Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-08-25
Drunkenness in England,


Recent investigations, official and other
wise, have established the fact, that while
contributions for moral and religious pur-
poses are all but stationary, the expendi.
turo for intoxicating drinks goes on swelling
in amount from year to year in Great Brit
ian-the indulgence having been purchased
last year at the frightful cost OF Si1 hun.
dred millions of dollars, or twenty dollars
head for every man, woman and child, or
say hundred dollars year for every fam
ily in the kingdom. But the most alarm
ing and humiliatiug fact disclosed by these
Investigations is this, that drunkenness is
steadily, aud even rapidly on the increase
among women-not among women OF the
working aud poorer classes merely, but in
the professional and upper classes" where
the daily use Of sharp intoxicants by ladies,
in the way Of "nips aud sips" has greatly
increased and is increasing to the detriment
of health and the weakening Of the power OF
self.control In reference to the working
classes the women in some districts are said
to be worse than the men. The relative
percentage Of drunkards in one parish was
found to be seven and half per cent Of
adult males, and ten per cent of adult ie-
males. While it is admitted on all hands
that the intemperance Of the English people
has swellod to immense proportions, and has
assumed alarming forms, there is the same
disagreement there as here, and indeed ov-
erywhore, upon the all-important question,
How is the national vice of intcmperanco to
be dealt with 2 After all the remedies for
the great evil which individual ald asso.
ciated benevolence and legislation have sug-
gosted and tried with only partial success,
the problem Of reform yet remains to be
solved. Whether wisely or not, the popu.
lar trust is in legislation and the most
prominent legislative theory which now
occupies public attention is that which is
| denomnated the Permssive Bill-the prin-
ciplo Of which is the prohibition of the traffic
in intoxicating drink by local option. Tho
BILL which has already undergone wide dis
cussion, both in and out of pariment, pro-
vides that the chief officer of district or
parish shall, on being requested by a GER
tain number Of householders so to do, take
the votes Of the ratepayers as te the pro.
priety of adopting the provisions of the act
A majority Of two.thirds is necessary to AT
affirmative decision in which case all licenses
within the district would lapse at the end OIL
the year; but the question might be re-
opened at the close of three years, or, III
case Of negative decision, at the close Ct
one year. The control of the liquor traffic
is thus given into the hands of the ratop y.
ers by a sort Of RELOCATION Of legislative
power, which, under our constitution, is
held to be inadmissble. However it may
go into operation, it is the prohibition IN al
its force. The bishop Of Manchester speaks
Of it as the most effectual remedy suggested
at the present time. Whether parliment
will pass the bill, and, il passed whether it
will be successfully administered, are ques.
tons which will interest not prohibitionists
merely, but all the friends Of temperance OF
this side of the Administration TraDeiLer.