Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-07-03
Criticisms on the Centennial.

geant on the l fth was the representa-
ton of the liquor interest, in the 9th
division, which represented the trades
of Boston. This death dealing trade
was first represented by teams loaded
with bales of hops and bags of grain,
then barrels of beer, ale, whiskey-|
neat in costly and beautiful bottles
followed by load of young men en-
ployed in the breweries, succeeded by
very costly appareled carriage,
horses and equipments, on which sat,
high up on throne, fleshy man, APP
pareled as king, wearing q costly
crown and otherwise dressed as the
kings of olden time, trimmed and be-
decked with gold and silver, and in
his hands before him he carried a
bowl of punch, grand representation
of King Alcohol, or the king of death
to those who worship him. How
much more appropriate and true to
life it would have been, in the place of
that gifted and bloated rum barrel,
to have bad q skeleton representing
death, with scythes cutting down in
all directions, followed by carriages
filled with bloated, beastly wrecks of
human kind, who suffer the torments
of hell, breeding disease and corrup-
tion-a terrible tax on the morals and
industries of the community-closely
followed by carriages filled with
daughters, wives, and mothers, who
are tied to sots by chain we call
marriage, clothed in rags, poor, heart
broken, beaten wrecks, made so by
those who promised before heaven to
cherish, love and provide for them,
who court death, and shrink from the
joys of the world, not because of guilt
but because Of shame and disgrace
caused by their sworn protectors.
such a procession would be true to
life, and represent the daily life and
work of the King so many worship,
and bowed before, on the day of the
great celebration.
1t is true that in this reputed chris
tian 18th century, drunkenness is
on the increase, that this King is
gaining in subjects, and has achieved
important victories in many States.
And he rode in this procession strong,
glorious and defiant, while nany of
his subjects are Keeling in alleys and
by-ways, and picked up by the police.
say that this representation was I'M
avoidablc for it is licensed and
recognized trade, and of course, with
the others must be advertised and
represented. What made it ridicu
ulous was that many of the strongest
temperance organizations in the LAND
were in the procession, and one was
sandwiched in between the rum bar.
rels, men strong and true, laboring tc
save the men that this licensed, law.
full, death dealing traffic is day by
day destroying. A public opinion
and sentiment must be created strong
enough to put its foot on the manu-
facture Of these poisons ere we be-
come q nation of sots, and ere ma
tional glory and virtue forever de-
parts.
A grand mistake was made in the
great celebration, probably thought
lessly, by the managers; the mother:
of the revolution were entirely over
looked and forgotten. No sign, EN-
blcm or motto, no gorgeously decke(
carriage filled with women represent
ing the good old days when men anc
women alike sacrificed, bled an(
died that the republic and libert,
might live; nothing appeared TO re
mind us that we had mothers in thos
days of great sacrifices and neccssi
ties. The orators of che day ais
were needless, we cannot think pur
posely, for they had nothing to sa
of the mothers of the republic. If til
fathers of the revolution had not ha,
grand mothers and wives and daugL
tcrs, where would this republic hay
been to-day. Did not the mothers 0
the revolution sacrifice more, Civ
more, endear more and work harde
than the mothers during the great n
bellion? Think of their means of Ii,
ing; their bounty and State pay wa
what the great God gave them by til
diligent use of the hoe and the variou
tools of agriculture. How would tn
fathers have been clothed if I'll
mothers had not raised the flax, an
through the utmost diligence, cause
the cloth to grow from the buzz of IL
wheel and chuck of the loom2