The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-07-30
The Conference ut Ru land.


The meeting at Rutland, called by you
ia your last issue, The New Eug gland
Temperance Alliance. seems to convey to
your readers the fact Of the existence of
au orgaulz ,tion Of that kind. Such is
not the fact. No such thing exists. The
meeting was designed to have been ga
co ference" uf some of the leading repre-
sentative meu Of the temperance cause III
the New England States, Tor the benefit
OF the cause III Vermont. Such conferences
have previously been held, III two or
three Of these states, with the happiest
aud most encouraging results. 1t was to
be hoped aud expected, tdat results as
happy and satisfactory would grow out vi
the meeting at Rutland that by it the
efforts of temperance men in Vermont
would have been better systemizcd,"
that harmonization of the scattered aud
di>jointed forces in our state might be
effected aud that by such meaus we
might be able to present an unbroken
front 10 action, and in the ideas which
engender aud stimulate ton, in the
presence of the people, andcspcclally OF
the foe. Such result was 10 be hoped.
For it was Que most intensely to be desir-
d,--to be desired above all other means OF
social and political, and We may add,
moral reform. For without it the cause in
the state is rope of sand, deSjecta
memJrd without Conference and wlthou.
power. Not denying but wat existing
organizations do good-much good
awarding to each aud all Of them their full
measure Of success, it is still most maui
testify, most painfully apparent. that tue
friends OF temperance throughout the
Green Mountain State, FIR want of a con-
sort real feasible aud effective, fail of be-
ing that moral power " ch the exigencies
OF the hour demands. The Rum power
is controlling in our large places general.
ly, controlling through our indifference,
aud our supiueness. And this comes to
US from the want of systemized organ
ization-an organization, having pecN.
mary basis. and putting effective means
within the reach OF all, become a per-
petual reminder Of duty to every friend
and ally throughout the commonwealth
We want, in behalf of this cause, oneness
OF thought, purpose, and action, which
shall enable us to strike in whatever
direction, aud for whatever measure the
tunes demand. We want this to become
"a power III morals and religion, in socia
order and in political action. We want
this to countercheck effectually the con-
centrated power OF the enemy. We want
this to gam any real basis of security
any thing Of a substantial victory, in oul
state. For such a thi.g only is gained
through effective, organized unity. Now
it was to be hoped that the represents
tives OF this honored aud vital cause il
our state, would have met in conference
at Rutland its representatives from Other
states, and thus, by the counselliug OF sc
much wisdom aud experience, brought
about 50 desirable. and, on the part OF d
lew, desired result.
But we regret to add, that while tn,
conference was Il most profitable occasion
to those who attended it, it sigually iaileC
OF Its great aud Important end. Why i
did, We cannot now stop to discuss. W,
may do this at another time. We prob
ably shall, tor the matter demands ;
thorough investigation, aud the cause o
temperance itself a more perfect anC
efhclent-we may say, IN II word, real
Slate organization. A. f. BAILEY.