Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-03-27
Far. considerable number of years the


manufacture and sale, and thus cut on the
means of supply of those disposed TO drinK'
In many of the States such Laws have hetn
nassed. and more or less rigidly enforced
That they have ever been or ever Will be en-
forced so strictly that DO intoxicating IL
ouors will be used probably no one believes
or expects but that tkeir effect has been
greatly TO lessen the consumption IN all the
States having such laws the committee be
lieye will he conceded by every candid man
living in such States. 1t is often asserted
that the use of liquors has increased IN such
States, but the allegation Is uniformly
iornd to come from persons eho are hostile
10 prohibitory law
The petitioners are believers III, ano sup
porters Of, prohibitory legislation. and they
desire to extend and strengthen IL IN every
way in their power. They believe that
consolidation and aggregation OF all the
terrible evils growing out Of the use OF IN
toxicating liquors will make picture So
dark and fearful that many who are now
unbelievers will be convinced OF the EN-
cacv and necessity of making the trafhc
c0nfrG5GHd.
The committee believe that such body
of petitioners deserve the respectful siten-
non of Congress. They belong 10 the most
intelligent and respectable classes OF our
citizens they are men long identified with
the hest interests Of society; they are menu
hers Of various religious organizations
without distinction of denomination. They
represent. too, vast numbers Ui Others who
believe in common with them, and who WILL
look to our action on this SUBJECT with IN
terest and anxiety equally as great as that
OF those who represent them Inc ciAss
represented by those petitioners are engag-
ed in q department OF phllanthroplc eiiJri
which has long commanded the cxertlons
of some of the noblest and most gifted oi
American citizens a. well a. 81 all other
civilized nations.
But there are many people ~ the country
Who. while they depl0re the evils OF intern
pcrance. and believe In the efficacy OF legis-
Ettiou a. q remedy, DO not agree with the
petitioners in the prOprieiy or policy oil
/ purelv prohibit0ry law. They believe that
Z all that can be accomplished u. good by leg
I is!ation must be gained by stringent ~
ten OF license and regulation.
There Is still another elias, (llI Doubt
1 les among them many who would s!auly
/ see the ev!.- of intemperance le-sened),
who do not believe In legislation upon the
/ subject in any form. They believe that the
only practicable remedy i by an appeal II
the individual Judgment and conscience {,
/ that IN no other way can men be won 10
/ hahir. Of temperance and s0briety taat IN
no other way is it possible t. create "a pub
] he sentiment that shall be strong and eff
cient enough 10 make habits oi iutemper-
anre unpopular and disrracefui. and there
/ by circumscrile ami limit tie evils ~ in-
temperance.
Tie committee find No occasion No" L.
6is,uss these ysri1u. views aud theories of
the subject.
Whatever may the best mode oi meeting
and combating the great evil. y neither by
legislation or by bringing Ire power Ui
public opinion 10 bear against BE-. ldl am
comprehensive knowledge at thc extent %
the evil l. essential
Those who claim that legislation J, the
o,,7v mode bv which the traffic can be stop
ned or circumscribed admit e4 ua!ly with the
others the necessity of creating right pub
i, sentiment. a. 10 Jaw on the SUBJECT not
upheld and sustained by the popular Judg'
ment would be- %. any avail IL j. IN TN
view. IN part. that tie petitioners ASK TINS
Investigation O. De made, and IN the SAINT
view rnr o.rmltIee recommend X, ihat by q
more thorough knowledge OF the evil great
Or wisdom mgv he obtained & devise rene
die
No1r committee are unable % seo ho" the
INQUIRY proposed can meet wlih an5 reason
AHA opposition. 81 far a. they know, ;hcr'
i.no ann tcmuerancc party IN the country
n, marty tnar l. avlwedly 10 iav1r of The
misery aud de1radatiln and eclnom waste
of intcupcrauce. iho only issue made III
the discussion of the question ], = 4 IN
best method ui promoting temperance Ie
form.
This commission Is a.>l q investigate tht
act-a~ g. the aetna. working oi these lll
fe-eut forms % legislation. an1 ascertain s.
lar a- possible. w.at RENE llc~ Dave. z!
cvr.riauce. proved mos. efficient
Yulr c.lMi,ts- ialaE D, l- m3-i llp3i-
taut T. ascertain tua amour, oi money in
vested IN til, t-ctT, the amount % money
IL brings into the trea-lrIe-, State ana ma
u5aal. aud especially from v hat classes OF
s9cietvsud d. what manner this revenue q
derived.
Itis important Cor ,hepe,p.e - ka3~ the
influence Of this t74-1c npDa morals ~ p
latiou T. crime and criminals IT. relation q
p.u9er> and palperlsuI IT. relation u in'
du>trv aad political economy and is reia'
ton t. health and iengt1 Of .ue.
IF such commission should find, a. 70
sult of their .a3Jr~ a. yo1r comm tttee az
prehcad they may ind, tina, the sixty NIL
lions of revenue allected from the liquor
traffic and put into the United s,ate- Treas
NV actually cost the people % the nation
IN Industry, IN heath, IN leagth % lie II
taxes. in the maintenance % law. 70 proN-
ion for penitentlarie~ anI poor houses and
hospitals. many times tha' Ail'--'' IL may
vel be asked whether thI- ls wise econ
omy. and whether there may not be beiie'
ircg o. supply the p1hlIc purse
Il such commission s4s-.- mn. q az. a.,
committee app9eleul 'Hes Lay my 10
the iralnr IN intoxicating 4tt -'47 = &C., ~
tive OF morals. MAKES men D44 C4..-ou'' I'll
reliable anu uupr9iuc'i'e menl' g' so-I
lety and dem0ra4Lins H. tlei' I'M &C.
makes BAD husoani.. Dad "'4eI9 anu ga
sons. breaks up iamilies' pfo'oAs- IuaLI q,
ana generates crime. = ID n"t lHi i,oi "a
that these 'aot- -u1ll4 oe ~ JAN ~ l1'
people,
Il these ia-i- >1l-i4 ne eNi-.-l7..I-' 4.
indUlcua or class col.i complain IL .oc4
legislation should cut on gain 'ei IT u. ~
traffic winch -ai- the foundations Oh tn'
State. winch undermIne7 the moral cAsIa''
ter OF the people WnlcA MAKES r'l4'1
expensive safeguards a-aiLf' oli--i' ~ a
pen9l'e 3t-'1i'''-l -i ~ pui .sbi;Ia5 -
me- '1'. .a-...S,,sI =, nm, in
man ; uI-1 .';,u
Il ha- been suggested eaiI'- l's eltHoI
lzing OF tbs commission tnat Ine e'l. com ll.
planned OF Is ALREADY "e-I-Eno"h lhl We We
uulef-'o1l,anl tlAt IefuIt "' ~-i d N0 III
mission could al- nothing
Il is true that overs person knows md
vidual instances. hut very few know any
thing Of the vast aggregate %! the cost
crime. and suffering occaSioned by Il, anC
would De- appalled, hy IT, presentation. II
has been sad too. that the Information car
be, collected hy State agencies and ty a-s0-
citations of private individuals who are ~
terested In the reform. To a certain extent
this is true. hut the state agency Is toe
narrow m ii- scope. ana the reports and
statistic gathered ny lndi'luuai A9socla'
tons have no authoritative voice. anu are
aiWayS open a. the charge that they are. tn'
partial judgment o. over Jealous ana lana
ilc3l rtio1meie Inc tNll Is hhtl.'a' I'D tx