The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-12-15
The Temperance Movement in Mid
dlebury.


against rum-sellers and their unhappy
victims. Forcihle epithets were APP
piled, and terrible responsibilities were
Urged home upon delinquent church
members and Indifferent temperance
men. 1t was universally conceded that
" something must be done" Steam
was let off, and enthusiasm was left
high and dry, to cool as it might, and
call things continued as they were
from the beginning" There. was
n arrying and giving in marriage"
Some of the citizens had looked in the
glass, but straightway went away,
forgetting what manner of men they
were" We are reminded of the good,
pious old lady in one of the western
towns Of our county, who, when do
nestle OF other trials become too much
for human endurance, rushes behind
the door and whispers fiercely, "Devil!
devilW until the paroxysm passes off,
and then quietly resumes her household
duties One of the designated ten -
very happily compared the demonstra-
ton to a glass of beer with "a great
deal of froth and very little Of the genu-
inc article"
The results of the movement may be
easily noted. There was, evidently, a
shaking in the shoes of those especially
aimed at. They didn't quite believe
anything would come of it, and yet
they had painful sense of insecurity.
In two cases, at least, the liquor was
moved to more secure localities. For q
week or two greater care was exercised
in dispensing the article to avoid detec-
ton. For several days not one man was
arrested on the streets for drunkenness
and breach of the peace. But gradually
the old feeling of security has returned
until to-day we have again TO report as
saults, arrests and promiscous fights
all the result of drinking.
But where is the Vermont Liquor
Law? Locked up in the hands of I'M
faithful civil officers and an unhealthy
public sentiment. There are in Mid
dlebury, and very likely everywhere,
three classes of temperance men, who
are ONLY useless lumber, clogs, trail
tors. They are inefficient, indifferent,
OF insincere.
All the zeal in the world Is unavailing
for any cause, unless brought into prac-
teal use under the leadership of some
one who knows what to do. what can
be done?" was II question asked by some
sincere and earnest friends of the pro-
hibitory law. The more usual cause of
inefficiency in the temperance move
ment is arrant cowardice. It's enough
to bring the blush of shame to the cheek
of manhood that men are found who
have not the moral courage to meet a
responsibility when the time comes for
action, though brave enough to stand at
a distance and urge Others on. They
shirk responsibility. A says b is re-
.
B says c is the man to do the work, and
so on. Indifference on the subject by
protesting friends of the cause is a
serious drawback to successful effort
This class is temperate and talks tenn
erance, in a private kind of way, to
catch the approval and votes oftemper-
ance men. They steer clear ofany &C
ton toavoid disapproval and the loss OF
the votes of the roughs. Insincerity
in the professed friends of the temper
ance cause is not only most contempt
BILE but most damaging. The inhuenc,
of some so called Temperance men i.
thrown entirely against reform They
talk loudly, urge others to put dow
drinking and rumselling, in a genera
way, but throw cold water upon any
actual movement which has in it any
promise of effectiveness. They neel
at any and every effort as 'injudicious,'
obnoxious in its manner" and stan'
cody by and refer to the man who hu
the courage to act out his convictions,
as "hotheaded, ""rash, and inconsidel-
ate" knocking his head against stone
WALL" getting himself into business"
&c. They thrust themselves forward as
officers and committees, and are sure to
produce dead lock so soon as any OPP
portunity occurs for action. They con-
trive to get upon the board of civil
authority, and deal out summary JUS
tice in the form of fines ON the temp
ted and injured drunkard, whose family
can i'll afford to lose ten dollars for each
offense committed against, rather than
by him. But if asked to sign warrant
for the seizure of liquor, or the indict
ment of respectable rumseller, "Oh /!
no, he is my client, couldn't do that"
OF "he is man of influence and might
detract from my vote when / want his
assistance at the polls; go to such an
one he will do it." Not many months
since temperance Justice in this vii
lage, when a poor, weak fellow was up
for drunkenness and breach of the
peace, asked him the usual question