Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-20
More Energy in Temperance Matters


EDITOR FREEMAN Much is said respeetino
the defeat OF the party sustaining the so-caed
Maine law of this State in their election of
County Commissioner in this and other Coun.
ties, and more than one are the reasons assigned
for it. Yet do they not all proceed from this
source-a lack of determination to act as wel,
as to talk? This, on the part of Temperance
men is wrong, is more than that, it is criminal
Better would it be tor the cause, that those
who profess to be its friends, but are ever
skulking from their posts, would just stop their
mouths, make no more professions, get out of
the way, and leave their places to be filled with
better men-men governed by principle and not
POLICEMEN of frmness, of moral courage-de-
termined men who will march straight to the
line Of their duty, whether friends or foes out
number. Such are the men the Temperance
cause calls loudly for, and such-more of them
1t must have before any permanent success
can be gained. Close up the ranks with such
material, and the day is ours.
noticed in communication to the Free
man over the signature of B. W. D., an idea
advanced, which, if carried out in practice, the
result certainly must be deplorable--to leave
the business of selling liquors, for the purposes
allowed by the laws of this State, wholly in
the hands of those who believe in selling misery
and crime. This the writer stated was the DO
siton taken by many of our active Temperance
men. Now, gentlemen who hold such opinions.
must, in their imaginations, have scared far
above the State, Or the world we live in. This
is not paradise, or heaven; if SO, we might
be rid of the article entirely. Temperance men
living under our present laws, can not shuttle
off the responsibility of what would necessarily
follow, in any such way. Who framed and
passed the present law? Were lhey not among
the most efficient in our State? Did not all
true Temperance men support them And now,
having chosen their battle-ground, planted their
standards, is it acting the part of men to face
about, march off, and leave the ground in the
possession of the enemy?
Better resolve to do our duty, maintain our
positions, vote only for such, on whom we ara
mainly to depend for enforcing the law, as are
decided. thorough and true. 1t will not do to
depend upon men who will deliver Temperance
addresses among Temperance men, and drink
with those who drink who pass by the rich
and influential, and pounce upon the poor,
friendless drunkard alone.
We have any quantity of just such Temper
ance men among us, that might be spared as
well as not. As they are, they are nothing but
drugs in the cause. Here is where reform must
commence and when we can maintain our pres
ent position, then it will do to consider the pro-
priety of advancing and occupying higher
ground.
Until temperance men can manifest moral
courage, and frmness enough in the line of du-
ty, to face the foe wherever he appears as an
opponent to the present law, is it at all probable
that they could be drilled up to the line of en-
forcing an act abolishing the sale of ardent
spirits for any and every purpose? Vote right
now. Let the transgressor know that he must
pay the penalty of his acts-that he cannot
with impunity start from its source that corrupt
stream, bearing crime, wretchedness and death
in its course, poisoning and corrupting in
greater or less degree every community where
it is allowed. Tell that weak brother, who can
apologize for some friend or neighbours trans
gression-aagrant though it may be-that it is
shame, burning shame, thus in his practice
to discard his professed principles.
Is it not foolish to spend our energies wholly
in discussing theories at present impracticable,
neglecting these essentials? Let every Temper
ance man conduct himself so that when he seri-
ously reflects upon his course of action, he will
not feel to cry, shame! Then he may expect
permanent succesS-not before. Fee.
Woodbury., Apr. II, 1858.