Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-20

servants do, under the circumstances, even bet
ter than we ask them to do. Considering the
fact that we often pay no attention TO the letter
Of our instructions, and seem to care very little
whether thoy are or can be carried out, tho
wonder is that our officers do so well.
The application Of these remarks to various
departments Of the interests Of the town is
readily made, and to none is it more obvious
than to that which regulates the sale Of iutoxi-
eating liquors. ! am sure that some Of our
own executive ofcora have been, the past
year to say the least, fully up in their action
to the expressed desire Of those who placed
them in power and bid them do their duty.
Now, my friends, II is for the sovereign who
sits on the throne and wields, under God, the
whole power in this little soyereignty-it is for
him to say whether or not the laws shall be
sustained in other words, to see whether his
servants do their duty. We, citizens, have
that power, and none else The law has it
not, for il is a blind force the officer has it
not in himself, for he can only do as we plainly
bid him, in whatever legitimate way that bid
ding is made known and that he must do, or
the power; ours only is the responsibility,
And the question comes to us with all solom.
nifty, as from God himself, who has delegated
10 US this power Shall rc Girasl IL? And
the solemuityo % the question is here intensified
By the peculiar importance Of the interests in
yolyed, and especially just now, when every
true word tells, as never before for the ad-
yancement Of this holy cause, which deseryedly
ongrossos and absorbs so much Of our thought
and feeling. And will we not all unite hear
tily in the answer Yes in Gods name, and
as lie shall help US, We will exercise this power
which lie has conferred; for it is ordained ol
God" Let us not only elect our servants and
commission them, and hold them to strict
account Of their stewardship, but, that we may
be able-that we may, indeed, have the face 70
do this, let us stand By their side and give
them the moral support Of our cordial sympa-
thy and encouragement, and Of our active help
whenever they need it. let us not stand aloof
and critici-e and find fault, blocking their
wheels but rather let us remove obstacles, 80
far as possible, and forward their work, espe-
cialy in lerreting out and in destroying " the
lurking places in the villages " and out Of the
villages. where, in the words Of our scripture
lesson psalm x) " the wicked sitteth - " the
secret places, where he doth murder the in
uocent'
farming our attention, now, to the enforce
mcnt Of this law, as it bears upon the yiolator
OF it, another principle at once comes to light,
naturally growing out Of that already named
viz It is for the interest Of the cy-doer, as
well as for bis victims, and for the community
generally, that this thing be faithfully and
thoroughly done. II there be anything Of the
man left in him,-and let US ever assume this,
in the exercise Of that love which hopeth ali
things the dealer in strong drink as a bey-
erago must feel, at times, the feariulness Of his
Satanic work, notwithstanding his attempts to
excuse and palliate and soften it, or to conceal,
even from himself, its hideous features. lie
will sometimes trembc, even for himself and
for his family, and will heartily wish he were
rid Of the business, which, however lucrative,
is writing such q fearful record of blood against
his soul. Just such instances have been met
with recently by those praying bands at the
West. and now, indeed, at the East Such a
man is not yet beyond the power Of the gentler
influences Of love, which may possibly reach
him, even through the law, when rightly ad-
ministered. But if he may not be approached
successfully through this avenue, be may sur
render to another appeal, equally touching his
own interest in the matter, viz That, in &C.
cordance with the principle first noticed, even
be, transgressor though he be, is still citizen ;
as truly such as is the officer who approaches
him, or as are they who firmly stand behind
the officer, sustaining him in the faithful dis
charge Of his duty. Let him be reminded Of
this, that be is citizen bis interests, there
fore, are equally involved with theirs. With
all the gains he is laying up in this fearful
traffic. it is yet as truly for his and his family 5
interests to suppress that unlawful traffic, as ii
is for his neighbors' interests lie is abusing
bis family, in common with the families
around him, who, together, make up the com
munity. lie is a citizen. and as such, in de-
liberately violating the law of the State TO say
nothing Of the terrible evils incident TO the
violation Of this particular law) he sadly de.
grades his noble position as one Of its sove.
regns. But let it be that the manhood is
alas, 50 far gone that these appeals fail to reach
J him, we still maintain that the principle holds
true that it is in his best interests that the law
be enforced, because il is an iuestimable benefit
: to any wrong-doer to cause him to cease to dc
evil and learn to do we'll This, even if it must
be by the strong, yet no less just and kind arm
Of the law, which, as we have seen, is only the
) voice Of the people themselves.
J | cannot forbear saying word further re-
7 garding the enforcement of the law, as to ouI
, proper feeling in doing this part of our duty a.
! citizens. My impression is that we are in dan.
ger of being so incensed by the consideration ot
s the crime, this awful traffic in human lives
t souls as well as bodies (tbe slaye.trade hardly
r bears comparison with t) and Of the conse
r quently aggravated guilt of him who deliber
: ately and shameessly carries on this traffic
= that we are almost rendered unfit to approach
y the criminal While he is such, he is indeed
y an enemy Of all righteousness, as Elymas th'
! SOrcerer was, and as Satan himself is, who's
t devoted servant is every dealer in strong drinl
+ as a beverage. But, my friends, let US beware
= that we use not one of the DEVILS own weapons
$ in fighting him, viz vindctiye, angry, spite
y ful feeling, or we shall find ourselves at ono,
e on Satan's ground he will rightly claim us a
: his friends, and our power for good will b.
] lost. We never can cast out devils by Beoze
g bub, the prince Of the devils. We want to &,
j to the rum-seller, however hardened he MAJ
e be, as his best friend-his fellow citizen anI
e brother man. We want to stop his unlawfu
/, business, because we are friendly to him, anC
e also to his and our fellow men, whom he is do
liberaiely destroying by his accursed traffic
+ aud because, too, we love his soul and want I,
: save it, We want to rescue him from th'
G power of the great adversary who is leading
d him captive, and through him dealing sucl
+ deadly destruction 10 others. Hence it be
}. comes US to take heed, lest we fail Of our pur
+ pose by being taken n the snare Of the sam
d adversary, although it may be in difieren
II portion of it, and by another Of his devices
IS There is such a thing as cnttlng sharply an
n deeply yet most kindly. That law, and tina
y administration of it which, in the case befor
IS us, shall most surely and most thoroughly d
~ its work, is the best for all concerned It shal
G, lift at once the criminal and his often reall
=.