Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-03-02


Mr. President and Members Of The Rutland
County temperance Society - Contrasts in
the condition Of things, in relation to any
great public intorest,-as those contrasts arc
drawn in the comparison Of two distinct and
distant points Of time,--are often interesting,
and suggestive of instruction on our duty. A
comparison Of the condition Of things in our
country as relates to the cause Of Temper
ance. say in the year 1925, with things which
appear in this year, 1860, may interest and
profit us for a few moments.
The date of S2j is taken, not because that
was tho year of the actual commencement Of
the temperance reform, for an earlier date
should be given than that; but it was about
that time that organizations for the promotion
of Temperance were commenced in some por-
tions of New England and New York. Soon
after these, was established the American
Temperance Society, having Boston for its
centre Of operations and which called INTO
ITS service those two apostles of Temperance
Justin Edwards and Nathaniel Hewitt; and
by which Society was established the first
weekly paper in the cause Of Temperance
We will take our position, then, at the date
1925, and compare with it 1860, in as many
points as our time will permit, and then con-
slider some Of the immediate and pressing du-
ties Of the friends Of Temperance, as required
by present exigoncies.
In 1925, the friends Of Temperance saw the
habits prevalent, of drinking intoxicating
liquors, either, as it is called, temperately
or in excess,--to be an enormous evil, per-
vading all classes Of society; and having
countenance in the example and practice Of
men, in every position, professional, official
and religious, and in every department Of bu-
sness and of enterprise. In 1860, good So
cicty," in the sober and Legitimate sense Of
the expression, is in very good measure free
from such habits good society is now tenn
pcrato society.
In 1925, the tone of moral sentiment on
the subject Of Temperance had long been at "a
dcplorahly low mark SO that any man might
indulge i'm the daily use Of alcoholic beverages
from the lightest wines down TO the heaviest
brandy. rum, gin, whisky, or cider brandy ;
and nobody thought the worse Of him there
for, if he would be careful not to show it by
reeling in his walk, or by garrulity in his con-
versation In 1860, so great is the change,
and elevated the tone Of moral sentiment, that
IL is as much as any mans reputation is WORTH
either for religion or common morality to be
in the old-ashioned habits Of drinking.
In 1925, the open eyes Of the friend of Tenn
perance perceived the evils of intemperance,
in some form, in churches Of all denomlna-
tions, and among the ministers and other Of
fcers of the same and comparatively few
church members, and no churches, as a body,
were disturbed OF anxious about this condi-
tion Of things. In 1860. many churches, un-
der specific rules and almost all others, by
common consent and usage, without recorded
rules, deny membership to candidates for ad-
mission who are not in the practice of entire
abstinence from Intoxicating liquors as bcv-
erage. And as for ordaining or installing in
the ministry or any other church office one
not total abstinence man" where is the
church in New England. or in the States
which feel New Englend influence on this or
any other like subject, which would venture
upon the hazards Of calling and settling a
minister. or appointing and ordaining dea-
con OF elder, Of doubtful sentiments or prac-
ticc on the subject Of temperance;
In 1925, legislation for the eiectual arrest
Of the evils of intemperance, by the abolish
ment Of the old license system, had not been
attempted or even proposed, in any State in
our Union. A drawn battle was therefore to
be fought in the legislative arena in which it
was for several years doubtful who would
carry the day-the patrons and lovers Of the
drink of drunkards, or the friends of temper
ance. Now look at legislation, as it has for
several years been going forward, in a num-
Der of our States and see the point Of favor
able advance in which it is in this year 1860 /;
and look at the laws which have been put
upon the pages Of our statute books in sever
al States, and Vermont among them; and at
the tendencies to sound legislation on the
subject, in many of our States likely to follow
in tho right path at no very distant period.
And what a G. ntrasti Not that even now
our laws are perfect and adapted to complete
prohibition of the liquor traffic, for no human
legislation is perfect. But the work is well
begun. and in good progress and in process
of time will be brought as near perfection as
is in the power of human will and wisdom
If the friends Of temperance will but resolute-
ly aid the execution of the laws within ten or
fifteen years enacted, in good proportion Of
our States aud which 90 either to stop en-
tirely, or to cripple and restrict the traffic
they may consider themselves provided with
IA legal basis on which to accomplish great
things, and ultimately TO rid society of the
evils Of intemperance. The traffic in 1928
was sustained by laws licensing it, and i'm
personated by multitudes in the business,
stalkod abroad with shameless front in open
day delying the remonstrances Of the few
men of virtue and religion who trusted their
lips to speak their minds. Now, in this good
year 1860, in several of our States, and we
are thankful that Vermont is one of them,-
this same traffic is driven into corners and
into dark and secret places; and whore good
citizens do their duty, it now exists only by
stealth, and sustains precarious existence
only by villainy and rascality.
In 1925, the offence OF drunkenness, or of
ministering to it by the traffic, in the reckless
way which was in some Of our laws recognized
possible, had seldom, if ever, come before
our courts and justice was employed in try
ing and furnishing men for crimes every year
originating in drunkenness but not touching
nor legally able to touch with their little
fngers-the iniquitous traffic itself which was
all this time moving men TO the commission
of crimes. In 1860, We have for some years
been familiar with decisions of our courts
from the Supreme Court Of the United States
down through tho courts OF all grades in our
atcs,-bascd upon prohibitory laws, and
and these laws, and their execution, pro-
nounced by our highest Courts,-cntrustod
with expounding our constitution and laws,-
to be both constitutional and legal And we
nrc seeinu davs which IL some of the fathers