Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-16
One Way to Fight Rum.

We are in favor of all enforceable laws for
the suppression of the liquor traffic, but we
do not believe that law alone will render any
community permanently virtuous or tenn
perate. 1t is a common mistake of temper
ance reformers to rely too exclusively upon
prohibitory or restrictive measures, or upon
moral suasion that goes no further than to
persuade men to pledge themselves against
the drinking habit. In how many towns
has temperance triumph turned out to
be barren victory, because those who had
won it were content with popular verdict
against the sale of liquor,-as if appetite
could be destroyed by majority vote, or
virtue established by decree of the ballot
box Such men do not understand the
moving cause of a large proportion of dram
drinking, and make no account of the neces-
sites of human nature for social diversion
and companionship. 1t is well sometimes to
learn of the enemy, and to fight him with
his own weapons. The rum-seller, with the
warmth and glitter, the low comforts and
oftentimes the luxury of his establishment,
attracts customers for his wares. In the
evening, especially, the saloons of high and
low degree are almost the only places that
welcome the homeless, uneasy and roaming
men that throng the streets. The stern NOR
alist may say they should stay at home, 60
to meeting, or seek to improve their minds.
But they won't. Shall the rum-seller be the
only person to take advantage of this fact
New York city is preparing to say no to
this question.
The New York coffee-house club has been
formed with $50 900 capital, in shares OF $50 EACH
to establish cof eehouses in most frequented parts
of the city, attractive resorts especially for the
working class and to counteract the bar-rooms
and beer-gardens Each house will have reading
and refreshment rooms, and apartments where
chess, draughts and other games can be played
the houses will be conducted on commercial prin-
cpes and the directors include William L. Dodge,
Jr., Joseph w. Drexel, William ii. Appleton and
other prominent business men,"
This is stepin the right direction. The
work needs to be done amply-in a large
and business-like way. Little starveling
saloons on the temperance PLAN" with an
odor of sanctity and poverty about them,
will not do the business. The coffee-houses
should be so equipped and managed that
they can compete successfully with the
liquor shops as places of popular resort, and
go them several better in point OF neatness
cheerfulness, decency and general attractive
porting by conducting them on business
prlncipies -iea'ihB technicai ioHSiouS au'
reform work to other and more approprit'
agencies. The trouble with many of ou
attempts in this country has been that tn
promoters have insisted on having prayer
meeting annexed to the coffee-houses, ant
have thus kept away the great majority o
those who might have been benefited an'
very likely saved by place of resort fire.
from temptation, where they could get wha
they wanted and feel at home. We trus
the New York experiment will succeed, an,
extend over the country. Neither the churcl
nor society is yet awake to its duty and OF
portunities in overcoming evil with good
Golden Rule.