Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-28

ana skill To meet the unprinclpled ana
willy foe. He began his labors in May,
was soon after interrupted in his la
bors by i'll health, for,nearly six weeks.
In August he began active service again,
He made Ii his first, as II seemed to him,
the important part of his work, to vim
dictate the law. The organizations
which he effected were mainly of small
bands, pledged TO strive for the execu-
ton of the law,
Various obstacles prevented a wide
success, at least, in so short time as he
has been permitted TO engage. He will
give you the details, If desired 1t may
be permitted us to say that he has done
not little to make the law respected in
Burlington, Nergennes, and other places.
Particularly gratifying to Temperance
| friends, was, through his Instrumental
| ity, the seizure in the capital of the
State. That hundreds of barrels of H.
quor should be sold and drank almost
under the arches of that noble ediflce,
where our prohibitory law was enacted,
has been enough to make every virtuous
citizens cheek tingle with shame. We
believe that events are in train which
will Danish this disgrace from our state.
And, if 1t shall prove that the sale of H.
quors can be prevented in the capital, it
may be expected that law abiding citi-
zens will take courage to enforce the
prohibitory statute all over the state.
And, If we see this accomplished, we
can hardly doubt that moral suasion
will be so eaectually cooperative, that
the bane Of intemp1rance will be thor
oughly checked, If not entirely banished
from our borders
Passing now from what little has been
done by the organs of this society,"
how very little in comparison with the
needs lit should be said that, late in
the autumn, it was urged upon the COM
mittee to gather statistics of the pres
ent condition of our state in regard to
the temperance interests 1t was felt to
be thing very desirable, If it could be
done. At The meeting in October, it was
the decided opinion Of one of the best
statisticians Of the State, that nothing
satisfactory in that direction could be
accomplished prior to the present meet
ing. He was, however, of the opinion
that 1t might be of service to the cause
If this body should please to appoint a
statistical secretary, to gather all posi-
BILE Ia~V1 as to the amount of LIQUORS
sold and drank, the number of prosecu-
tons for violation of the prohibitory
law, the amount of fines assessed, and
paid, &c, embracing all classes OF facts
which may be thought to have a bearing
upon the general question. It is be-
lieved that the people of many towns
are not aware Of the practicability of
enforcing the law. The Inhabitants of
such towns should have the means of
knowing with what ease this work may
be done, when earnest men take the mat
ter in hand 1t is believed also, that
most OF the people of our State have
but a faint conception OF the amount of
intoxicating drinks consumed. especially
by our young men. If the facts as to a
few locations even, could be clearly set
before the people, many would be thrilled
at the appalling dangers to the young.
your committee would, therefore, res
pectfully suggest the expedieacy of an.
pointing such secretary, and of plaC- |
ing at his disposal a small sum of money
to aid in defraying the expense of gath
ering these statistics,
This seems the appropriate connec-
ton in which to speak Of the matter of |
a Temperance fund. Many Of you have |
read DR.. Jewett's article on the death of |
Temperance, by starvation. It presents |
much truth yet, the experience of the |
past year gives assurance that this is |
not because the friends Of the cause are |
illiberal. On the other hand, many have |
slgnltied Willingness to pay bountlful- |
ly for the enterprise, provided they can |
be assured that their money will be |
probably and economically expended. |
Would there be anything visionary or |
impracticable in an attempt toy raise |
twenty-five dollars for each town in the |
State, to be used in so glorious a work |
as the salvation of cur youth, by the |
promotion of temperance If judi |
cious board could have the sum of $4,000 |
placed at their command, to be used in |
the employ OF agents in the different |
counties, in getting up mass meetings |
and securing speakers for them, in |
spreading documents and publications,
we do believe that more might be done, |
in one year, TO arouse the people of this !
state to action, than has been done by |
this society in the past ten years.
One use for such fund has already |
been uggested-Mass Meetings. They |
cannot be gathered systematically at all |
the convenient points in the state with |
out fund. Speakers must be had; |
their expenses must be paid. There |
must be no little correspondence and |
travel in order to awaken due attention |
and TO secure the desired attendance. |
This cannot, or will not be done in most |
towns, without a compensation. 1t is |
not right to lay this burden upon few |
individuals,
But are these mass meetings through |
out the state really desirable The |
wisdom Of Massachusetts temperance
men has so decided. They are at pres
ent making prominent use of this in
strumentality and we know that if we
can gather large number, it is in &C
cordance with human nature to receive
stronger impulse than ia smaller
bodies. With an audience of a thou
sand persons, speakers are aroused to
urge their themes with greater power.
The hearers also stimulate one another
by that sympathy and magnetic infu-
ence of which all know, but which none