Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-12-31

agent tndt II lhCfe Is enough ul strength IN
The temperance element in the State to enforce
the law. it should be combined and coucon-
Grated upon these localities, until the foul
stain is washed away. 1t is needless TO say
the Commissioner of the countyis an anti
temperance Commissioner. In ala such local
tiles. the friends of temperance should be as
sured that they not only have the warmest
svmpathies of temperance men through the
State but that in every effort TO enforce the
law and to turn back the tide of intempcranco
and ruin. they shall have their promptest and
most hearty cooperation.
II is not pleasant to contemplate such dis
agreeable facts as our agent has brought to
light, but they are facts, and it becomes MS
10 look them full in the face, and determine
what shall be done.
A large part of the funds now in the treas
ury have been collected as assessments on the
Carson League Fund. and most of them for
comparatively small portion o. the State.
The importance of funds rom some source,
for the general purposes Of the Society and
the interest of the cause, can hardly be over
estimated. In the first place. if agents are to
be employed, they must be assured fair
compensation. To secure this we are sure it
is not the wisest way always or ordinarily to
resort to a collection from the several audi
cnccs addressed. In our large towns, and in
case of distinguished lecturers whose fame
will secure large audiences and willing con
tributions this may answer well enough. But
for the ordinary agent or lecturcr-the man
upon whom we must rely for the hard work
the thorough. effective and substantial SER
vice of the Society. it is a very different thing
1t is not pleasant, either to him or his audi
ences. TO suggest collection at the close OF
uycry meeting. And then, there arc very
many towns where the inhabitants are SO few
and scattered, and the meetings necessarily
SO small that let the lecturer be who he may.
the collection. if it should be thought proper
to take one at all, would not pay his expenses
in reaching the place and yet there is no
portion of the State where the abors of an
agent are so much needed, aud right impul-
SEES and right instruction 80 imperatlvely de-
manded. Ms in these same small towns. The
Society therefore needs fund upon which it
can draw to meet all such demands. and thus
secure the highest interests and the widest
influence of the cause. The strong should
thus help bear the burdens Of the weak.
Again, in cases of prosecution under the
liquo law. it is very important that There
should be ample fund upon which, in case
of the failure Of a suit. or OF unjust prosccu-
llNn. arising from the tUlDlttlutnN hl ANt law q
compliments and prosecuting officers may
rely for the payment of their costs 1t was
for these two purposes. TO support agents and
to aid in the execution of the law, that the
plan commonly called the Carson League was
adopted by the Society, and commended TO
the friends of temperance through the State
So far as any record Of what has been done
can now be found among the papers of tho
S,ciot, lint email nnrtiou of tho State hn
been canyassed with any thoroughncss. Ia
secure subscriptions TO this Fund. The con
sequence is as has already been stated, nearly
all the funds in the treasury have come from
comparatively small portion of the State
This is not just and it is no matter of sur
prise that many subscribers to the Fund
feeling the unequal burden they bearing
are disposed to withdraw from the League
and that in those sections it is very Difficult
to get additional subscriptions. Unless Their
be general cooperation in this matter anon!
the friends of temperance through the State
the inevitable result will be, and that speed
lily, that by Withdrawals, removals and deaths
the whole Fund will disappear, and the treas
ury left with no source whence it is to b
supplied. But while this is the certain re
suit Of letting the matter rest where It is
your committee have no substitute to oife
foi the League. They think it embodies tn
best plan to accomplish in an equitable way
the end proposed and that an earnest an
determined effort should be made to bring a
the temperance men of the State into a heart
cooperation in the measure If this can b
done, the burden upon any individual will b
light. We have therefore directed our ager
to give particular attention to this matter
the Fund, not only collecting assessment
but in securing additional subscriptions, an
have authorized him to say that the who
State shall be canvassed anew, and that
there were not general cooperation in th
measure it shall be abandoned, and no furtht
assessments called for The work has bee
very thoroughly done on the east side of ii
State. and with encouraging success; "
doubt not the west side, when the opportunit
shall be presented, will promptly and hearth
respond thus the whole matter will be pit
upon a solid and equitable basis.
While it will be necessary, in the prescl
condition of the Fund, to send an qgel
through the State to call attention to it an
secure subscriptions, we do not think
will be wise to adopt this course from ye
to year. If we do. we shall find that a yel
large per cent of the whole will be absorbC
in payment Of the agents services, We a
uecldcCly OF opinion thal lhe most euoupH
cal and satisfactory way, as a permane
thing, will be to accomplish this through TOW
and county societies.
In order to healthful and prosperous co
dition of the cause every town and coun
ought to have its thorough and efficient O
ganization. When this is so, it would be
easy matter to secure subscriptions to t
Fund and collect assessments as often til
should be called for. The whole might
deposited in the treasury Of the county, su
iect to drafts from the treasurer Of the Sta
Society, or to be used for the general intore'
of the cause in the county. We make the
suggestions with the conviction that if su
system can be perfected, not only the fun
will be raised more certainly and at mu
less expense, but that by such efficient orgl
izations this will require new life and {
ergy will be infused into the cause
We do not think the friends of temperaI
generally desire repeal of our present Ia
or any essential modification of it, We
lieve that, on a whole, it is the best prohibi
~ law in existence that whenever its frier
have been true to it, enforcing it with prom