Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-04-20
An Appeal to the People OF Vermont

The undersigned, in hehalf of the Executive |
Committee of the Vermont State Temperance
Society, takes this method of briefly addressing
you on the evils of intemperance, the encourage
ments TO effort for reform. and the methods of |
its prosecution. This is but an abstract of what
he has to offer. The main points here given will
be elaborated in subsequent articles, or puohc
addresses. Intemperance in spite of all hlndran-
ces and restraints, is alarming evil, and giant
crime, which appals us by its magnitude, and
paralyzes us with its strength. The public con-
science slumbers under ignorance, or is covered
by fear, while this popular indulgence is sweep
ing our neighbors and sons to destruction, cor
rupting the fountains of good morals, wasting
the resources of the nation, and threatening the
destruction of the government. need not tell
you that in these United States, sixty thousand
lives are annually sacrificed to intemperance;
and sixty thousand moderate drinkers advanced
to fill their places. am not here to depict the
poverty, cruelty, wretchedness and woe, occas-
toned to their families; nor the amount of crime,
incendarism and murder, which alcoholic drinks
have occasioned. 1t is enough for us to know
that at least seven-eights of all these evils
| of intoXication.
| Have we any idea Of the loss TO the country by
this indulgence? Mr.. Wells. Commissioner of
Internal Revenue. estimates the first cost of Ii
quors sold last year, at 81 500, 900 ,000 The ma
terials used up in the manufacture, the labor be-
slowed upon the business, the interest on ma
chinery, warehouses. &C., with the money paid,
as profits, by the people, would be at least anoth
er billion. So we see the sum total sunk on a
| is
half billion dollars which is the present amount
of our national debt. And it is a tax upon the
entire population of over twenty-seven dollars
per year to every man, woman and child. Is it
any wonder that there is so much poverty, and
complaint of hard times, and secret murmurings
if not open complaints by the laboring class,
against the bondholders, and of the poor against
the rich We have adopted the principle of
raising internal revenue on the luxuries, and ex-
emptiDg the necessaries of life. And, for con-
venience, have imposed the tax spirits and
tobacco. But the working class, who feel most
the burden of this taxation, use as necessaries
these articles; and, unless we show them to be
useless and pernicious, they may be expected to
rebel against this principle of taxation.
But still worse is the danger from its fancied
oppression. Of the immense amount paid by the
people for ale oholc drinks. but moiety goes to
the government. The chief amount is expended
for corruption purposes, and to enrich those en-
gagged in the unlawful traffic. All who engage
in it roll in wealth, while their poor customers
foot the bills, and imagine the government is re-
sponsible for the exhorbitance. Can we save
ourselves from serious discomfort and open re-
bellion, unless we enlghten the people on the
question: who are the real oppressors? And
turn them from their lmpovershing and ruinOu.
indulgences?
1t has been settled that alcoholic drinks con
tain no nourishment, or next to none; that they
do not promote, but retard digestion; that they
! do not give strength but detract from it; tina
they neither warm US when cold. nor cool u
when hot; and have no proper place but in tbs
service of the arts, or among the stutfs of tn,
apothecary. This is true of alcohol, pure anC
simple, what shall we say of the beverage
now dealt out as spirituous liquors? The heavy
= tax imposed has wonderfully stimulated tn
arts by which the quantity has been increas
ed at the expense of the quality. By am
pie and reliable testimony it can be shown tina
all the liquors exposed for sale are base imita
tons, or poisonous authorizations, of the article
T whose names they bear and the best judge
cannot distinguish between the spurious and tn
genuine; and that the effects of inebriation ar
tentod worse from this cause. No man, who ha
any caution, will dare to put his lips to a cup
j. so doubtful ingredients. Delirum tremens use
t to follow on long and free indulgence Now
comes sometimes in the first stages of intempe1
ance, and before any body supposes the victiI
iS in lie ar-rib do
e to treatment, now the doctors say they cannC
e cure it.
q If such be the extent of the evil and such til
aggravation of its effects, have we no groun c
hope that there can be, and must be, grand ra
1 ly for the suppression of intemperance? On
+ trust is IN the element of reform, that sense
q right, and interest for humanity, which God ha
implanted in the human SOUL and which Away
manifests itself when popular evils, and giar
L sins, come to their crisis, and require to be pr
) down This power was once divided betwee
IS temperance and anti-savery efforts when th
n war broke out it was absorbed in the determine
ton to put down rebellion and its melting caus
That work done, it waits its next worthy caus
and is ready for as determined action. "Reforn
: never go backward, - and true ones never fail
r The reformatory energies of this nation are no
J. to turn themselves to the overthrow of inten
y perance.
Every great moral evil, like disease, has i
1 eliminating point, its crisis when it must yiel
J and perish, or kill its subject Slavery came
e this crisis, and when we were in doubt wheth,
= it was to destroy the nation or perish itself.
committed suicide and we have an end of it,
War, among the nations has about reached i
, crisis. 1t seems ready to perish by its own art
l. which make the instruments of death so terrib
v that nobody will think of standing before then
e So intemperance seems destined to perish by il
arts of imitation and admixture. Let them |
fully exposed and who will dare the dangers
III their use?
The question now arises: What shall be done
If we approach this inquiry with the determine
ton to meet the evil as it practically exists, an
TO take counsel of our better judgment, rath
10 than of our pride and our fears, we shall. ha,
D. harmony of opinion and of action. Our mea
Y. ures will be stern enough for efficiency, whe
a decisive action is advisable; and flexible enoug
4 to adapt themselves to the condition of things
every community. We have
~ l. The method Of ka,o. This is effectual, ar
l. acquiesced in, wherever public sentiment bea
D. out its enforcement. In some towns it is pra
N teal prohibition of the liquor traffic. In other
-. where popular opinion is more m oderate, it o
crates simply as restraint. And in others ST
Il has no practical results whatever, simply becau
~" drinking is common and respectable, temperan
Ig principles covered, and nobody will take the r
p sponsibility of prosecutions. This law pronou
/ ces the popular verdict against rum selling.
places this business in the attitude of NOR
- nuisance, that the people may abate, by the
a condemnation, remonstrances and (when su,
~ measures faID by legal proceedings. No statu
gives it its sanctions, or virtuous public sentime
i Its approval. 1t is just what it is designed to
= an instrumentality dependent upon public SEM
III ment for its efficiency, and to be used for the
ST forcement of the popular verdict. To attem
id more than this is to irrtate and madden our e
n. emies, and stir up sympathy for them, Gas pers
:, csaed), and effect no permanent reform. Let Il
law stand as it is, look for no modification
~ amendment; they will serve no purpose for goo
~ But let US turn our attention to other agenci
o. which must come in to meet the exigencies
ia the case, and which are calculated to secure pc
10 ular favor.
2. We should haze individuaI reform. Person