Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-12-06
Communications.
Editor Of the Herald.

wish to speak of certain condi-
ton of cur mo, lern life which to sor2e
minds believe, is getting to be quite
suggestive. l refer to the multiply
ing of refornatory societies of every
kind which are springing up aud
struggling to extend their Influence.
Now, the object which these orgauiza-
tions would effect-the end they seek
to attain--is no doubt almost always
good and beneficial to society at
large. Perhaps we can all commend
their purpose; and in so far | yield
to no one. Ny concern is simply with
the general mode itself Of these differ
ent bodies which to me seems most
wasteful and disastrous in the long
| run
have nothing to say in regard to
any political, social or strictly LEGAL
zed society, but ofthc others to which
refer how easily may we reckon up
\ long list. The countless numbers
OF the Temperance Societies, advocat-
ing that question (aiways in lis re-
S'rlcted and narrowest sense) in many
different forms. Then ne have Anti
Tobacco Societies. There is society
widespread through the land for the
suppression Of cruelty to animals
another for the suppression of cruelty
to children. We have society with
the comprehensive and commcndab,e
purpose stated as the Suppression of
Vice itself, while another society is
advertised as existing for the suppress
sion of polygamy. And 80 we might
go on Hardly any OF the rcformato-
ry questions Of the day are suffered to
rest on their own merits, hit they
must he lettered by the articles and
enactments of some self constituted
society which claims to Itself the ex-
elusive right to push its interests.
The evils from all this, / believe,
are two-fold: First-Therc is gener-
ally distorted or an exaggerated
view of the case presented. And So
Der second Thought brings men to see
it. A diunkard under the influence
of the Murphy excitement may think
that be is truly refyru ed man. |
shall be glad it he IS. but he hour of
trial Is Yet to come. and it must he
some hing deeper than an emotional
feeling ONLY, something stronger
than The blue ribbon that he ties up
on his person, which is to keep him
ftom his cups Wien our god Grand
Fathers ut the time of the first tenn
perance excitement in New England
cut down all their apple trees in zeal
for the good causc-they thought that
with each blow they were striking at
The very root Of ths temperance mat
ter for all time; hut to-day We can
find men who believe that the cause
vas never more shaken than by the
very fall Of those trees.
Secondly -Bctween so many diff
terent societies and interests there
must arise continual friction and
weakening. Add to the weight Of
machine, multiply its wheels and you
are pretty sure to increase its draft.
And then how can there be perfect
harmony when each society so often
seeks to claim the first attention of
men, each so apt to exalt its own
interest to tho supreme place? Read
the formal statement of one of these
societies. Ii often sounds like the
special pleading of the lawyer. De-
finite and specific work is undertaken
less for the works sake than for the
society'S sake, and to advertise the
organizations aud men see this, AMI
become wearied and disgusted. 1t is
not my intention to point out what |
regard as the cure Of this state of
things, though we ale by no means
without indications of radical and
speedy change. Y. q. N.