Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-02-16
Correspondence.
Letter from Hartland.
Hartland, Feb. 18th, 1876.

Hartland, Feb. 18th, 1876.
Mr.. MCMAsTER--I wish to- say few
word through your valuable paper con-
corning temperance and prohibitory law.
I notice that the people are getting up
temperance societies throughout the
State; and are establishing divisions Of
the Sons of Temperance in most every
village. This is right and as it should be,
for such measures have a great influence
in doing away with the evils of intemper-
ance. If our prohibitory law was Of any
real value, why need the people trouble
themselves about temperance meetings,
or temperance societies. If there was no
intoxicating drinks sold for q beverage,
what need of temperance socities? None
at ALL Our prohibitory law forbids the
sale of intoxicating drinks, except for
medicinal and mechanical purposes. Does
it fulfill the end for which it was intended?
You know, Mr.. Editor, and ] know, that
Intoxicating drinks are sold for a bever-
age in most of the villages throughout the
length and beadth of the State. And the
question is asked thousands of times each
wear: "What has become of our temper
ance law ?" And echo answers, "What?"
The fact is our law is of no value. Why
not erase it from our statute books ! for
as it now stands it is dead letter. "A
short time since, there was a temperance
lecture in this place, and at it's close the
pledge was passed around and about
eighty persons signed. Some of the
number who put down their names, made
it practice to drink to excess. How
sudden the change! Not single drop of
anything that intoxicates will they touch.
To have them arraigned before a justice,
in nine cases out of ten, would have done
no good, for they would pay their fines,
and 20 on in the old beaten track as if
nothing had happened. But why did they
dash tlG Intoxicating cup from them, and
declaye they would drink no more? 1t
was because they became convinced that
intemperance was great evil, and to in
dulge to excess was silently and surely
sapping the foundations of life. Convince
person of this fact, q care not how de-
graded he may haye become and you
make man Of him. Fine the drunkard
as much as you please, and do you reform
him, by so doing In nine cases out of
every ten, it will have the effect to sink
him lower and lower in degredation.-
What we need, Mr.. Editor, is reform
atory law. We have tried the prohibitory
law long enough; we find its workings
does not answer the ends for which it
was intended And we say away with it,
erase it from our statute books, so that our
children or childrcn's children will never
know that the free and enlightened Green
Mountain State had recorded upon her
statute books law so barberous as to
immurc her citizens in prisons if they
became drunken. We never can stop
people from drinking by fines and impris-
onmcnt. We must reform them, and
then the work is done. But how is the
work to be done? Let us follow the exam
pie laid down by the meek and lowly Je-
sus, take them kindly by the hand and
lead them gently back into the paths of
virtue and piety. Say, all ye who profess
to be Gods chosen people, would this not
be u better course, than to crush these
unfortunate beings down to earth never
more to rise? The only way to stop peo-
pie from drinking is to stop making llq-
uors. People have imbibed from the days
of good old Father Noah, up to the
present time, and always will as long as
liquor is manufactured. Yours Truly,
ONE OF THE READERS.