National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-04-23

bed III the determination toput down
rebellion and its melting cause. That
work done, it waits its next worthy
cause, and is ready for as determined
and effective action. ''Reforms new
er 90 backward,n and true ones new
er fail. The reformatory energies
of this nation are now to turn them
selves to the overthrow of intemper-
ance.
Every great moral evil, like a dis
ease, has its eliminating point, its
crisis; when it must yield and per-
ish, or kill its subject. Slavery
came to this crisis, and when we
were in doubt whether it was to de-
stroy the nation or perish itself, it
committed suicide and we have an
end OF 1t. War, among the nations,
has about reached its crisis. 1t
seems ready to perish by its own
arts, which make the instruments of
death SO terrible that NOBODY will
think of standing before them. SO
intemperance seems destined to per
ish by its arts of imitation and adj
mixture. Let them be fully exposed
and who will dare the dangers of
their use.
The question now arises: What
Shall be dones If we approach this
inquiry with the determination to
meet the evil, as it practically exists
and to take council of our better
judgment, rather than of our pride
and our fears, we shall have harmo-
ny Of opinion and Of action. Our
measures will be stern enough for
efficiency, where decisive action is
advisable; and flexible enough to
adapt themselves to the condition
of things in every community. We
have
/. The method Of lac. This is eff
fcctual, and acquieSced in, wherever
public sentiment bears out its en-
iorcement. In some towns it is q
practical prohibition Of the liquor
traffic. In others. where popular
opinion is more moderate. it operates
simply as a rcSttuiRt. And III 9th
erS still has no prdcticalresHlts what
ever, simply because drinking is
common and respectable, temper
ance principles covered, and nobody
will take the responsibility of prose
cutions. This law pronounceS the
popular verdict against rum selling.
1t places this business in the atti-
tude of Il m0rai Nuisance, that the
people may abate, by their condem-
nation. rcmonStrauceS, and (When
such measures fail, by legal proceed
ingS. No statute gives its sanctions,
or Nirtuous public sentiment its ap-
proval. 1t is just what it is design
ed to be. an inStrumentality depen
dent on public scntlnc at for It's Ell
| iicrncv. and to be u d for the ell
| torccment of the popular verdict
TO attempt more than this is to llri-
tate and madden our enemies, and
stir up sympathy for them, (as per
SccHtcd,) and effect no permanent re-
| form. Let the law stand as 1t is,
/ look for no modification or amend
ment; they Will serve no purpose Tor
good. But let us turn cur attention
to other agencies Wlich must come
III to meet the eeNiSeheleSoi the case
ana winch are calculated TO secure
1 popular favor.
:. We ShoHid hare hdtt1dHdt re-
form. Personal cnlightment ON the
laws Of health, and competence to
obey thcm., Is the basis ol the TEN
.pcrancc structure. The conclusive
arguments of our fathers, ON the
uScleSsueSS and destrHctlNcneSs OF
alcoholic drinks, all require to be
presented again for the benefit oI
this generation. And with those
arguments, the terrible lessons to b,
drawn from the doHbY d'Sttied POI
sons now Ncuded for drinks. There
must be light, and there must be de
/ ciSion, TO every individual lorraine
Of himself Else all resolutions
made, and pledges given, will be o
no avail.
3. cyc0Hjye social organisations
We know That clo0ucut lecturer,
have stirred mn the ucoplc. and So
curcd thousands of SIGNATURES to th,
temperance PLEDGE: and that indi
yidual effort has frequently accom-
nlished much by the same means
But unless those thus pledged ar,
gathered into some temperance fol,
they cannot be made very service
able to the cause, or protecte,