Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-05-21

Devotion to principle Is one thing Flusa-
cism and intolerance are other things ], is
vel for man to have fixed opinions, c-pe.ia-y
on questions having moral bearing. 60 hold
them firmly and maintain them boldly. ], Is
not well, however, that DE should insist that
everybody else must always see things just as he
se's them ami especially is it poor plan q. re-
fuse to accept measure of good, because a.
good cannot he obtained at once The course Of
some O. the Temperance men If N4--lelus.tt.
illustrates very foraib'y these Iistu5t.t.. The
State. after trial OF the licar-a law for Year.
elected Legislature 60 restore She rr.liitory
policy. The subject came up al ouca, Cd Tire
opening Of the Legislature, and has hal ez-e. T.
ed discussions for a month OF two ia the commit
tees and before the twl Houses The a-a saw
IT, on full ielheration, TO ezeuq; cider .l.u
prohibition. The Senate aided au Amendment
eI,myting lager beer and because u these cz-
-mptious portion Of tie Temperance men # the /
Senate jo.aei the .uar men and killed -he i1l.
Al have now. on reconsideration, h-eI 60 I
again ia the same way. The prospect now is F..
that Massachu-ett, must suffer the evils free .
rum FOR another year, with all its consequences 7
Of crime, and pauper.sul. and distress, because .
few members Of she State Senate iusis, That half .
a LAT, OF rather loaf with very smal slice
taken Of, i not better than no bread
Again-it having become known that Hon.
wm Spooner, Presi eut Of the Massachusetts,
State Temperance Alliance, gentleman oc triel
principle, and who has la5oreI long. earnestly
and effectively in the temperance cause favored
the exemption of cider and lager beer. The exc
cutive committee Of the Alliance forthwith held
meeting and voted that Mr. Spoouer be re-
questei TO resign his office. Mr. -p1ouer had
ba'ei nothing # bis Temperance principles; BE
was Ierhaps aware that IN other States, ia Es--
mont for one, the exemption Of cider. and the
permission 70 brew termeutei liquors tr pr.va'e
use, had not been found 20 affect seriously IN.
efficacy # the prohibitory law Tie probably
thought the law would be really stronger and
more effective for good, with the exemptions pro-
posed At any rate he was wiling to
accept 10, as the best that could be
got and : eat improvement Ca the license law.
And for holding these views be could 100 longer
be permitted 20 work with and for the Alliance
Mr. Spooner declined to resign. for one reason. ?
IS he said in his spirited reply. because be would
not by any act or omission of his permit the Al
lance, with which he bad SO long been con-
lectei, and ia which he have loved to labor. 20 j.
'e put in the intolerant and proscrfp.iye attn r.
ude Ia which its executive committee would n
'lace 1t. The matter has since been dropped by +,
he committee but il does not leave them III @,
much better position. e.
The Whole business in the Alliance and in the I.
legislature, Illustrates striking.y the r ny tina; n
lay he done 70 a good cause by extremists and q
'nAties. We sincerely trust that the counse,s W
nd action of such, viii not finally avail to de- y
rive Massachusetts Of a prohibitory law, SO
early desired by majority Of her citizens. Il.