The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-09-22
Efforts for a Temperance RerSral.


No one can be insensible to the fact thai
intemperance is on the increase. and there
are few who do not regret TO see If and
earnestly deprecate Its evils. The men
ruined and the homes made miserable, the
thronging population Of our prisons and
almshouseS, and the neglected, dirty and
vicious youth seen about our streetS-these
and many other social calamities NAV
nearly all be traced directly to intemperate
drinking. 1t is gratifying to see some in
dlcations that the temperate and moral
portion of the community are not inditfer-
ent TO these growing evils, which threaten
the utter subversion of public morals and
make our social life both UNPLEASANT and
unsafe. The present evils, and the i'm
pending perils growing out of the preva-
lent intemperance, are so obvious and
alarming. that the public mind is ready
for any movement against them that offers
4 promise of success. Perhaps the most
active organization Just at present is that
called the Good Templars,'' which is ex-
tending itself and gaining many new men,
bers. 1t embraces in IFS objects the revi-
val of the temperance sentiment In the
community and the enforcement of the ex-
i>ting laws against liquor-selling. Some
of the lodges will endeavor 10 make their
influence fell In politics, and have deter
mined not TO vote for any candidate for
office who is not in favor of prohibition
or who Is not known to be a total absti-
ncnce man in his personal habits If the
Templers succeed in giving new vitality
and power 10 the temperance movement.
they viii deserve the thanks and support
of the community. The Sons of Tenn
perance are also alive and hourishing to
some extent. but their early efforts to
make converts from among the incorporate
seem to have been for the most part drop
I ped. and the lodges have become organiza-
tions for mutual and innocent good-fellow-
ship an,i enjoyment, rather than for active
reform work.
But there are many friends of temper
ance who will not unite with either of
these organizations. because they object 10
! the nonsense OF >ecreSv. regaliaS and rit-
ual> 1hereis need of some more general
and popular organization. which shall COM
prehend all who are ready TO Use their in
iiucnce against intemperance, and shall be
catholic enough 10 tolerate differences OF
opinion and action rs To particular inca
surc>.
I No reform i permanent unless backed
10y public opinion. Most men eoncede
that intrmperance rs an evil and & sln. but
The majority, even in Massachusetts,, seem
TO think moderate drinking harmless in
dul g,ncc: and physicians 50 generally
recommend whisky 10 all sorts of invalidS
that many infer they can prescribe If as a
TOME for themselves without DANCER. many
Of or best citizens have spirits constantly
upon their dinner tables, and manifestly
the theory of total abstinence is not the
prcvilrn: one,
! The iir>t and most vital thing to lie
done bv the friends Of temperance is 10
convince men OF the evil and the peril of
dram drinking. and 10 persuade them 10
torcgo the indul yence for prudential rea-
sons ami for the common good 4 tenn
pcrance revival * needed, such as shall
make the use of intoxicating liquors as 4
beverage Us uncommon among respectable
men as Ii waS twenty years ago. The
manifest and most alarming fact i. that it
X not 20 now-:hat men DO not lose posi-
ton and influence hy drinking. until they
are far GONE IN intemperance-that our
public men are almost universally addict
ed Ia the use Of Intoxicating drinks. and
make no attempt 20 conceal the fact In
deed it * 50 manifest that public opinion
IS not on the side of either total ahsti-
hence or prohibition. that every intelli-
gent friend OF temperance muSt feel that
just here should the chief effort for the
present he expendel-that only the cor
reciion of public opinion can check tho
advance of intempcrance and save oul
children from being overwhelmed AMI de,
>troyed in lis incrcileSS wayes-.SprlagticlC
Republican,