National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-01-25
RuinseIlers VS.. the Law.


general thing, law-abiding people;
and are very active in executing the
laws on offenders, and in putting
down anything that tends to cor,
rupt the morals and debase the char
acter of her citizens. But we have
a law on our statute bookstore
which most vitality concerns the wei
fare of societS is violated
every day, by hundreds Of men, with
perfect impunity. We refer to the
prohibitory liquor law. Rumselers
dispose of their poisonous liqnids, in
open defiance Of the law, and their
purses grow plethoric, to the detri-
ment of good order, morality and
the highest interests of society.
As the fruits of this traffic we see
many of our youths and most prom
Using young men drawn into the vor-
tex If the seething maelstrom of
intemperance, vice and crime; we
see our prisons filled with criminals,
and many poorhouses with paupers;
we see neglected and suffering fam
lilies, ragged and unhealthy children
brought up in ignorance and vice,
and frequent diseraceful rows and
disturbances of the peace. In fact,
more suffering, poverty and crime
arise, directly and indirectly. from
this tratic, than from any other
and we think we should not far
from right in saying from all other
causes combined. These are the
legitimate fruits of the sale and use
of intoxicating liquor; and although
these evils are not so often met wifi
here in Vermont, as in many parts
of the country, yet they are frequent
enough to render rumseiling the
bane OF society," curse to the state.
We punish the man who, acting un-
der the influence of Intoxicating
drink, commits an offence against
the peace and dignity of the state
but in how many cases is the males
ty of the law vindicated in the case
of the vendcr of Intoxicating drinks,
who stands guilty of a misdemeanor
before the law. The power to pre-
vent this traffic is in the hands of the
people, and if they do not exercise
that power to stay this evil, they
are responsible for the consequences
The press of the state is agitatine
this subject, and in several places
organizations have been formed hav
ing for their object the enforcement
ofthe law. The Vermont Record in
tites the editors to take a stand foI
the execution Of the law, to whicl
we most heartily respond; and W,
are happy to see many of our cotem
poraries expressing in decided term
their desire to see the law enforced
We call upon citizens everywhere t,
look upon this law as one to be en-
forced, and let it not be merely law
On paper, of no practical effect.
Are the proiessed friends of TEN
perance insincere in their proies
sions? or do they lack the mora
courage to act in this matter? Fro,
some cause they seem to have an al
tipathy to making any move, base
on the prohibitory law, towards
reform. Past experience Shout
teach them that argument is throw
away on rumsellers, for so long a
there is money to be made by it, the
Will sell, unless prevented by tn
arm OF the law and so long as. the
continue to sol will customers l
found in plenty, to buy their bod
and soul destroying poisons. Iftl
friends of temperance would wor
reform, let them avail themselv,
ofthe strongest means, and see to
that the prohihitory law is enforce