Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-01

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Our lat meeting was all it, pormcst friends
could desire Rev j f. Wright. presiding,
introduced col j B. Mead, Of Randolph. A.
speaker for the evening Tbecamcst attention
OF the large audience attostcd their apprecia-
ton Of the speaker and his grand theme.
Mr.. Mead said DO bad watched the progrc..
Of our work with the greatest interest. for LIE
was with us heart and bond This movement.
these sunday evening meetings, had an inal
ence not limited 20 our State. llecould assure
us we had hearty " G1d-speed from every
Christian heart, and the prayers Of every
woman and child despoci by this enemy of
mankind This evil is He evil Of the times.
Statistics prove that uiuc-tenths Of the crime
committed is attributable 90 this cause thatit
causes sixty thousand Of our citizens TO fl
druusari' grave every year Add 10 thi. the
great amount Of money and time worse than
lost, the poverty, ignorance and utter wretch
elncss consequent b ach train OF evils
brought not upon the guilty alone, but TO a
class chat Christian government is bound 10
protect and what Laye we2 Aneyil, IL placed
10 Tho balance. that would outweigh all others.
For it Is thc SUM, as &c ), Tie source, Of al
evil j. itpo-sible that men can be found 50
blinded by appetite or ayarice as to honestly SAY
We have 10 right to lesislate on the subject
\ right 70 contne a drunken man IN Jail
after the cause has taken effect and he has be-
come maniac, is conceded by all. How much
stronger are the reasons for reaching the
primal cause by law, and prohibiting what
is 50 prolific Of evil Mr.. Mead said he
had heard one man say since his arrival
in Montpelier, that he thought the law oppres.
sige that obliged rumsellers t. pay fine Mr..
Mead hoped there would not be found in this
place, as there had been in one town, class
Of per-onsso in sympathy with the rumselleras
to contribute one dollar each towards paying
his fine. Is il possible that rumsellers can
complain that they have paltry sum to pay
lorthe privilege OF making curse drunkard,2
Are there those who think az severe in eniorc-
ing the law that oblges them to pay the fine?
There is hardly one inthis large audience but
has felt the injuries done by intemperanco in a
greater Or less degree. Some mourn u father
taken in the tolls OF the tempter, some "A broth
or, some husband Others ason. Is tie rum
seller pocket more worthy Of sympathy than
these poor lost ones and their stricken friends
In the late wara poor mother mourning the
loss OF two sons, was asked II she could
not comfort herself with the thought that our
country was saved. Shesaid shethunked God the
country was saved, BUTT did not case herheart
Its call was for the dear ones lost il would
not be comlortod. All there are poor hearts
here, and all over urcountry, mourning for
the dear ones lost, not in glorious war for
e1lTu buf in t,sl
reason and will, and all their moral faculties
to aioe that finally eXacted life ITSELF There
is not one bright spot from which ray of
nope can reach these mourning hearts. l. the
almighty dollar OF more consequence 10 the
rumseller than my dear son to me? Young
men, upon whom the future of our country
depends, sety0urselyes right on this question:
and give us your pledge, hy word and deed.
Do not be beguiled by the tempter into reius-
ing saying ns many have, "Oh am not
so weak astl need pledges l can drink OF letit
alone. It's what every drunkard has said
Who docs not remember Hon Richard Yates,
the great war Governor of Illinois? All,
How are tho mighty fallen" This man
once holding the prOudest position, lately APP
pied 10 bank Tor hity dollars and was refused
one As he went out he met an old friend and
being in maudlin state, threw his arms
around him, when his friend was moved to say,
Poor Dick Yates, the best thing you can do,
is to die !" This is but one instance in ten
thousand cases. Young men, are you stronger,
are your powers greater than his? Then play
not with temptation. " look not upon the
wine when 1t IS red, is warning always to
be needed. At the present time, a premium
Is offered for young men OF integrity. Bust
ness men insist that those in their employ,
especially those holding places OF trust, shall
he temperance men, and men of integrity,
Dir. Mead closed by saying, " have no honed
words Tor you ladies', who have taken up this
orkand carried it thus far. You have only done
your duty, but " Well done good and faithful
servant Persepere in the work so well begun
and time will bring your reward n the triumph
oil The blessed cause you have esponsed.
In the report Of last weeks Temperance
meeting, in comparing the loss of the nation
by inlemperanoe with that OF the war, | should
have said that in three years by intemperance
the money loss Is equal to the whole cost Of
the late ar.-RP0rter.l