Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-07-23
sunday Evening Temperance Meeting.


AT our last meeting the speakers we had
engaged disappointed US, but our good temper.
ance friends, Messrs. 2. II. Ilinckley, Joseph
Poland, W. A. Lord and v. s. Camp. re.
sponded in a very satisfactory manner
The meeting was opened IN the usual man
ncr, by singing and prayer, Mr.. IIuse prcsid
ing lie said he did not propose speaking,
but before calling upon those who were ex-
pected TO speak, be would say that if the
friends Of temperance would take any reverse
or seeming failure with the same spirit as We
had Just witnessed 10 the friend who had raised
the tune for us, he would assure us of the
same success in our temperance work-whicb
would DO all that the most sangune could
wish. lie said we could judge Of the efficiency
Of any work in the Geld Of reform by the un.
easness and opposition that II aroused in its
enemies Judging our Temperance work Of
the past year by the commotion II had caused
in the camp Of our opponents, he must decide
that they had paid us the high compliment of
Efficient work.
Mr.. llinckley said IL was useless for him 10
attempt to show the enormty Of the sin with
which we were contending, or repeat the rea-
sons for persistent action. Its enormity, be
said, has been many times considered, and we
have placed II as the greatest Of evils" and
IT the greatest, we must all hold ourselves cul-
pable If we have not used all tho means in our
power moral and legal, for the overthrow Of
the sane. Law-abiding men in every COM
muni,y esteem II their duty 10 assist in enforc.
ing law in cases of murder, theft and burg.
larry, and every case possible is brought 10 a
thorough trial yet these crimes are rife all
over our land Shall we, for this reason. give
full liberty to crime, and decide that law Is Of
no use, and should not exist on our statutes !?
II we would not do away with law against the
crimes mentioned because it does not extermin.
ate crime, how much stronger is the reason for
law against this greatest ofeyils, - which Is
the cause Of the greater proportion Of all
crime. Yes, even il the law is not easily en-
forced, and it is known that the spirit Of crime
is yet stealthly dealt out 10 lovers Of the same
We have reason to be encouraged by our enc
mics being driven to cover. The illegal sales
are hidden, like other unlawful deeds. Moral
suasion is the educatOr-the first means used
against all evils Alone, it is not sufficient 20
protect society against crime, and law is her
assistant
Mr.. Poland said be agreed with the gentle
man who had spoken in thinking we had reason
for encouragement. But supposing we bad
not so great encouragement, be said we have
still other and very strong reasons for per-
soyering in the work VIC have begun. Weowe
it to ourselves, in espousing a cause we believe
for the good Of humanity, and therefore COTS
cause. We owe it to the tempted who are
still indulgng in the sin that leads its yotares
l to destruction. We owe it to the tempter who
/ is still disobeyng the law Of God and man and
shining against his own soul And especially
do We owe it to the good people in other locali-
| ties who have, in obedience to our example,
inaugurated similar movements, that we do
not also afford them cause for discouragement
Thegreat Webster, when asked what was the
greatest thought that ever filled his mind, re-
Piled The thought Of my obligation to my
God and humanity This thought had pos
session of the founders Of this movement, and
to that We are indebted for the persistent efforts
and the good results Of the year swork This
movement, having so grand an origin, receives
its DEMONSTRATING powers from the same source !;
and because Of this We have confidence in its
ultimate success. For itmust live while hearts
are actuated by the same noble motive, and tile
evil exists which called it to life.
Mr.. Lord said he regretted that be could not
see so many reasons for encouragement as the
gentlemen who had spoken. live had had our
successes, we had met with reyerses too. Re.
verses, if not caused by the inertuess or cow
ardice Of friends, could be met with fortitude.
We could not expect any great results while so
many OF our friends were afraid to do the work
devolving upon temperance men in enforcing
the law. We could not expect our meetings to
have any direct influence on those who did not
attend. Four-flths Of our attendants were Ia.
dies, and he had never heard that the ladies of
Montpelier were given to tippling. The other
fifth were known as staunch temperance men.
Most Of them bad been known in years past as
g m.rods, and as " ram-rods" would the
future know them.
The state had given US law. Our town bad
given us temperance officers, that lawless rum
selling need no longer be tolerated, and yet we
were only half in earnest, or only half Of us
in earnest
Mr.. Lord said he hoped he had said nothing
that would pain any one. lie had spoken earn
estly, for he felt deeply, and zeal must be his
excuse for warm words.
Mr.. Camp admired action, rather than speech
making. Words were cheap, while action cost
effort, and sometimes greater sacrifice. In
enforcing law, he thought We had made mis-
take by compromising with the evil that law
should be enforced against the sale Of oil ntox
\ icants.
! In the late war, our government tried 10 save
the country and slavery, but succeeded in
nothing until the Jonah Of slavery was thrown
overheard. He believed VIC should not meet
with the success the cause merited until we
took hold Of the business in a way to reach to
the very root of the evil.
rnE VERMONT STATE FAR.-The present pros