Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-03-02
Massachusetts State Temperance Con
VPntiOn.

ment OF the men:
Rev Gilbert Haven, from the committee,
reported the following resolutions:
RESOLUTIONS.
l. We rejoice in the rising interest in this
great reform, in our own and other States, as
shown by the organization of Temperance
societies, the distribution of temperance lite
erature, the faithful utterances of the pulpit
and the platform, and the increasing determ-
ination to make this the issue in social and
political circles until it is everywhere tri-
umphant.
2. We thank the Congressional Temper
ance Society for their call upon the country
to observe the coming anniversary of the
birth of Washington as Temperance day,
and we urge upon our people TO celebrate
the day in the manner requested. Let them
hold meetings, circulate the pledge, organize
societies and arouse in all hearts detestatiOn
of the evil OF intemperance. and determI-
nation to extirpate it from the land.
3. We rejoice that the present prOhibitory
law is 50 generally approved, and in many
towns of the State is successfully executed.
Ne regret Its partial nOn-eniOrcement in
4SfSosti,rl and other large towns. The people
will support a more efficient administration
of the law. They demand the prohibition
of all interdictcd sales, and will cordially
endorse the government in the full discharge
of its duties against this crime.
1. The diminution of the State Police
/ force meets with our stcrnest condemnatiO ton.
1t has proved itself necessity, even in the
partial service it has done this law We
demand its restitution to its late or greater
| capacity, and its immediate employment in
the full enforcement Of the law and we
hereby declare that any attempt to abolish
this branch of the executive, or to reduce II
70 mol he n fzhu N
of a Metropolitan Police.
/ 5. The course of many of our judges in
delaying the action of the law and often pre-
venting it, Is rapidly bringing the bench Of
Justice into contempt Were they faithful
in obeying the will of the people, public sen
timent would solIdify in support of the law
and the whole iniquity disappear.
9. We deprecate the idea that has lately
been made prominent, that law must be lev
eled to the basis of public opinion. Law
should express the Right. 4 law against
theft or adultery, or any other vice thai
should compromise with these evils, would
make them all the more powerful. Public
opinion must be uplifted and fortified in the
right direction against the current of vice
and depravity Law is necessary 10 thi,
end. The public sentiment, if supported by
; a righteous law, will become more solid anC
united against the evil with which it has :,
} long contended, and which it has so largely
proved TO every mans conscience 10 be IN
Just, unphilanthropic and unchristian.
7. The License law just reported TO the
Legislature and adopted by the House o
J Representatives, is a relic OF barbarism, and
: Is utterly unworthy of a Christian State, anl
should be cast out of the General Court 4.
an accused thing.
:. The temperance people of the Stat,
have hitherto, Tor what appeared to then
good and sufficient reasons, declined 10 de
mand of the party they have organized anC
made victorious, the introduction of prOhibi
; ton into its platform The time has come
in our Judgment, when that demand SHOULD
be made. No national issues Will be harme,
by the introduction of this principle int
the party. Ii is in agreement with the higi
moral grounds that party has occupied OF
other questions Ii will cause it to attain
n @sryDng hold on the affections Of the people
/ 1t Will disentanglc 1t from the bad aud d,
signing men who are now obtaining its con
troll. 1t will enable it to advance the chic
moral reform of the hour. We, therefore
in the name Of Republican prohibitionists
who are the large majority of its members
demand that this party make full an,
earnest declaration of support of the pTohib
itory principle and the prohibitory law.
9. While making this demand, we ere cor
strained to admit that necessity may speedil,
arise for independent political action. Tn
bondage of the Republican party to eompro
mise ideas tins matter the elevation O
earnest enemies of this cause to honor IL
its ranks; the abandoning by Republican
leaders Of even party organization in thi
city, in its municipal relation, in the inter
! ests of rum the declaration of the las
State Republican Convention that it had N
: interest in this cause, and that il was indif
ferent as TO whether it was voted up or dowI
these and many such reasons convince u
that the triumph of Prohibition in Massa
chuseJts Will never be accomplished unit
those who believe in it shall vote as they be
lieve. As anti-slavery men had TO organic
an anti-slavery party years before the attmp
was determinately made to m Ike the Viii;
party fully and earnestly .anti-slavery, an,
as even that attempt, though made by mel
even So eminent and then SO able as Charlie
Sumner, Henry Wilson and Charles Franci
Adams, WAS utterly unsuccessful, and the
7 were compelled to abandon an organization
that refused to accept the political call 0
God and the hour ; even so would the TEN
perance sentiment if embodied in part
form, compel those who remained in tie Re
, publican ranks to struggle earnestly for it
admission into it's platform and, if the
failed would have already prepared for then
a political organization that would ultimate
ly absorb the now ruling parties, and sub
due the State and nation to its sway
10. We thank our brethren in othel
States for the zeal and efficiency they ar,
: exhibiting; we give them God speed, anC
pray that they may labor faithfully unit
every State and all the land is redeemed iron
the presence of this demon.
, II. We protest against any lowering o
the present law by our Legislature. and de
mand that all notifications shall be in tn
e.,
: We rejoice in the success of the DAT
/, NeloS, u bold, radical, earnest defender G
this cause. We urge all friends of temper
ance TO extend the circulation of this morn
ing and evening journal, as well as that c
the older servants in the same good cause
the Boston Erening Trareller, the Bosto
? Nation, and all other journals, secular o
; religious, city or country, that favor thi
reform.
We commit our cause to His care, who ha
F., said. " Wine is mocker, strong drink
: raging - who has declared, a. No drunkar
{ shall inherit the kingdom of God - VIII
e requires States to conform their laws to hi
G nature and decree. May lie continue t
e bless this holy reform in the future even NOR
: than he has blessed it in the past. He ha
put into millions of hearts to contend wit
= this sin and crime; He has inspired churches
institutions, edicts, literature, fashion, wit
3 it's influence He has made social drinkiu
customs coniessedly wrong; He has brough
TO every mans conscience the clear conviC
ton of the close connection of this vice wit
the worst of crimes against society He ha
saved multitudes from a drunkard's grave
who, but for this growing sentiment, woul
: have gone down into that dreadful darkness
May he strengthen the arm of the Executiv
J, and his subordinates to execute laws He ha
e caused to be enacted May he teach GU
judges to do justly, our legislators to legislat