Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-08-21

THIS paper Yield, to none in this State in
cares, support Of Temperance it, col
I uf.r-. for twenty years back, bear witncs,
?. if> faithful support Of the prohibitory
/ laa-uot a. necessarily the perfection Of
/ human wisdom: but n correct in purpose
and principle. and, for communities like
/ Vermont. the best legislative safeguard thus
Tar devised against the cnurmou, evils at
tending tire unrestricted sale Of intoxicating
driuk--aui 20 it, earuc>t desire TO promote
habits of temperance, good order and good
n.rai- in the community. There have been
more noisy and more spa>modic advocates
o.. temperance and Of the prohibitory law
We know Of none whose support of both
ha- been more answering or more effective
than that of the FACE Pass. We expect
20 be believed, then, wien We say that VIC
Gtpr,cate the political temperance bolt in
tLi~ county. not only on party grounds
but On account Of the injury it viii do
70 the cause of temperance.
We question not the good motives of
many pf the boilers. Some we know to be
simply trying to ~na,h things generally
and To bring about condition Of anarchy
without care for consequences. Others are
men Of sincere and honest purposes, with
whom We have for many years been com
monty in accord in reference to men and
measures, and from whom We are sorry now
To differ With them, as we must believe.
z.al has in this case Outrun discretion.
Their movement i unwise, as We view it,
because the Republican party which they
are striving to demoralize, Is in this State
the fast friend Of temperance. 1t may
be thought that the Republican party i so
strong in Vermont that no such movement
can cndauger its supremacy. But six years
ago the Republican party in Massachusetts,
was only little less strong than in
Vermont. Now, through precisely such
divisions a. this. among the Massachusetts
Republicans, their strength has been
reduced till there i imminent danger
of the election of Democratic
Governor at the next election. \
political temperance movement gave
New Hampshire to the rum Democracy.
last March. \ poltieal-temperance party
threatens TO give the Empire State TO the
Democrats, in November. In view Of such
results the Republicans of Vermont may
well take warning and resist the beginnings
of such evil.
For one. We believe the Republican party
still worthy of support-still the main hope
of the nation on all questions of good gov
ernmcnt, preservation Of the results of the
war, economy and honesty in public affairs,
and still the only reliance Of our State for
any practical care for or aid TO the cause of
temperance. We do not propose to put
ourselves in a position in which We cannot
ask the support, on party grounds. of men
who do not believe in prohibition, " 50
called for Republican candidates who do sus-
tain the prohibitory law. Can any bolter do 50?
Can the temperance Republicans Of Chitten-
den county afford to throw away their in
tluence IN future caucuseS and con yentlons
of the Republican party? Bat with what
face can any man 20 into regular party
meeting, Who has avowod by voice and
vote that he attaches no consequence to
regular party action?
We warn all sincere Republicans against
course, in which any possible temporary
good must be oyerborne by greater positive
evils resulting in years to come.