Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-02-26
\ few words to Temperance Nen.


\ few words to Temperance Nen.
We do not include among Temperance,
men all who call themselves friends Of Ten
/ perance. for that phrase includes everybody.
I The occasional drInker, the confirmed tiuulei
and the inyeterate sot the good naturei
fellow who invites his friends to drink from
mere companionship aud the rumseller who
cares not who he ruins provided he can
made money from the sale of his drams-oi
all these vou Will find no one who claims TO
be friend of intemperance. No All are
d" friends of temperance they believe in
drinking, but with moderation. 10 these
ve have nothing to say at tins time We
speak To Temperance men, men who abstain
from Intoxicating drinks and wish others TO
i,,..-.4ea who wish to stop of intemre-
raaee ty all proper means, and all -uch
u-o-e- and practices in society as long expe-
rieaee has shown 90 lead directly to it.
some Of you've trust not many-haye
aIau up with the novel doctrine that a
h-use sgeom viii do more for the cause of
Temperance than the prohibitory law can
do, and are now calling Tor the repeal of the
inv and the substitution of a license system
in i'- -i.ad
Now we ask YOU 20 consider for few mo-
m,a,- what YOU are doing and in whose
cause you are laborinc Do YOU not expect
all tho-e who have been most fragrant viola
tons of the law from the first, al those who
are mos; exposed to tie ruin of intempcrance
because tley are bent upon occasional indul-
ecl-. ia intoxicating drinks. all the incorri
q lrmser~ who in some way viii find IN
3al-,aee 90 their craving appetite. no mat
t.. what misery J, brings ON their iamilies-
wee cay. do yOu Rot expect all these to 20 as
ore man for the repeal Of the prohibtory
Law, and Tor the enactment of a license sys-
ten 10 It's place. and Just now to vote for
County Commissioner put in nomination in
opposition to the unexceptionable candidate
nominated by the Temperance mem You
know that they will DO you expect in this
way TO promote the cause of Temperance?
Grant that all has not been done to check in
Temperance under the prohibitory law which
YOU hoped would have been done, or which
ought TO have been done, do you hope that
by coirg bark to system under which pre-
yious generations found intemperance in
creasing every year. you are going to see
more accomplished for its diminution than
can be under the prohibitory law, if You
Will give YOUR steady aid to its enforcement
Remember that for several years of the pc /
riod during which the prohibitory Law has |
been on trial it lab0red under drawbacks /
from serious lmperfecuons in the Statute, /
and that for the last three it has suffered .
from disturbing influences arising from the
excited state Of the country. Remember
too. on the other hand. that the License sys-
tenn was tried for genera tons, under the
most favorable circumstances, and was found
utterly wanting as a repressive measure.
Oh but, say the advocates Of this back
ward movement, VIC are for a " stringent
license" system. Indeed just 90 back to
the Statutes of this State from early days
iown to the time when change of system
was found necessary, and you Will find re-
1oated enacunents all intended to make the
License system mare and more stringent
But an awaited nothing. Intemperance IN
reased beggary and crirac because of in
temperance increased. Tie hceise system
Sas au utter failure 20 check intemperance,
nd 50 it always viii be. wherever and when F
Yer 1t is rcsorted 20. The rum sellers and
um drinkers who ciamor for the-repcal OF
hc prohibitory Jaw. and Tor stringent
license" system to take IT. place, do not be-
iege that their trade or their dpDefifes will
< unpleasantiy interiered with by the
mango They are working for a very differ
mt result. If they succeed through your
ieip OF apathy they may exult but yours
vii be- the self-reproach