Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-29
The Closing of ths Kutian" ""'oi'
and The Issue.

strsst and the announcement of our >. ~
tamporary newspapers that to-dg 49,
four leading hotels, the Bardwc"
Central and Stevens Houp,S ".'
closed, leaving Rutland "l'n0u' piao
of nm b,;c entertairhent for travellers
This state Of afs; is understood to be
100 - = Engagement between the
nroprietr,s of these hotels and some OF
~ Items on the subject of selling in
floating liquors at open bars in viola
tion Of the laws and statutes of the
State.
We have refrained purposely from
making any announcement in reference
n this subject until some overt act had
hoar committed, or travellers were actual
1o turned away from their doors, not de-
string to fan the flame of public excite
ment, which seemed to be gathering. The
making of a news item for the purpose of
creating a sensation in the community to
its detriment does not always serve the
hest purpose The consideration of an
important issue which affects all 10 due
both to the public and ourselves, lest an
unnecessary and hurtful strife be engen-
5orad between citizens, which in state
If public excitement, it is ever easy no do.
Onr position on this subject has been
known to the public from the first For
the earliest rumors of this movement on
tina mart of the landlords, gained currency
:, connection with certain demands those
gentlemen made of the HERALD and
.ghicb was not acceded to. Therefore
while we did not parade in sensational
stx-Ie "a some of our neighbors have
done. the subject Of difference, and the
aots done and threats promulgated.y the
publishers of the HERALD were the very
frat narties in the community who were
called upon to take stand on this issue,
"a Is well known 10 those who pirate 20
>nuob because the Herald has seen fit
toAceD silence. THIS explanation ls sur
faieDt for ia and il our neighbors have
gained any credit or honor in endeavoring
70 fan a4tna If excitement they are well
oome TO The lsurols which they have
won
We understand that it il the desire of
those who have taken this course to avail
themselves of the pretext of the liquor
prosecutions against them last week and
The manner in which it was done, to make
rnblic issue upon this question, and
have Ill settled We agree with them in
making the issue, and are glad that it has
cone ST ihe same time the course pur-
sued to force this question does not meet
our approval, and in their zeal we fear
they have made a mistake. They place
the issue upon such basis that no citizen
can acoede to their position Certain
concessions are demanded from the people,
and then all will be harmony No indi-
Yidual, or class of persons, nor can the
whole people accede to the demand made.
Why Because they have not the power.
1t asks tEe4 to consent to violation of
the lava Of he State, which no man has
the right to do The public Statutes de-
clare that the sale O., Intoxicating drinks
shall be prohibited and the seI4er thefeoI
shall suffer certain penalties an, l pfe'ldes
that any citizen may be an informe. ahu
the people can have no control of tn "
matter while the law stands upon the
statute book. However injudicious the
law may be as public policy, or how
ever obnoxious its practical workings be-
come, the people cannot compromise it or
step in and say that it shall not be en-
forced. Now, this is a fixed fact, as well
known to those who take this position as
to every other citizen of the community.
Therefore, the attempt to force a commu-
nifty to the settlement of this question is
ungasried and ipiudicious, because there
is no F2wer save the General Assembly of
the commonwealth that can do it. The
peoPIs are utterly powerless, however
much they may desire to settle this vexed
question. We had hoped that our land
lords would look at the attitude in which
they hid placed themselves and the COM
muui,y even their b9st friends-and
that wise counsels would lead them to re-
cede from their mistaken position. With
the prohibitory statute in force, leaving
it in the power Of any three citizens to be
informers, for the last fifteen yeHrs, how
ever impolitic it may have been, it ought
10 occur 10 our hotel-keepers that it's con-
dttlous have beeU enforced in Rutland
with great degree Of leniency, aud have
little reason to complain of the people in
that regard; and we believe that few, if
any prosecutions have been commenced
or fines imposed for the sale Of liquor to
the guests or travellers at any hotel in
Rutland.
We are glad this issue has come, only
regretting that it has assumed its present
form, which is believed to be impolitic.
1t Is well for it to come at this time, that
the question may be fully tested If'our
hotels are to be closed, let the law take
'ts course to its extreme extent, and let us
demonstrate without peradventure that
1t is good law and can be enforced, or
that 1T is bad one and ought not to be
enforced. If it cannot be enforced and
fails OF effecting the purpose, let it be
known and let it be acknowledged before
all the State that in Rutland it cannot be
enforced, that it is iniudicious and obnox
ious, and other towns can take similar &C.
ton if they please, until the people of the
State are fully convinced of the practical
workings of the law, and then let such
lection be taken for the enactment OF
t.-n that will prove satisfactory to the
= ". Now is as good an occasion as
nal' I, st this question. Let it be set
= occasion, SO that hereafter il
','u on 'hl. understood what is to be the
Snail DC iuly question. Therefore, WE
pohcy upon TINS 1t this Issue shall b.