Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-01-25
The ProhIbIiOry Law.

Our efforts 10 obtain the sentiments Of cur
brethren Of the press in this State upon the
question Of the enforcement or repeal Of the
existing prohihitory law, in order that the
friends of humanity and reform may know vino
are for and who are against them, are meeting
with a success We are rejolced to chronicle. We
wish to all to the history Of Vermont the name
Of every paper whose editor hiss manly AMI
moral courage enough 10 come out fairly and
squarely upon the side Of Temperance and Law
-BraiiieJOTo Record.
We are glad to notice the zeal Of 'he
Record in the cause Of law, AMI Temperance.
though in its present manifestation i. may
remind some of the old stagcrs in the Cause,
of the youth VITO undertook to teach his
grandmother how TO suck eggs. We doubt
If it Is of much consequence whether the
FAKE PRfss is added a. to the History Of Ner-
mlnt," BY tie Record, or not. But II our
paper GO into History at al it viii have 70
be as an outspokcn acvocate Of Temperance
and the prohibitory law. Saying nothing
OF earlier efforts IN the causc, thu Ilpcr had
no: bcen three days in the hands Of It's rre =
ent editors, before it % came out fairly and
squarely on the side Of Temperance and
law" That was long before tie Record
wac thought Of, and while prohibitoFy le-is-
latiOn was as yet an experiment. and down
to this hour we are not aware that tic
position of this paper On tie subject Las
been doubted by any body for a moment
But the Record talks about &" tie question
Of the enforcement or repeal" of the law.
We recognize no such question. Here Is .
law upon the Statute book, lra-oi f.. 6
wise and worthy purpose, its validity settled
by the Courts Of last appeal. How can any
law abiding eitizen raise a question as to Its
enforcement, How Is respect for law, as
law. to be mainiain,d at all, if individuals
or communities may select what laws shall
be obeyed and what disTcsaIi,d? The law,
ecrg law, should be iailliully and impair
italy executed. There can be no question
as to the duty Of enforcement, as long as il
is law. Nor Is there practically any ques-
ton Of rcIell. The i2E l. about as firmly
settled in the approval Of the people Of Ye--
mont a. any other, OF as it well cln lie. L.
has Tor years been lItcslt to gel a hearing
in the legislature for a proposition Of repeal
or = second reading for any lii looking t.
such an end. The RecorG woali find it rerg
uphill work securing the repeal Of the law,
If it were to set about Il. The honest lesis-
lators of Vermont hare not all wed, and we
think will not very soon allow, the law to be
set down a. failure certainly not as long
as they perceive that the chief cry for its re
peal comes from those who like to drink and
to sell liquor.
Now the only question is as 10 how widely
and thoroughly public sentiment can be
reused to tie support Of the law;-noi
leaving to the Statute the sole work Of TEN
peranoe reform not losing sight Of the
need Of moral effort and example; but
making all wholesome agencies Of refoTma-
tion and repression work together for the
safety Of society AM the good Of man.
In such effort we welcome and strike hands
wit every helper.