Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-23
sunday Evening Temperance Meeting

Last Sunday evening brought full attend
ance, and we had very interesting meeting.
After prayer by the Rev Mr. Wright. Mr..
A. .. Brown, the President, made necessity
for indiridrai q7ort, the subject Of a few re-
marks nstancing case showing the effect Of
such effort on the part of hotel keeper to-
wards ono applying to him for strong drink,
ibis same hotel keeper is giving another les
son that is, that it is possible, pleasant. and
profitable to Danish the enemy Of mankind even
from public house. 1t is hoped that the
hotel keepers all over Vermont will be impel-
led for one reason or another to follow the ex.
ample Of the proprietor Of the AVENUE IIousE,
of st. Johnsbury
The Rev. Mr.. Wright, Mr.. Charles +. Po-
land, and Mr.. Lull were among the speakers.
Mr. Wright spoke first of the peculiar man
ner some men looked upon the prohibitory law,
as II it had different basis from all other law
and inlringed upon their natural rights, and
was therefore unconstitutional They assume
to believe that with their own person, proper
ty, and belongings, they have right to entire
control. Mr.. Wright said that man could ex-
ercise such natural right if he would 20 out
from society into the natural wids, where eve
ry thing was in state Of nature he could
then give himself up to full exercise Of his
rights, and be no more subject than bears and
other beasts, knowing no other law but the
law Of nature. But when men becomo as
ISOLATED together, it IS found that a full ex-
ercse Of these so called natural rights iuterieres
with each other and tho woll-boing Of society
generally. # is found necessary to flrm a
compact, and be governed by laws, which have
for their basis, the greatest good to the great
est number. Hence when men exercise the
right to invest what is their own in counter
felt money, or Instruments for manufacturing
the same, law says you have broken your com.
pact and are liable to the penalties have
named. The same may be said Of gambling
and tools and Of slung shot. The editor even,
may not use the columns Of his own newspaper
Tor circulating a certain class Of literature
Gunpowder may not be stored in any village
BY its owner, not If he own the storehouse
Slaughter houses arc not tolerated within their
precincts. If law is not unconstitutional when
leyelcd at these lesser evils, then, when we con
slider that all these evils added, when compar-
ed 10 the evil Of intemperance, is as a moe-bill
TO a mountain, we claim that our prohibitory
law has in just that proportion stronger hold
upon the basis Of all law-the greatest good
TO the greatest number, and IS therefore con-
stitutional
Every friend Of temperance and law can but
feel grateful to Mr.. Wright, for his strong
argument in the present case, also for the aid
and comfort be he has ever given then in the
past
Mr. Charles Poland fjllowed, and in an
earnest manner urged the friends Of temper
ance 10 concerted action. Every man must
feel the necessity for action, and although each
one may baye plan which he thinks better
than the one adopted By the majority be must,
for the good Of the cause, yield and work for
the plan accepted l. needs the united efJrts
of all temperance men b strike at the root Of
this m0nstrous evil. Heretofore it has been
dealt tcnderly with, only here and there a
branch Topped of, a little pruning now and
then The monster has thriyed under such
treatment. We need sharp, decided action,
united with persistent eiIort in using al the
means in our power. Moral suasion has its
element, and no power can be substituted for it,
but it has reached its limit when it meets the
elements Of rumsellers, who for the love Of
money dole out the spirit which makes Of men
maniacs and sacrifices the hopes and happines.
Of the innocent, aud puts in jeopardy the lives,
moral and physical, Of 50 many Of his fellow
beings. They have called down upon their
own heads the severest penalties Of law, as
being the only means Of restraining them 10
their uuholy business. And let man see to it
that the lesson be SO thoroughly administered,
that it will in no case need to be learned a
second time.
Mr.. Lull said, as this wasa sort Of class meet
ing, he felt like unburtheniug his mind. Said
We had had for presiding officers within few
weeks, doctor, an undertaken, and gravestone
cutter. He thought it very significant, and
hoped the doctor and undertaken had performed
their Offices towards King Alcohol with RS
hearty good will as be, the grayestone cutter,
would when he could write the epitaph for
the departed spirit.