Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-09-03
For the Freeman.
Prohibition as q Principle In Politics

| For the Freeman.
Prohibition as q Principle in Politics.
We have no ambition to be one of the
apostles of new political party. We haye
no conscientious or other scruples about vot
ing with or against this or that party as such
The obligations of our freeman's oath require
us to spurn the dictation of party" We
observe that parties construct. their platforms
with reference to carrying the elections.
Prohibition has thus far failed of pro-
nounced endorsement in declarations of party
principles only because this would endauger
any party before the people. When public
sentiment shall warrant or call for it any
party will make prohibition chief plank in
its platform.
As political question it does not lack i'm
portance. In the suferings it occasions in
the crime. pauperism, imbecility and insan-
ity it leads to and in the burdens which it
binds upon the industries of the nation, in
temperance exceeds any if not all other evils,
present or past. In these respects slavery
was lesser evil.
1t is worthy the profoundest study of
statesmen, to wit, how to induce the million
| of our people who are employed in manufac-
turing and selling strong drink to turn to
useful, beneficial pursuits, and how to save a
million Of men every decade from drunkards'
deaths, and how to divert this enormous
money interest, exceeding all the income Of
all our railways by hundreds of millions, 50
that it shall flow into the channels of useful
arts and sciences. The purity which shall
solve these problems will honor itself and
bless the world as no work of any party has
yet done.
The Legitimacy of prohibition as a political
principle is undeniabIe. 1t stands upon a
foundation as deep and broad as all laws
giving authority to Boards of Health and
laws to suppress obscene prints and houses of
prostitution. If the State is competent to
legislate against any vice and in the interest
of virtue at all it may legislate against this
very mother of vices. 1t 10 all folly to dis
miss this question from politics and refer it
exclusively to the jurisdiction of morals and
religion. Prohibition may not directly make
men virtuOus. This is the province OF moral
and religious Influences But if civil law can
not exercise hate from the rnurderer's heart, i,
may snatch the knife from his hand. Pro-
hlbition may not eradicate the appetite ior
strong drink, but it may withhold the intoxi-
| 10 I'M,
rlOus to tue interests of the body polite, the
State may legislate in behalf of its own wei
fare even to the Punishment of the last drop
of liquor. And what is right in legislation
is legitimate and admissible IN politics.
Men are SO attached to their appetites il
not their vices that the party which shall
adopt pr 'hlbitlon will be liable to imposition
and betrayal. When prohibition shall be
the prevailing sentiment not fe " will pro-
Tess the principle for the sake of the perqui.
sites in the way OF Office.
Unless the cause of temperance shall &C
backward, as benefcent revolutions are not
accustomed to, prohibition may be expected
ere long to become a leading question in
American politics. 1t will Inevitably become
chance the grave of our national virtue is al.
ready dug.
As a question in our national politics pro-
hlbitlon will be subject to varying fortunes.
lntemperance has more money and more
irienI Is then slavery had. 1t will die hard
er death, but not the same kind of death. 1t
may outlive the first generation of its pro.
nounced enemies.
Neither of the present national parties as
party is prepared to give this plank OF pro-
hlbtlon place in its platform. Too many
of the leaders on either side are Incorporate.
And the party which would most naturally
espouse this reform would probably lose
hundreds Of thousands of votes thereby
1t may be that very deluge of strong
drink must sweep over all the land before
the people will realize the terrible cost of in
temperance and arise as one man and pu
away the iniqnlty. Had not slavery culmi-
mated in the . Kansas and Nebraska Bill, >
|
fourished still. And SO it may be that tn,
whole land must first feel the faugs of tn,
- serpent of the still while drunkenness
and debauchery shall have no bounds for 4
space, and then, il any national rirtue re
mains, day of deliverance may be at hand
OF this VIC are conf lent that it is hgt
time Tor temperance men to solemnly resolve
that no man who uses strong drink for
beverage. or manufactures or sells the same
or knowingly rents property for liquor traffic
shall. receive their political support. This issue
must come and it cannot come any too soon
If this consistent course can be pursued
within existing party lines, very well: if not
let right and God and victory be sought out
SIDE of present political organ;zitions.