Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-17
Prohibition.

The fact that the interest in the women's
temperance crusade is weakening is hailed by
the free rum party as a triumph, and indi-
cative Of a reaction of public sentiment In
their favor But this is a very narrow
minded view to take of the matter, and in
dicates want Of observing power which, in
shrewd business men as some Of them are,
is simply ridiculous, unless we accept the
more credible explanation that they
know aud feel that they have lost strength
as veil as money, but wish to make the
b,4t OF u bad matter by pulling the wool
over the eyes Of the public. II does not re-
quire very extraordinary intellect 10 see
that this and similar movements are not VIZ
tai struggles but simply outward indications
Of that strong under-current Of public
opinion which is tending slowly but surely
to the predominance of prohibition princi-
pies m America, as elsewhere. No great
victory is ever accomplished without its
minor defeats. There are Bull Runs in
every warfare. John Brown was defeated
and executed, but that did not indicate the
defeat of his principles. The women's move
ment may cease, but the principles which
lay behind it and prompted it are fresher
and more powerful in the hearts of the
people than before. Looking around us we
see "signs of the times" which are perhaps
fully us pregnant with meaning as the Ohio
crusade In Connecticut, in the midst Of
most excited contest between the two
great national parties, We zee nearly 200O
more votes cast for the prohibition candidate
for governor than last year; 10 California a
bill has been introduced into the legislature
making it punishable offense for any per-
son TO "treat' or be treated even congress,
that great pool of corruption, has been led
by the popular demand to speak seriously Of
appointing committee to investigate aud
report the effects Of the liquor traffic in the
Union. These are but few of the indica-
tons which point to show which way we
are drifting
II is sometimes charged upon the temper.
ance movement that II is impracticable the
comparison between it and endeavoring to
stop spring by putting dams across the
stream which it forms is familiar to us all
Men say state and town legislation against
the sale of liquors are foolish and vain, for
az long as liquor is made il will be sold aRd
drank. But when a man is drowning he
catches at any floating substance which pre-.
sents itself; and when we see millions Of
human beings sinking 10 the sea Of ruin are
we to do less 2 The prohibitionists are moi
numerically strong enough 10 suppress in.
temperance throughout the Union at once
but that is no reason for them to take the
one talent which they have aud roll it up Ia
a napkin aud lay it away they are mol
composed OF the kind Of material which
does things that way The prohibition
movement is in the hands OF thinking, work
ing, Christian men aud women, and it will
be carried forward little by little, ever goinl
onward, until success is reached. WIZ
thought when John Brown was dangling
from the gibbet that so soon the stain o
human slavery would he wiped out Of thu
fame Of the "land Of the free 2" The day
is coming, and it is not 80 far distant a
many suppose, when congress shall say Il
the manufacturers "You shall make no NOR,
intoxicating drinks" and to the importe
"You shall bring none into our land" bu
while hoping aud looking for this day lot u
not "weary ia Well-doing," but each one nc
complsh the little that is 10 our power, AnC
we shall have our reward.
WM. II. WHEELER.
So. JOhnSblTg, w., April Ia, 1874.