The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-11-11
TemperaRcN in Vermont.

Al the annual convention of the Yer.
mont Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, held at st. Johnsbury, the 20th
And 3Oth of September, Anna G, Park
president, spoke as fn,lnw@
I TilvIO aIU persons in the worlds his.
tory, periods in the life of q nation.
wherein The people rise in their might
10 put down giant evil, an evil that
has, perhaps, insidiously "grown with
their growth aud strengthened with
their strength"
These agitations are preceded by
pioneers, who push path through the
overgroWth of ages, and strike hard
blows at the ignorance and conserva-
tism that obstruct the advancement of
our race. The pioneers are called "fa-
natics" while they live, and their re-
ward has been the jeers and hatred of
the world around them, and sometimes
the stake and the halter. But the light
shone upon the path they opened.
Others peered in curiously, then enter
cd, and the world followed.
The temperance pioneers have done
their work and opened up the clark
places Of the earth full of the habita-
tions of cruelty" TO the light of science
and righteousness. The world is OPEN
ing its ewes TO the horrors of the legal
lied traffic i'll alcoholic drinks, and be-
ginning to ask: "How are we made
better by this costly institution? Is it
indeed true that we pay each year
eight times as much for liquors as for
schools, twice as much as for the sup
port of the government, and fifteen
times as much for grog shops as for
churches! Is it possible that we arc
willing to be taxed so enormously for
the sake of sustaining their business of
running hundreds of thousands of their
fellows, who have as clear right as
they, to 'lile, liberty and the pursuit of
happinessY Is the traffic in alcoholic
liquors money in my pocket or money
out of il? BY every test it is found to
be money ont of my pocket?' Now,
just as fast as the world apprehends
This last fact, inst so fast will it
shake OIL its indifference and arise TO
pat down the manufacture and use of
alcoholic pOisons. Let us review the
progress OF the past year in our own
land:
In nearly every state the subject of
liquor selling has been introduced into
Tho legislature, with partial victory
in some quarters, utter defeat in 9TH
ers.
Some curious political combinations
have been made. In North Carolina
the prohibitory clause was passed by
the legislature, but when it was sub
mitted to the people in August, the
rare union of Republicans and rum-sel-
lers, the first named leading the colored
voters in Il body, defeated the bill!
Shall we blame the North Carolinians
hereafter for despising the Republican
party as represented in that state?
There's q star whose twinKle in the
eastern horizon brings a smile to the
weary watcher. IL heralds tho sun
light that will dissipate the shadows
lying over tho land. Hail, Maine
whose rulers legislate TO make its citi-
zeus better instead of worsel In
Maine the temperance law is efficient
aud comprehensive. The legislature
Mt each session invites the advocates 0fl
prohibition to suggest any amend |
men,s. At present no changes are
deemed necessary.
4 constitutional amondment pro- |
posed in the last legislature was OPP
posed by the prohibitionists, on the
ground that the existing laws are sufii-
,icut; and there is no moro need of a |
clause prohibiting the liquor traffic,
han Of a constitutional provision |
lgainst horse-stealing. Since Maine is
he pioneer temperance state we will
lause to inquire whether it has really
made successful progress towards the
md in view. Charges are made of the
of the Maine prohibitory
aw. II it is true that liquor can be
IS easily obtained in Maine, after long
cars of struggle against it, then our
'attle has but just begun, and we have
ct TO acquire the first principles of
warfare that shall ultimate in the over
brow of intemperance. Here are