St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-08-20
From Harper Weekly.
Temperance in Politics.

The Massachusetts Democratic Cor
vention meets on the oath of Aueust. an
, will doubtless nominate Mr.. John Ouinc
Adams, who will get much larger vot
than he did last year, because of tn
temperance complication. A few year
since there was virtually a prohibitor
law IN Massachusetts. Then came Il re
action and after some delay a law wa
passed, like that recommended by tn
committee of the late Temperance Con
Fentlon III this State, which authorized
leach town to determine for itself whethe
to license or prohibit. That, again, wa
superseded at the last session of the Leg
islature by the present law, which i
prohibitory of all the ordinary drinks ex
ccpt cider. Even lager beer is forbid
den. This, however, was against tn,
advice of Governor Clafin, of Senator
/ Wilson, and Of Mr.. w. Is. Spooner, til,
President of the Temperance Alliance
who was IN consequence asked to resign
Hut the law was no sooner enforced by
the seizure of Mr.. Ptatt's supplies of la.
ger beer than there was such a protest OF
! public opinion that, after the delay of a
day OF two, there came a written opinion
OF the Attorncv-General, under which
the liquor was restored and the prosccu-
ton abandoned and presently Mr..
SpOOncr was invited to resume the Presi
dcncy of the Temperance Association.
Meanwhile Judge Pitman. the leader of
the prohibitory party and late President
OF the Senate, had been appointed by
Governor Claflin to the bench. and :,
lager beer seller at Arlington was con-
victed before linn, and received the whole
sentence OF the law. The feeling of the
State is aroused, and the Temperance
question will i..ably be an important
element in tie election.
II J., of course, a question within the
.epublican party. The liquor interest
organizes, subscrlbcS. works, but is much
too sensible TO nominate 4 separate tick
ct. 1t throws all its votes for the party
which is most favorable to its purpose ::
and that Is the Democratic party. The
temperance men, whether moderate or
thorough, are Republicans Many of
the most ardent are anxious that the Re
publican party should declare for prohi-
bitiOn and this year many OF the mod
crates, unwilling that the party should
| fall under the control OF the thorough
temperance leaders, will either not vote
at all, or will vote for Mr. Alams as 4
protest and warning. The papers are
discussing vigorously the proper policy
for the party Convention to pursue The
Commonwealth radical Republican
but not a radical temperance advocate
thinks that it will be neither possible nor
reputable for the Convention to avoid the
question, and urges plain declaration of
principle.
Hitherto the party has refused TO make
prohibition Il test; and it should reflect
very carefully before it decides 10 do 50
now. OF course no wcll-iniormed man.
Republican or not, suppo-eS that Il ma
lOrIty of the voters in the countr, are
now, or Will be tor Il long time. in favor
of a prohibitory law. The reason of this
is 10y no means that the relation OF drunk
rune>s and crime Is not we'll understood
but it i to be sought in opinions a. TO
the most efficient remedy of the difficulty
ANA OF the righttul function of govern
mcnt. y Republican, Therefore. who
urges that the party shall make prohl-
bIu9n uar!y principle. proposes that
pay hc- nec---arJ. Iron tie control OF
public affairs and ms coutnS- GIL tie IL
titled only 10y the conviction that the a.
tendency OF the Democratic party will be
more srryice;blc TO tho country. and di-
roctly or indirectly 10 the cause OF tenn
pcraucr. That it would be better to call
tine Democratic party to power in the
present situation OF the country, although
the treat debate OF the last few wears l.
passing away, 10 Republican believes
II, however, hc woutj make prohibition
a party principle, 1t can only he because,
ne holds that Democratic dominance.
with unre>tralned license of drinking.
would be- Il greater blessing than the SUI
prcmacy OF the Republican party with
moderate temperance LEGISLATION. Ills
policy would be 10 increase drunkenness
in order TO stimulate public opinion to its
legal prohibition.
The better plan, it seems to Us, is to
maintain the organization OF the great
and powerful party whose sympathies are
with all humane reforms, to which the
temperance legislation hitherto Is due.
and which will umquestionably advance
as public opinion advances upon the sub
jcct. Faster than that no party and no
law can 90. The Committee OF the lem
perance Convention OF New York most
truly remark:
'l'rohibitory legislation as the fruit OF
mere political organizations, either thro'
pressure upon those already in existence
or by the creation Of new ones, would
prove Il failure except As the people gave
it efficiency by the force OF a popular YER
dict, and by the enforcement of adequate
penalties for violating such law
But thus far the advocates of prohib-
ton mistake the point upon which to
concentrate their efforts. If their policy
is sound they should strike at the root as
at the branch of the mischief, and pro-
hibit the manufacture and importation
rs well as the sale of Intoxicating liquors
SEPTEMBER ELECnON.-Thc time of
our annual election with It's necessary
caucuses aud preliminary meetings Is
close al hand, and it bchoovcs every citi-
zen to so arrange his affairs that no conn