Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-04-06

THE FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR
THE CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE.

J. 1 r.
I To the Friends Of temperance IN Vermont:
The present state OF he Treasury Of our
Society, makes t imperatiyely necessary for
the Executive Committe 60 make an urgent
appeal for the funds TO aid 10 carrying forward
the work during the present year. At tho
Annual Meeting OF the Society, in the month
Of December last IL was Resolved " That
we deem it practicable, aud incumbent upon
Us, 70 raise the sum q IS OO0, to be used
according TO the discretion Of the Executive
Committee for the successful prosecution Of
the Temperance reform in our state"
/ Immediately after this meeting the Execu-
tive Committee was called together TO form
their plans for the year. There was no mon
l ey IN she Treasury, but the Society evidently
expected that large sum would be realized
during the year. II we waited until the funds
should be collected, the most favorable season
of the year would be lost by delay. The
committee decided, therefore. to employ an
/ Agent Immediately, and to depend upon the
friends OF the cause for the necessary funds.
The Committee on Finance was called ,ogeih-
er, and Committees appointed in the different
counties to collect the money
| More than quarter Of the year has since
passed. The success Of our tffoIts for the
promotion Of the cause, has been very graft
Tying large number Of meetings have been
held. Town and County Societies have been
organized. The people, generally, show an
increasing interest in the cause, and i. seems
plain that the present is the favorable time to
work.
But the Treasury has not been filed up.
We still have no sufficient funds to carry tho
work forward on the present scale Of opera
tons
But the Society expect us to do much more
than we are now doing The work cannot 10
carried forward efficiently without distributing
Temperance documents, without large public
meetings, and the aid Of prominent advocates
OF the cause from abroad, in addition to tho
Agent Of the Society. The Committee arc
prepared to go forward just as far as they are
provided with the means Of doing so.
In this state Of things, we lay our case be-
fore the liberal friends of the cause, and ask
them to fill up the treasury. The sum of
$4,000 may seem large, but it is not 1.-THE Of
what the liquor dealers are expanding to aft
eet the legislation Of the country. Ii il a
smaller sum than is expended by the Domes-
nc Missionary Society Of single religious
denomination each year within this State. Ii
Is small sum in view Of the work to be &c
eompllshed, and Of the agencies which the
Committee can employ for prosecuting il. 1t
IS small in view OF the present exieencies Of
the Temperance cause. Although he friends
are arousing themselves, it is not to be for
cotton that for some years the tendencies
nave been wrong. The young men have been
forming habits, which, if not speedily checked,
VIII IN a few years cover our State with in
temperate men. The demorallzing effects
OF war have been felt, A well-informed pub-
nc man recently stated that there never was
so much crime in the State as at present. and
most Of it was due to intemperance." IL is
"i'nln our power to turn back this tide. We
nave the ear oflhe people, we have an efficient
ptohlo11ory law, which has Just been sus-
tanned by the decision of the Supreme Court
OF the United States, and the responsibility
rests with the Temperance men Of the State.
The Executive Committee desire that the
Committees in the various Counties will urge
forward the collections in the towns, and that
The money, when collected, be forwarded TO
the Treasurer, Geo. w. Scott, of Moptpelier.
by order OF the Executive Committee,
h. +. RAY. Chairman.
Hartford, April ., 1866.