The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-08-25
TO THE LEGAL VOTERS or AD-
OLSON COUNTY.


Society wish to address few words to
you in regard to the pending election Tor
States Attorney in this County.
1t is well known TO you all, that the
incumbent Of that office, who is
candidate for re election, has during his
term of service, awakened bitter and
determined hostility, by his earnest and
often successful efforts to enforce the law
Of the State against the sale OF lntoxlcat'
ing drinks. Many months since the rum
interest emphatically announced their de-
that he should not be rc.np-
pointed to that important and responsible
position. At the present moment they
are leaving no means untried to compass
his defeat. Associated with them in this
effort are some honest, but, as we arc con-
strained to believe. sadly mistaken, friends
Of the temperance cause, For whom
ought your sutiragcs to be given at ihe
impendinr election We believe that
they are due to Mr. Lucia for the follow
ing, among many important reasons
First. The paturc of the great body OF
the opposition to him. We have already
said tnat some temperance men are ar
rayed against him; but nobody doubts
that the great strength Of the opposition
with which he has to contend comes from
dramscllers. aud those who sympathize
with them in their illegal and destructive
work. From every den where their
work of death is prosecuted, is heard the
expression of their determination to de-
feat him at all hazards, and they utter it
because they know that bis longer contin.
uance in office is a most formidable obsta.
cite to the prosecution Of their ueiarious
business This one fact seems TO us de-
cisiye in respect to the duty Of all true
men at this critical moment. When an
officer is assailed, because he has been
faithful to his duty in the midst Of trying
surroundings, and in the face Of "A deter
mined and unsuccessful opposition. it
seems to us the manifest duty Of all lOv-
crs Of right, and of all admirers of Of
fetal fidelity, to rally to the side OF
man thus attacked, and afford to him
their sympathy and practical aid. II
they fail to do this, how can they right
fully expect that any officer who shall
succeed him. will dare to be earnest and
faithful in the execution ofthe law, when
be has occuar demonstration that in doing
this he will not only call down upon him
the auathemas Of the criminal classes, but
will also be deserted by the very mer
who ought to encourage his heart and
strengthen bis hands, in the oncrous work
ne has to perform, and amid the terrible
storm Of apathemns which he has to en-
counter
Let us put by way Of illustration here
perfectly parallel case, Suppose thai
instead of rumsclers, a gang of horst
thieves had infested the country Lc
them be embarrassed aud hindered il
their business by the fidelity Of a prose
cutting officer and then combine to dcfea
him. Would it not be the manifest dnty
Of every honest man. would it not b,
equally for the interest of every homes
man. 10 sustain by every honorable in
strumcntality the man thus singled out u
the mark of hatred by those who wer
engaged in habtual violation of the law
of the Commonwealth The nature o
the opposition to Mr.. Lucia is, then, on
important reason why he should be re
elected.
Second Another reason is found in tn
fact that under Mr.. Lucias administra
ton a manifest advance has been made i
the enforcement of law. We have n
words to utter here in derogation of tn
men who have preceded him in the ot
fetal station which he occupies On
fact however is certain. During the lon
period in which the law against the trail
in intoxicating drinks has been on III
statute books OF this state, we are no
aware that there has been any nstanc,
prior to Mr.. Lucia's induction into ofic
of conviction under it in our Count
Court. lie has achieved what no OF
has accomplished before him; he hi
brought rumsellcrs to the bar of thu
Court and convicted them there.
A man who has done this ought m
certainly to be abandoned, at the clo
Of his first term OF official service. IT
] question which practically waits for
5 decision unon your votes is, "Shal Il
law Of the state be enforced in th
. County. or shall it continue to be, as
5 has been heretofore, dcad letter amor
Y us ?
e We nave no rcproach to cast upon 4
= gentleman who has been placed bclo
:, the public in opposition 10 the present i
t .cumbeni One thing however i cleai
t evident However honest his intention
a however great shis talents, how vnri
so ever his legal atlainm"nts he will
r, seriously if net fatally hamptrcd hy I
e nature Of the great body of that supp,
n which he * receiving as a c4udidrtc
Il this Office. The instances are extreme
!. rare Of men in public life. who ha
n reached that s;ate OF exalted public V
n, tue. that in official station, they trl
4. and earnestly labor to bring to Just
er the very men whose labors placed them
es the position which they hold. On
m other hand the examples are mournfu
as numerous, OF men who abuse their oihC
ne trust to shield from merited punishm
e. the men to whose efforts they owe til
d. promotion. 1t is risk, then, which
1T wise and upright man ought to incur
ID place man with such hackers in rucl
es position. There is manifest danger I
tn all that has been gained shall be il
ne tricyably lost and rumselling which
ty been so largely repressed, aud driven
20. corners, there TO shake and quiyer '
We apprehension, shall again stalk forth
&c, roar its brazen forehead to defy the
ip. and open its iloolgates to deluge soc
,r. with the waters of death.
xi Third. We ask You to support
ly' Lucia because his administration reg
'b' ed in financial view has been a Suc'
re- The idea has been industrously propa
'm ed in some parts Of the County, that
ihi term Of Office now expiring has
I'VE marked by large drafts upon the trea
I.l Al