Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-01-29

TIE NEW pRoGRAMME.

Mr.. EDrroR.-Tho Report Of the recent
meeting of the State Temperance Society held
at &orthfeld contains the following rosolu-
ton moved by prominent temperance leader
and passed, after long discussion:
Resoired, That IN The opinion Of this Con-
cention, The sale Of aicohoi, IL AMY OF IT'S
FoRMs, ought not to be sanctioned BIZ iaw, FOR
ANY PURPOSE WHATEVER.
The discussion thai preceded the adoption
OF this resolution, the circumstances under
which itwas passed. the prolific fountain Of
similar absurdities from which it issued. all
conspiro TO mark it as the genuine utterance
of our State Temperance Society. The en-
dorsement it received from so large a body of
respectable men, entities it to notice that
| it would not have received, either from its
own character, or the character of its mover.
We lose sight then of the parentage of the
resolution, when we find its Legitimacy en-
dorsed by so intelligent a body, as a Vermont
Temperance Society ought TO be.
When VIC first read it, without knowing
who was its author, we supposed, that some
insidious enemy Of Temperance, had crept in
to the Convention, and craftly secured the
passage of a resolution, designed to bring our
present Liquor Law into contempt and pro-
cure its repeal. and the subversion Of all legal
enactments on the subject. We regarded it.
at first, as a skilful travesty, introduced for
the purpose of exciting the contempt of all
sensible men for the Society and cause. And
so regarding it, it seemed a complete success.
For nothing could have been done by the So
ciety, so thoroughly to upset all its claims to
wisdom and responsibility. But on reading
the whole proceedings, we find that it was no
arttully carried resolution of a real enemy, but
the genuine sentiment of protested friend.
Its aim, therefore, is evident to inaugurate
new order of temperance measures. The
friends of the Maine Law are the first to dis
own and thrust it out. They have lost all af-
lection for their own progeny. They have not
word to say in its favor, for all the other
resolutions pass it by in profound and CON
temptuous silence, and seem to squirt toward
the reorganization of the moral suasion soci-
cites. But it is too late for that and so these
agitators are for driving on still further. and
at one sweep, prohibit entirely and forever,
the use of alcohol, for any purpose iobatever,
IN any Of is forms. That is the text, upon
which we are soon to have the commentary.
We knew that tanaticism would never be CON
tent with the present law. 1t is too tame and
fiat for such a spirit, and now we must come
to its ultimatum. First, for restriction then for
II
We must bid farewell to camphor as well
as to gin, and give up cologne as well as brandy
I The chemist and the machinist, the artist and
the painter the physician and the good samar-
itanemust find substitute for what they have
found essential Hospitality must even fore
60 its offerings of insipid currant juice, and
the expressed wine Of the apple. Chrstiani-
ty must cease to celebrate its holest ordi-
nance, or else desecrate it with unexampled
mixtures and must pronounce the use of that
Infamous, on any occasion, or for any nur-
pose, which Christ halowed by his miracle.
his example and his conservation. Could the
] force OF ianaticism any further go? Are the
eNtravaganzas OF temperance advocates forev-
err to stand in the way of the temperance
cause' Is there to be no end of this traves-
ty of good thing Are all sensible and
christian men to be driven from the supnort
of the temperance cause, by the miserable stu
pdlty and folly Of its leaders Is every THING
Legitimate, useful and good, to be sacrificed 10
the wIltuncss or arrogance OF a few; Shall
the interests of this cause mover be wrestod
nom the hands of mad ianaticism. Are
the counsels of wise, prudent and saqacious
men to be always ovorborne. At any rate we
are glad to see that the resolution had but
an insignificant majority, and that the tenn
I peranee society cannot bring an united front
to the support of such an unparalleled absur-
dlty' let other papers speak out like the
Chronicle, aud this matter win soon have its
lquiotus.