The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-07-16
For the Register.


temperance through your valuable paper.
| also wish to speak out in reference to
certain efforts that are making now adays
in relation to temperance And let me
assure you, Mr.. Editor, though am a
temperate drinkcr, | am no friend to in
temperance. | think when man has
drunk enough, he ought to be satisfied !;
yet l know It is not always easy to let up
just in the right place. In truth l must
confess that | have sometimes gone rather
too far myself, never 50 as to fall into the
ditch, or anything that of sort, but only
so as to feel little sling, as they say and
perhaps cause the ground to rise up a
little when [ tried to walk. But ab-
hor intemperance, and even this call 60
ing rather too far. No man can be more
sincerely desirous than I am to have
drunkenness cease. AN quite certain
that l shall not be drunkard myself, or
suffer any Of my family to be. But then,
you know, this is very different thing
from taking little in the morning, and
occasionally through the day, as circum-
stances may require. This is using the
good things of life as we ought to use
them.
There in my sentiments, Mr. Editor |
now hope | shall not be called drunk
ard, or favorer of drunkards, (for l
surely am neither) wien speak plainly
what think. Do not think strange if l
discover some warmth, for really have
no sort of patience with these temperance
societies, and cold water men. Every
body knows that little something is
necessary sometime. Suppose man has
to work hard every day, and he gets up
early, and gets home late, how can he
get along without spirits =? And then ev.
cry one is liable sometimes to get very
warm, Or very cold, or very wet, and
what can be done without rum ? know
physicians say it does no good, but every
body knows it is for their int crest to have
folks sick,
The coldwater men, pretend that they
do not mind it, but they don't work much
you know, except few who don't dare
to say anything else. These dupes
sincerely pity. But these cold water
men are determined that there shall be ne
rum used, and rely upon it, they are be-
ginning system Of tyranny, more cruel
than British unsurpation ever threatened
to exercise; and they intend to unite
church and state. A few facts more, will
make this as clear as day. Why sir, |
remember the time but few years since
when every family in the town kept rum
and was ready to offer it to man wher
he called on them And one was really
thought the better Of Is he drinked lit.
tie. Old friends met often at tavern
and took social glass, and they felt bet
ter Tor it. And then at bees, and rails
lngs, and elections, and courts, it was ex
pected OF course that rum would be abou
as tree as water. But o how changed
NOW man can't drink it at the tavern
nor be seen carrying it home, nor offel
1t to his friend, nor keep it in his house
nor give 1t to his children, but he is watch
ed, and pointed at and made the topic o
common remarks. Even the little urchir
not ten years old will gaze at one, Just a
II ne Thought he was doing somethin!
wicked. Indeed every body and every
tning Will stare at man who drinks
Now J say this is intolerable oppression
and 1t has all come through these TEN
peFance societies, and it has all been af
lected within three or four years too
And unless something is done soon,
really fear they will accomplish wha
they threaten to do, that is, they will pu
stop to the making, selling and drnkin,
OF spirits. Only once suppose this b,
done; all those who love to take littl,
and know it is good for them must b,
deprived of this their privilege. One o
our dearest rights would be taken from
US by force. Besides, there are som,
families who make this half their living
They now live well with little johnny
cake and plenty of whiskey. Shall hal
their living be taken away to gratif
these domineering, cold-water men. Ant
then what will become of all the rye ant
corn Of the country If the distillerie
stop? Should we not all be reduced t,
poverty in this way? Suppose it is tru,
that whiskey kills ten thousand person
annually, as is alleged, must We, on thi
account, give up the benefits esultin,
from making whiskey, especially as ever,
man is lett to do as he pleases about drink
ing it?
Now sir, in view of such facts, VIII
does not see that system of oppression
is already commenced. Who can endur
it A man is to be stigmatized if h
make rum. or sell it, or even drink it
If he is seen carrying home his bottle h
is sure to be classed with the drunkard
as if he belonged to that class merely be
cause he loved the same thing that tn
drunSard loves. And then the drunkar,
is to be made as odious as the shee
stealer, only because he has ruined him
self, and it may be has beggared his fam
lily and left them to grow up in disgrac
and ruin. Things are fast coming to thi.
And if the time once arrive when ther
is no rum in the land, then will our glor
have departed, and our country will de
generate as fast as in the days of tn
puritan fathers, when they had no viii:
key.
Something must done quickly. If tb
friends of humanity and good cheer wi
come up at once, the evil may be stopped
For let it be remembered there are wit
US still, justices and attornies and som
that are called judges, and some pruder
church members, and occasionally dea
con too. If then these will only take
stand and drink fearlessly and freely the
may put stop to this growing evil. Blu
there is no time to be lost. In a littl
time, if nothing is done, it will requir
more courage to drink, than any on
possesses save the drurkard. | therefor
in the name of the thousands who Low
rum, call upon all the friends of human
ity to come up at once.