall the
new law go into effect in March next or shall it wait
another opportunity for discussion before the Legsla-
ture In the circumstances do not regret this is
sue. Considering the feeble vote by which the bill
passed one branch of the Legislature-the uncandid
and improper efforts to defeat it while the question
was pending in the House-the opportunity now Civ
to make better showing for it at the ballot-box
ought not to be regretted. Add to this, the public
mind is not SO far enlightened and settled but that
great good may result from the further agitation which
will attend the approaching trial strong vote in
February next will have great importance in fixing
the new law upon firm basis i
Can such vote be secured Is the law too far in
advance of the public mind Is just Is lit consti,
tutionall Is it extreme and tyranca Legislation l.
These questions must meet Such things are
affirmed of the law. We are confidently told
that this law presents feature in legislation
embodies new principles-s oppressive, unjust, and
tyrannlca and in direct antagonsm with the Consttu-
ton. We not prepared for efficient action until
we have fairly considered these charges and shown
them to be unfounded and false.
The principles the foundation of the law recent
ly enacted are these
LIST. The right TO legislae in regard to the traffic
in intoxicating liquors.
I'd. The right to make laws entirely prohibiting
the sale within certain prescribed limits.
Sd. The right to enforce such prohibitory enact
ments, by adequate powers and penalties the as
provided in other
The law embraces no principles beyond or contrary
to these, shall attempt to show in its place
The principles above most certainly involved in
the law and the question first to be considered is
! Are they wrong, or liable to valid objection
The first, viz that this traffic is proper subjec
Tor Legislation, WIN NOT be called in question, any
by sober men. No whose opinion is worth re
gardng, will far sultfy himself as to contest
point which is settled by every Legislature in the land
and universally acquiesced in by the people. 1t il
acknowledged by all the laws which pertain TO the
importation of spiruous liquor by all the Statutes
which relate to- licensing" public houses to sell it
and by all the enactments in the several States regu
lating the sale.
2. The second principle contained in this law is
the right to make laws entirely prohibiting the sale
; within specified limits. This is certainly no new
principle. 1t is old the first enactment authorizing
"licenses" Every such law has prohibited the sale
within certain specified limits, and granted the righ
only to certain few and this for lawful purposes on
ly. More than this the law in question does not pro-
pose to do. 1t provides amply for the sale for al
needlu purposes, and prohibits all the rest and fur
Their, it does prohibit the use, but only the sale
The principle in its application to this subject has
been declared right and conformabe 10 the Constitu
ton of the United States, by the highest Judicial
thority In this all the Judges of the Supreme Cour
are unanmous-that, ''lf any Stale deems the retail
and internal traffic in ardent spirits injurious to it;
citizens, and calculated 70 produce idleness, vice
or debauchery there is nothing TO prevent it from pro
hibiting il altogether, if it thinks proper
This principle is just and righteous. "Society has
right to protect tself-has right to put stop tt
any evil The right is inherent in the organization
1t is always acted on If it So the attemp
| 70 organize civil society would be a farce" The
enactment of laws the afxng of penalties 10 laws
the institution of courts, the establishment of police
and military force, all proceed the principle thai
society has the right to protect itself so as to secure
the ends of organization. And this right clearly ex
Ill. ina, bs