Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-08-14
Correspondence.
For the Standard.
Temperance and Politics.

What shall be done in Orleans County
in the elections this fall, bearing upon the
subject of temperance VIII temper
ance men do anything? Shall the Yer
mont Liquor Law be sustained or over
thrown? viii men vote in reference to
the whole subject according to their prin-
ciples ? These and many other ques-
tons might be asked, but these will suf-
flee for this time. One political party
has come out against our liquor law, and
it may be that for the sake of saving
their party, others will take a similar
course when they come to the polls
They must save their party-a great
principle is at stake, and now they must
vote for that principle, while the question
of temperance is passed by. The party
the great principle, these must be secured
at all hazards. What is the great prin-
ciple for which this is given up? There
4 is none in America that is so great as
this; there is none that ought to have the
pre-eminence. Think of the 10000
deaths yearly in the United States, caused
by intemperance think of the misery to
the families of the drunkards; the moral
! degradation of those who are made
brutes by intemperance; the present con-
dition and future prospects Of the drunk
ard the tendency Of young men to rain
themselves by the beastly vice think of
the $50,000,00O Of property annually
squandered and destroyed by it, the bad
laws enacted through its influence, and
then say if you dare that there is another
question which for Importance has any
comparison with this-is worthy TO be
mentioned on the same day in the week
with it. Party-what is the Importance
Of sustaining one Or the other party now
A mere squabble for Office, whether one
man or another shall feed at the public
t crib. There is no great national ques-
ton to be lost or gained by our Septem.
, Der election; and if there were there ha:
been none since the formation of oul
government that can compare with this
& Slavery-why, more men are murderer
D by intemperance annually, than art
{ a0hiPped by Shareholders; more familie
made wretched by it, than are parted b,
r. slavery; more sots, more prostitutes
i more degradation an hundred fold, thai
c by slavery; more, infinitely more soul
sent to perdition by it, than by slavery
There Is not, there cannot be a create
: question, a more important principle
: Other objects need not be lost sight o.
a but the time has come when this shout
q take its appropriate place, which is mos
clearly the first, above all. Say then, y
n sterling temperance men of Orlear
IS County, viii you not arouse to the tru
II importance of your professions and prir
1T ciples? VIII you not subordinate a
n other questions to this in the coming elet
ton? Are you Democrat, be SO still
but say to your party, "Temperanc
As must stand first" Are you Republ
n' can, American, or Radical Abolitionis
!" hold on to your principles, but let ten
50 Perance and the Vermont Liquor La
! take their appropriate place, which
-. clearly at the head of the column. A
other things may come after; all 9th
things may wait. Say to your Coun
- Conventions, we must have temperan
- candidates, or we will not support thel
- Say to your towns, we will vote for
man torepresent US who is not sound upt
- this principle. Let nothing move y,
- from this position no fear of the part
no hope Of future favor. Then only a
49, you truly intelligent, and true friends
q temperance. And only when your par
= is thus victorious is the victory anythil
but defeat.