The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-02-03
WHOLE NO. 0I4.

poor wight, therefore. who unfortunately mis-
Judged as to his powers of endurance. was
often unwiitinc'y exposed TO the cibcs. iecrs
and tricks CT tl,on.htIcss and mischieyous
; bovs
Such wcic The cuStc.ns and habits of this
great people; in reference to which, strange
apathy and Indifference very generally pre-
vailed.
But we have great reason to rejoice and
he thankful. that there were good men and
true. who looked ont uron this dark scene
with deep emotion. They saw us on the road
to ruin. Ticv became alarmed. They felt
tha; something must lie done to arrest us il.
our downward conr>e. They determined tc
exert all their powers to effect reformation.
; to change public sentiment. and also the lab-
its an,l customs of the country This was {
great work. To most minds it appeared ii:l-
practicable. And to those less firm. less en-
cr@ctic and less rcrsevcrine. the Obstacles ir:
the way wo;ld have proved overwhelming.
Bnt they went TO work. The first thin. was
TO convince tho people that. when in health.
they could live wi;hon. RIM: that it was not
only no. necessary. lu. positively injurious,
This was bold step. Many and loHc were
the arguments used ;c establish these propo-
siiioas.
TO scr"rc The advantages of concentrated
effort. and AS means Of promoting the Object
in view. Temperance Socic'ic> were form.d
On hc"cmnc members each subscribed the
following pledge: '.Thc members of this So
cirtv. hclcyin: that the use of intoxicating
liquors. is. for persons in health, NOT cnlt uh-
necessary. hn: hur'fml: and that tfr ptacfirc
Is the carSr Of forming Incorporate aprriiies
and halit>. and that While it is continued, the
evils OF intcnrorance can never hc prevent
cd. do therefore acrcc that we will abstain
from :!c use of ai<ti'd spirits. except as a
medicine in ease o! bodily iniir,ni.v. and that
in all sni.ahlc WAYS we will ,Iiscountcnancc
the rsc of them. br those over whom NC have
influence. and in the colimuni,v."
|: will he Observed that notwithstanding
The preamble to this pledge recognizes tho
broal principles. "thc use of Intoxicating H.
';nor>. is. for persons in health. not ONLY nm
necessary. In: hnr,iul," The pledge is only
'':o abstain from the use of .i..';N,d spirits
To those unarqnan:ci with the then prevail
inc habits and customs. ii n.av appear strange
that irrmcntcl liquors were not also included.
Hmt when II j. considered how ,li,rnIi .Le
task to persuade men TO give M long cher
i>hcd habits to rciLGui>i forever favorite
beverage and to effect change in their opin-
ions and sentiments. ii will he seen that the
pledge. though imperfect. was probably the
l'c>t that coula he adopted II sa< necessary.
in some decree. - conform 70 pnilic Senti-
ment. Somctlin. must he presented that
would he accepted. 4 pledge more stringent
wona. quite likely, have lecn very general
" rejected. To procure Subscribers to this
pledge even, was no easy task.
A'At INV III -Ifdt
took the pledge and went 10 work Much,
very much was accomplished. Eut the longer
they toilcd anl the furthcr progressed. the
more manifest became the defects of the
pledge. Thus. TIE use Of distilled spirits was
diminished. while that Of fcrmen,el liquors
seemed to increase.
After some eight o. tea years experience.
it lccame perfectly o'sious. that 10 secure
the o' icct in view, a more comprehensive
pledge must he adopted. In 1896. the pledge
& a'-tain from the Use cf all Intoxicating
drinks. was Introduced and took the place OF
the former pledge. Strange as ii may seem.
many. on this occa>ion. who Ia! cen Jealous
nlvo, atcS e the temperance cause. the mo
;, mcn. ihcy saw their winc, beer and cider in
=, danger. deserted the temperance ranks. never
to return Th' we're good temp rance. .:'ien 81
ION. as they might indulr - III their iarori;,,
beverage. Like the the rlmtlrir kcr. wlci,
: that was included in TIE pledge, they wcr.
also :.ai>: Us.
:, The ac:cn Of tie Lc-i-:,r.c ;;:ows t.
some extent the irocrcss ci ii.c temperance
cause. In lS:i.. petitions from all i'ar'S q:
hc State. ii,;inyrou>v >i-nc'i. were iro-' :tc''
to the tiricr,l Assembly. asking Tor IA law
r,ro!i!ntin. the making and yc:i!i,g Of ardent
>;,:rit>, ard al>o a>!in. for the REPEAL. @.
- rcyisir. o. TIE t,hcn) cxis:n. license la~>.'
Then. as how, the constitution WAS, : ,h,
" ad,or;:cs Of rum, plead i'll Tar 10 i!;c rc>trir-
tive pml,v. The pci:loi.>. wit: III" rn,>'i
.tu,on.l gucstcH, were referred 10 "a -cie'1
co,,!u.i;;cc. That ccn.,:.itcc made a st;:ie,rla
isborcd report. They came TO Tie con'ln>io:
that. the Legislature h.I The night 10 pro
: liilt the tra'';c in ardent spirits" bit fle:
doub'.! ,l.c tzlc,..,..'y OF la>>!ns al. sue,
:, law. Something, however, had h,tn gained
" The su' ic,t had been brought le:ore III.
LEGISLATURE. and their attention called 20 i.
In lo:;S and in lisa, similar petitions ant
:. memorials were nu,:n rou /, presented. The :
were referred TO committee. h";, lisc tliC>,
of 1884, resulted in 10 'i>l:,,,- .nacincn:
They served. !,cwcrcr, 10 cont; IL Ike agita
" ton Of the >uI iiryt. And the committee q:
1889 asked leave o. the House TO hold ,lci,
sessions in the legislative hail, 'larins the sc-
,c.s OF the Iiou>n. Thi- WAS rt:::>ci.
:, Thc ii:>. lax: il. IT,, :.;..c liza. r,n 'e co,