Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-26

in was conducted by Rev. Elisha Brown
and addressed by Messrs w. A. Lord, III. A.
Huse and E. S. Camp and Mrs. Joel Foster
Mr.. Brown, not designing to occupy much
Of the time, spoke for few moments of the
dem lnd5 upon temperance men to aid and
further the efforts of the ladies, which he
thought had been carried on long and faith
fully, also Of the enormous cost of intern
perance-not in dollars and cents, for that
expenditure he considered to be Of least i'm
portlnce compared with the destruction OF
the conscences, the intellect and the bodies
of men, and that great number of sufferers
whose lives have worn away in grief and
shame for these loved ones laid low. From
all ranks did the monster gather his vic
tins, the bar, the bench nor the pulpit
being exempted from his ravaging hand
This cost no figures could compute, no dol
lars and cents could pay.
Mr.. Lord thought there was cost too, often
times, IN profession of adhesion to the
principles Of temperance, as conversation he
had recently with young man showed. The
Young man had acknowledged that this was
the right principle by which to be governed,
and the one by which he intended to govern
himself but when asked to make public
ayOwaI of this principle of his adoption,
turned away from the cross of the pledge.
Nh Lord hoped for continuation of the
meetings, believing them to be productive Of
much good.
We then had the great pleasure of listen
ny to Mrs. Foster-a lady most active in
good works; and from no one could state
ment OF the present situation of temperance
matters more appropriately come. Mrs.
Foster said that from the beginning, these
meetings had been free to all, although she
well knew what part Of community was
meant by all - She would venture to take
advantage Of that liberty, and say few
words in regard TO what she considered TO be
the position now held By the Ladies Associ-
alton, not far it, herself alone being respon-
si5le.
She thought it standing between two fires :
that of fulsome fattery on the one side, on
the other fretful huIt-fnding. Far from
being Indifferent to the good opinion of tenn
perlnce men, she still thought their com
u.eudations often oyerdone The work of
the ladies' had been described as gentle as
tie dew Of evening, and next as being all
potent. They had been tod that their wish
e~ were law. that none would refuse to obey
their commands This to Mrs. Foster
scented very far from the facts in the case.
From tie other side the ladies had been told
they were responsible for the fact that both
the rum-seller and rum-drinker were not
.u.e3sJs from respectable society. This would
he most Wholesome corrective, if, indeed, it
could be considered substantially true. But
how can women be responsible for this So
ciaI laxlty, wien meu often give to both
classes honorable preferment at the polls :?
Habits Of intemperance were no barrier to the
lar or bench la the impanneling of jurors,
it was not thought unsafe to depend on the
opinions of men who made habitual use of
intoxicating liquors. She had been told, but
-he hoped falsely, that in their long confne-
ment, when not agreeing, they were allowed
the diversions Of games, and not only that,
but also to refresh themselves with alcohol
Ic st'muIants Vermont, in more than one
instance, had sent men 20 Congress, to par
tIcTate in our national councils, who were
not able TO keep themselves from inebria-
ton.
The ladies were often asked what they had
done, what they were doing, and what they
were going to do, in the direction of enforce
Inent of the law They had been told they
had no votes to lose, no Office to gain, no
rentals to guard. This was 10 new lesson a;
butanother lesson, Mrs. Foster thought many
women were being forced to learn was this
that they cannot wholly depend on votes,
until they fall from their own hGgers. With
out the support OF votes, without the posi-
ton of office, without financial income-tOr
by far the greater number of married women
have not dollar for which they are not
obliged to ask their husbands-is it not much
to ask women to enforce laws which they
have had 30 voice ID making, and hitherto
lave teen expected only to obey That the
ladies would never attempt this work, she
had no right TO say, for many one had come
to think it must be done, and its delay had
become almost uncomfortable. 1t is said that
the use of opium by women in this country
is alarmngly on the increase. If it was a
fact at the present time, that by It's Use sixty
thousand wives and daughters were brought
to the grave annually, would men think il
rash or unwise policy to enforce laws against
it, eae and use? She thought if men be
ley,d that ii ten years from now there
would be such q harvest Of death annually
and from such cause, tiey would forbid ever
the sowing of poppy seeds the coming sea
n.
Mrs Foster gratefully acknowledged gen
eGous offers of aid from several gentlemen
If the ladies should think best to assume tn
work of prosecution, but assured all temper
ance men that the highest appreciation the,
could have of the ladies work, could be shown
by their taking it up at the point t.
which it had been brought, and carrying
it on wisely and faithfully Should this re
suit from the efforts If the ladies, not them
selves, but God be praised
Mr.. Huse spoke of the suitableness
moral suasiop, of apps ais, and kindly inter
est on the part of temperance people, as
preparatory work, thinking it to be com
meud,d for its worth as far as it went, bu
believing it must lie supplemented by lega
prohibition enforced, to be in any degree sal
or oficacicus. Mr.. Huse is clear an