The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-21
THE TEMPERANCE XErOH
An Essay Read Before the ssufiauu
County Good Tcnpinrs@ Union, at
Fairhavcn, May 1914, 1874. by 10.
". Mott. Editor Oy the Brandon
Union.

Al tsNSiy httNbN vac
County Good Tcmpinrs- r-uiOm, ut
Fairhavcn, May l3tI,, 1874. by 10.
". Mott. Editor os the Hrundon
Union.
When the "crusadc commenced. and
those bands of noble hcroincs. in Ohio and
elsewhere, proceeded to the front with
Woman's power, and men seemed aroused
for once, it was predicted to be but as the
passing breeze, spasmodlc effort, the
work of day, something to be regretted
then and remembered in the future as pro-
ductive of more harm than good. This
was the sentiment of that m0delutc class,
who are always just so moderate in every
thing, and who would doubtless be afraid
TO enter either paradise or pcrlition, for
fear of offending some one in the other
place. II was ihc sentiment of that c'1stc
class, whose principles are always made to
order, who imagine that they carry Satan
on one side and Gabriel on the other, them
selves beng the central figures, and who
sigh "for thousand ton gucs to sing their
own great native praise 1t was also The
sentiment of that spoHaJ class, who are
peculiarly fitted to absorb either GIN or
wine, and who follow implicitly the finger
way of their spongc-holders, the hotel pro-
prietors. OF course, it was the sentiment
of rum-sclcrs, for they were not ready to
''throw up the sponge
1t has been good time for temperance
folks during the past six months. We find
81,
time, in the pulpit, the social circle, the
public meeting and even on the street
corners--in fact, wherever their noise may
reach the public ear. But many of these
same characters 90 to the bar-rOom when
they can, conveniently. 1t is a handy thing
to be a temperance man now-CeIV. The
politician can be a temperance man just as
well as not occasionally, and so can the
merchant, lawyer and editor. There have
even been some temperance editors in Rut-
land-county, within the past six months.
But | am glad these classes find it con
yenient to be Temperance folks, for the
habit may yet become natural.
The crusade has not yet passed away, and
will never pass until rum shall have been
conquered. 1t will be well to keep a sharp
lookout for those who are temperance folks
by profession merely, to give themselves
character, for they will betray whatever
confidence may be reposcd in them.
TO say that the world grows better, to-
day, would be considered proof of ignor-
ancc or of doubtful judgment. And we
must admit there is reason for this feeling
Tie men whom we have chosen to make
our laws, in whom we placed the utmost
confidence, have not always been true to
principle. The corruption that has been
discovered in government is not IA
vorablc to public confidence. The MUIR
ders that we read of daily are not convInc-
inc of moral progress. The vanity and idle
ness of youth, the lawlessness and dissipa-
ton among all classes, are not well calcu-
lated to inspire lis with faith in present adj
yancemcnt.
A large portion of all the ordinary crime
is owing to public examples. The bank de-
faulter but follows in the wake of the reve-
nue. collector and the state legislatures and
city governments are too often patterns of
Washington virtue. This condition is not
limited to single party II n single state
it is universal Not that all are corrupt,
or Il majority even, but because there is a
widespread apathy, is the reason for its
being allowed.
Dark as the picture is, and dcep-rootcd
ms may he the present anarchy there is oc-
casion for hope. No poison exists without
an antidOte, no night that is not followed
10y day, no giant evil without a corresponds
ing reform. Those mighty commissions OF
society which result in war always pro
ducing confusion Of the moral elements
are but thunder showers which leave the
atmosphere purer than before The great
rebellion was the result of great agita-
ton. 1t brought excitement to the whole
country. provided market for everything,
aud produced an abundance of money. 1t
was time of speculation, and opportunity
for sudden riches, and the American char
acter received shock from which it has
never recovered. Speculation is but the
road to dissipation, and there is 10 limit to
the latter, | separate speculation from It's
fall meaning, and would give it the sense
as ordinarily accepted, that vague, mcer
tain, unprinciped species of commerce
which must even be distinguished from le-
climate trade. When the war closed il
was difficult for large class to return tC
honest toll They had been living easily
and gaining rapidly, and would endeavol
to continue thus. 1t could not be done
honestly, and hence the corruption and dis
sipation that has followed. Thus it has
been with every Notwithstanding elements
have always followed, but have soon beer
cleared away. The cloud is passing. One
OF those sharp, electric reformatory thrills
which come as the lightning flash, is per
vading every comm unity. The day vii
soon dawn on the supremacy of moral sen
timent, and the consequent enforcement Of
law and order.
Notwithstanding the seeming retrogres
sion of to-day, it requires but little reason
ing to show that the world does grow bet
ter, in the aggregate, and that every periot
of anarchy will instigate reformation
which, by its thoroughness, will leaye so
cety better than before. The evils of pa
pacy and the terrors of inquistion led tt
the reformation of the sixteenth century
and to the spread of Professionalism. Thu
prosecutions of monarchy established re
publican government, The disgraceiu
scenes connected with belief in Salem
witchcraft, occurring in tho present en-
lightened state of Massachusetts,, did mucl
to remove bigotry and intolerance, and now
there is no part of our country so depravet
as to allow such conduct. In 1904 there
was n whisky rebellion in western Penn
sylvania, but such a thing could not hap
pen in 1874. Fifteen years ago it was no
thought that slavery could be abolished IL
our country, and the prospect was not Sc
favorable as ii Is for q temperance reform