Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-04-23
5ficsellanu.
An Appeal to the People of Ver-
mont,

The undersigned, in behalf of the Ex-
ecutive Committee of the Vermont State
Temperance Society, takes this method
of briefly addressing you, on the evils Of
intemperance, the encouragements to eff
fort 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 subse-
quent articles, or public addresses. In
temperance in spite of all hindrances
and restraints, is an alarming evil, and
giant crime, which appalls us by its
magnitude, and paralyzes us with its
strength. The public conscience slum-
! bers under ignorance, or is covered by
fear, while this popular indulgence is
sweeping our neighbors and sons to de-
struction, corrupting the fountains of
good morals, wasting the resources of
the nation, and threatening the destruc-
ton of the government. / need not tell
you that, in these United States, sixty
thousand lives are annually sacrificed to
intemperance and sixty thousand mod
crate drinkers advanced to fill their
places. | am not here to depict the pow
erty, cruelty, wretchedness and woe, oc-
casioned to their families; nor the
amount of crime, incendiarism and muir
der, which alcoholic drinks have occa-
stoned. 1t is enough for us to know that
at least seven-eighths Of all these evils
come of intoxication.
Have we any idea of the loss to the
country by this indulgence? Mr.. Wells,
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, es-
Inmates the first cost of liquors, sold last
year, at 81 ,5OO,O00,000. The materials
used up in the manufacture, the labor
bestowed upon the business, the interest
on machinery, warehouses, &c, with the
money paid, as profits, by the people,
would be at least another billion. Sc
we see the sum total sunk on a useless
and pernicious commerce is two and 9
half billions of dollars which is the pres
ent amount of our national debt. And
it is tax upon the entire population Of
over twenty-seven dollars pei year tC
every man, woman and child. Is it any
wonder that there is so much of poverty
and complaint of hard times, and secre
murmurings, if not open complaints, b.
the laboring class, against the bondhold
ers, and of the poor against the rich ?
We have adopted the principle of rails
ing internal revenue on the luxuries, ant
exempting the necessaries, of life. And
for convenience, have imposed the tai
on spirits and tobacco. But the work
ing class, who feel most the burden 0
this taxation, use as necessaries these al
ticles; and, unless we show them to b
useless and pernicious, they may be ex
pected to rebel against this principle Q
taxation.
But worse still is the danger from it
fancied oppression. Of the immens
amount paid by the people for alcohol
drinks, but moiety goes to the govern
ment. The chief amount is expende
for corruption purposes, and to enric
those engaged in the unlawful traffic
All who engage in it roll in wealth
while their poor customers foot the bill
and imagine the Government is respons
Bile for the exorbitance. Can we say
ourselves from serious discomfort, an
C open rebellion, unless we enlighten Il
people on the question who are the