Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-08-06
Che Rcformer.
Moral and Legal Suasion United.


Community and Nation, that of Temperance is
not the least. Intenperance, and its attendant
vices, produce evils that threaten us with seri
Gus consequences A remedy for these evils
should be vigilantly sought for Without en-
ergctic and decided measures, efficient and per-
severing action, and ell-founded organiza.
ton. the cause Of Temperance will be left to
anguish
Moral suasion and legal prohibition are the
two main pillars on which rests the fabric
reared and dedicated to the Temperance reform
moral suasion to reach the heart, and legal pro-
hihiten to restrain the action Moral suasIon,
with its mild and gentle influences prepares
and enables us to enact such laws as become
necessary to restrain the avarice and control the
overresehings Of mankind, and arouse in US
that energy and fortitude to enable us to carry
out the prohibitory principle.
Much of the evil lies at our own door: that
energy and decision in the discharge of our du
ty, that should give character to the station we
have assumed is found wanting. The candid
and rejecting miad, rightly cultivated, earnest
ly desires that the habit of drinking spirituous
liquors be entirely abandoned.
| When the mind has been sufficiently disci-
Plined and influenced by that moral principle,
which teaches man to love his neighbor as him
SELF we shall then be prepared to take bold
stand to prohibit the traffic and general use of
a beverage that tends to destroy both body and
soul. A healthful moral influence, sustained
by Christian philanthropy contributes largely
to the erection OF that standard of civilization
and reform whose foundation rests in eternal
Justice and love OF man. its ileathful and puri.
flying inaoences flow forth to repenish and
beautity the world.
The cause of Temperance demands that every
moral effort should be brought to bear. that the
subject may be presented in its true light be-
fore ad outraged and suffering community; let
the appeal be made to the better judgment and
conscentiousness Of every high-mnded and in
teIligent citizen in a manner that will awaken
him to Il just sense Of the consequences that re-
suit from the use of stimulating drink as bev-
erage. Look at the result arising from the
practice of using alcoholic drinks its practice
is sure to bring dissipation. and to that is added
crime in all it's different grades paupersm and
: misery broken hearted wives pale widows and
starving orphans with numerous other aten
dant evils.
1t is my conviction that any relaxation in
= our moral efforts will prove detrimental to our
cause, that prohibition cannot be properly and
efficiently sustained without the heaIthul and
, purifying influence of that moral power
The power and force Of legal prohibition
must be brought to bear upon the traffic i'll ar
dent spirits as well as to sustain every health
full moral effort. Every force brought against
the moral welfare of man is 10 be met and
broken down in some form g The internal
stream, guided by avarce, cupidity, total dis
regard of God, and contempt for man flowing
from the fountain Of liquid death down the
threats of human VIZ ecks, is to be cut off, and
dried up, else the State and Nation must sink
beneath another dead sea, over whose dark
waves will brood the awful wings of Divine
Judgment"
As the use of alcohol tends to demoralize and
introduce crime into society, it becomes neces-
sary to lcgslate upon it in that form, as upon
crime and its cause in any other form. The OBJ
jet and effort in removing the evils of Intem-
) perance can be much aided and facilitated, in
my opinion, by entirely prohibiting the genera
traffic Let the law be judicously applied in
the discharge of our duties be firm and decided,
but not ultra. The law Of prohibition tends
to sustain our moral efforts, and our moral eff
forts are indispensably necessary to sustain the
law.
1t is a well settled principle that udicious
and wholesome laws are powerful incentive to
good order, and must be used in the support of
all moral and religious culture. Every well
disposed member of society will ever be ready
to sustain, and aid in enforcing the spirit of
such laws, 10 that class of laws am disposed
l to place our present law regulating the traffic
in ardent spirits
Some Of our best Temperance men are inclin-
ed TO wage war with our present liquor law,
making strong efforts to introduce convincing
arguments that the law fails to produce any
beneficial results, an affirm it as their opinion,
that moral suasion alone must do the work if
done at all that the law is a nullity. IT, this
position they are clamCrously sustained by
bn arAn tb 10
form ana wish to sustain the traffic in ardent
spirits Why oppose the law Why not use
moral efforts without attacking the efforts of
Others equally Jealous and sincere! Why war
with thy brother when the field is large enough
for each to meet the enemy in his own way with
out collision
| would say to such friends that in my judy
ment, moral and legal influences are lnseperablv
connected, that we shall fail to accomplish the
Object sought for by all true Temperance PEG
pie, and bring about the desired reform, until
we can unitedly work together. Let our broth
or who possesses the faculty to, use moral sua-
SION Alright use 1t etfectualy if he can, and, at
the same time, let others through the body pol
> lite do their duty unmolested, as in their judy
men' seems right all work together in our
common cause without attempting to destroy
each others influence In the the cause of
f temperance union is as necessary as elsewhere.
, " Ia union there is strength A.P.
East Calais, July, 1857.
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DEATH OLA STRANGER.-The CQledoa,Qn
: states that woman, name unknown. noorlv