Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-01-04
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 80, 1865,
Temperance.

pleased TO quote the whole article as
specimen OF the editors reasoning, but
must content ourselves with the follow
ing somewhat lengthy extract;
The present liquor law of this state
is so framed that its pretended friends
could suppress the sale of intoxicating
drinks in every town in the state in one
week. Why Is it not done7 Because
they are afraid of the consequences in a
political point Of view. Commissioners
are appointed in every county in the
state, all temperance men, and all OF
them Republicans in politics, where
they can be. Some of these men are
supplied with cases of the best liquors,
and barrels Of the best sugars, in order
that the liquor dealers may palm off
their rot gut on the agencies, who keep
it solely for medicinal purposes. Then,
the inconsistency of appointing total
abstinence men as commissioners, who
can have no knowledge as to what is
good or bad liquor, is sufficient of itself
to convince any reasonable man that it
is political craftsmanship, and not the
welfare OF the community, that induces
most O. the leading advocates of harsh
and unnecessary laws, to blow their
temperance trumpet loud and long, that
they may be seen and heard of men, and
thereby gain notoriety and positions for
which they are quite unfit. Topromote
temperance 1t is necessary to have tenn
perate laws and adopt temperate meas
ures. Suppose the selectmen, or as the
law now stands, the village trustees, re-
fused TO license any of our village no.
tells, o. proper and necessary eating sa-
looms, could solitary one of these Off
Gals be reelected? Suppose the Re-
publican leaders-who enacted the
present arbitrary Vermont liquor law
enforce that law, as they might how
many Republican representatives could
these hypOcritical worthless count upon
in the next legislature? These are the
questions we ask the Rutland HERALD
and similar two-sidcd journals to an
swer. The fact is, the law is dead let
ter, as ar as the promotion of temper-
ance IS concerned, and it is only held ID
terroresa over the heads of large class
Of our citizens in order to secure their
votes, while If it was thoroughly en-
forced, these voters would all go over to
the Democratic party, who are in favor
OF judicious license law, under which
rich and poor would fare alike, and
which would create revenue to aid in
liquidating our present enormous ma
tional debt"
In reference to the recreancy Of So
called temperance men in standing up
manfully to their principles, "for fear of
the consequences in political point OF
view all we have to say is,
Lay on, MacduG,"
let the blows fall where they may. We
should Ike to have every reader of the
HERALD read the remarks of the Courier
on this point, and inwardly digest them.
We have known scores, of Just this kind
OF protested temperance men--yeol tenn
Peranee men probably so far az their
persona habits and their private IeelIngs
and preferences were concerned. They |
We're very decidedly in favor OF the pro-
hibitory liquor law, i 1t aeoaId only enforce
ITSELF out they did not like to NEEDLE |
with il, They were afraid Of the conse-
quences 20 their business, or their polit-
ical prospects. Whether they were Re
publicans or Democrats is not very ma
terial we are inclined to believe most
Of them belonged to the great Republi-
can parry, for it so happens that nearly
all the Democrats that we are acQuaint-
ed Wiz are Jar from being total absti-
nence men either in theory or practice.
W,]L regard to the appointment of
County Commissioners who are sup
piled with cases of the best liquors and
barrels OF the best sugars in order that
the liquor dealers may palm Oft their
rot gut, &C, we simply ask the Cour-
Ter TO give US the names and we here
oy engage to pass them around so that
votes for such again shall do it
with his eyes open.
We know OF at least one individual who
never has voted, and by the help OF God
ie never will vote for a candidate for
my important County or State office
whose soundness on the temperance
question ne has reason to doubt And
hat individual is not entirely alone,
The State Temperance Society at their
ecent meeting in Randolph passed the
Resolutions
Resolved, That it is the duty of every
irtuous citizen to endeavor to secure
be nomination and election of men of
ure morals and temperance principles
nd habits, to political offices.
We have not time or space to answer
II the questions with which the Cour-
II catechises the Rutland HRRALp-and
erhaps we may as well make the re-
ark right here that the individual
ritter Of these lines is the only one that
ight TO be held Irresponsible"
10 is NOT true that the present liquor
?. waA enscted by Republican leaders.
he Republican party is only about
even years old the Maine Law is at
asst two or three years older. II was
arried by the earnest friends Of tempe
,nce, without regard to political par
%. - |gaL h#f #.". !