Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-08-26
From Vermont Chronicle. ]
A Grave statement.


appointed to inquire whether the law of
Vermont relative to the traffic in intoxi-
eating drinks is duly enforced, reported
that they :" find that the law is not, and
has not been enforced" and that az to the
cause, the statute " IL one whose execu-
ton the public does not demand, and Off
GERS whose duty it is to enforce the law
are very willing to be relieved Of that
duty, if the public do not demand it's en-
forcement," This, if true, is very grave
statement. 1t sets up two points which
thoughtful observers will carefully scruti-
nize, viz: first, that our prohibitory Lii
quor laws are not observed, and, secondly,
that the people do not require the execu-
ton of the same.
Are these allegations justifd by the
facts With all due respect to the com
mittee, we are compelled to reply in the
negative. Our impression and our con-
victions require us to ask the proof of
such assertions.
The public what part of the "public"
and who are the constituents of that part
which it is affirmed, "does not demand"
the execution of this law! Is it the ma
jority of the voters to say nothing of the
women) to which this refers Who will
affirm this in face of the steadily increas-
ing demand of the people for vigorous en-
actments for the maintenance of the princi-
pie Of prohibition What candidate for
Office in Vermont, with any expectation
of success, will to-day stand up squarely
before the people, on the ground of op-
position to our temperance law
The 'public'-who? The genuine
friends of the temperance cause.-the men
and the women who constitute the indo-
mitable supporters of this grand reform
in the State
Who will affirm it =?
The law mot enforced" yes, so it is,
unquestionably, in many cases to the
grief of virtue and good morals; but no
less must be said of some other laws
which few, as yet, venture to oppose on
the ground that the offenders are not al
ways punished We have laws against
shieving, lewdness, adultery, Sabbath
breaking, horse racing, and other offences
against morality and decency; yet, who
will say that the statute Is always enforc-
ed in case of the violation of any or all of
these acts? Nevertheless, he is a pre-
sumptuous man that attempts to array
these failures of execution against the
statutes themselves, the sweeping away of
which would open the door to a flood of
vices and crimes, that are now, at least,
undaunted and restrained by the stern
eye of ust and necessary law
Let people ponder on the statement of the
committee and discover the proof thereof,
before they accept IT, while they mark the
men who affirm it
TIE GREAT FIRE IN New YORK IN
1S35.- The Philadelphia underwater
publishes the following anecdote of the.
Etna Insurance Company. Though some
what extensively known, the action of the
-Etna during that memorable period of
its history will bear fresh notice and ever
stand as an evidence of the good that
comes from prompt discharge of duty
After the great fire of 1885 the '.Etna'
of Hartford, now the largest, strongest
and most successful Fire Insurance Com
pany in America, received notice of their
losses, and the President called meeting
of the Board of Directors, and in few
words told them that they had lost, prob
ably. all their capital. After a few mo-
ments' silence in which the President
brought from the fire-proof all the stocks
and bonds representing their capital. and
placed them before them, one of the
Board asked him what he should do.
: Do = said the President, go to New
York and pay the losses, and if it takes
every dollar pointing to the package,
and my own fortune besides
The anxius looks gave way to those of
settled determination. and the Board
unanimously said. Good and we will
stand by you with all eur individual cap
ital'
The President went to New York, ad-
justed the losses and in a years time the
Company so bold to act and ready to full
fill all its obligations, had their capital
more than returned by premiums, and
better reputation than any Company in
the United States"