Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-02

FrOhibittOn--.Tem pe rance.
The persistent attempt of the Vermont
Record and Farmer to read The PHOENIX out
of the temperance synagogue, while anus
ing in some of its aspects betrays spirit too
pusillanimous TO deserve candid reply. To
make itself the special organ and exponent Of
of the local prohibition movement is perfect
legitimate: but when il resorts to slanderous
personal insinuations and mud-throwing, and
stigmatizes The PHOENIX as opposed to tenn
perance, an organ of the rum interest" etc,
it only makes apparent to every one convers-
ant with the situation that the real purpose
which animates the undetermined and far
seeing individual who derives his bread and
butter from its publication, is a desire to
make capital with the temperance people at
the expense of its rivals, regardless of truth |
or honor His trustful appeals for support
nre indeed touching, and calculated to awaken |
sympathy in a heart of stone. We fear how
ever that the general public will fail to APP |
preciate the danger which threatens the tenn
perance cause or the necessity of giving |
Support" to sheet which in so many re-
spects fails to deserve it.
What does seem worthy of notice, however, |
is the fact that the editor of the Record has at
length discovered that even temperance peo-
pie cannot procure liquor in Bnttleboro, for
medicinal or other legitimate purposes. with
out an infraction of the prohibitory law. 1t
would have been wiser had it discovered this
fact before beginning the work of prosecu-
ton. Scores of our people, every day, are i'll
want of liquors for medicinal purposes-the
doctor prescribes it-they must have it. But
the druggist or person who sells it transgresses
the law and is liable to fine or imprison-
ment What are we to do about it? After
asking the druggist to violate the law for our
individual accommodation, shall we turn
around and prosecute him for such violation
when he accommodates others? Few per
sons 1--WE say it with all due respect to the
Record and its editorial writer's will be guilty
of such duphcity.
Shall the town establish an agency for the
sale of liquors That we have tried and
abandoned The public, and the temperance
people in particular, declared the liquor agen-
cy nuisance The trouble was-and the ex-
perience in many other towns has been similar
that it was impossible to procure the right
kind Of person to take charge of it. If n ca
pable, conscientious, up and down honorable
man accepted the appointment us agent, he
wouldn't stay. He could not be hired to stay
at least on any such salary as the town was
willing to give. He disliked the business-it
did not agree with him. He was too often
duped by his customers and found fault with
by others because he was duped. He was
averse to selling to persons who were liable to
| an had of no inf vet ne
unwilling to refuse themifthey really neededit.
He did not enjoy being constantly besieged
by bummers and, besides all this the smell
of the NASTY stuff was obnoxious TO him.
On the other hand, to trust the agency to the
care of q man who would sell to anybody
and everybody, and who had fondness for
sampling the liquors himself, proved to be
hardly the right method-at least, it did not
work satisfactorily to the temperance people.
Another cause operated against the agency
the stock and grade of liquors kept on sale
were inferior and unreliable, and temperance
people themselves preferred to obtain their
supplies of the druggists. The agency was,
in fact, with few exceptions, patronized only
by the lower classes, and, at length, was some
years ago abandoned by vote of the town
Possibly the town is anxious to go into the
rumselling business again by this time, but
we doubt it. If a town agency could be es-
tablished which should be every way COM
plete and well managed, and what such an
institution ought TO be, we should, most AS
suredly, waive all theoretical objections to the
prohbitory creed, and utter no protest against
the enforcement of the law as it stands. Its
strict enforcement under the present circum-
stances, however would be regarded as moth
ing less than public outrage. Yet this is
what the Record loudly proclaims as the pro-
gramme of the prohibitionists. If so, we
have only to await developments with what
ever composure we can command. Only so
far as the movement is calculated to correct
abuses, and induce greater caution in the sale
of liquors, can we give it our APPROVAL and
this, in spite of the Records fulminations, il
all that, in reality, is likely to be accomplished
all, certainly that has been accomplished
: thus far.
Our ideas upon the general subject of t. IN
perance and prohibition have already been
quite fully stated, and by them we intend tC
abide until they have been disproved Let il
l not be supposed, however, that the position
| we ldht luS Deen lltlSlll1 anu
assumed. As long ago as in 1872, we declared
in these columns, our conviction that prohibi
ton was unwise and impracticable and thai
only so far as moral means have been EN-
ployed has substantial progress been made il
the temperance reform Subsequent observa
ton and experience have only confirmed THU
= belief. The Record talks of a change in pub
lie sentiment, within the past few years, il
favor of prohibition. SO far as we have OBJ
: served, the change has been mainly in the op
posite direction. 1t is generally conceded a
: all events, that there has been a gradual an(
s hopeful improvement in the habits of the PEG
pie less liquor is consumed in proportion t.
/ numbers, and the lighter class of stimulants il
y supplanting the stronger. Temperance PEG
e pie, therefore, in our opinion, should exercis
e patience and forbearance in dealing will
those who are already the victims of stronI
= drink, and rely for final success mainly upoi
u the incubation of correct principles and hab
q its in the rising generation. Herein lies tn
J. hope of the temperance cause.
y