Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-07-03
Temperance.
PROHIBITION OF THE
LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

That is to say, no reform in any de-
partment of life has been obtained
without the earnest opposition of
many educated and intelligent men.
1t is most interesting to read, and it |
is in point to cite, the political re-
forms in England in our day.
There was time, not long ago,
when the most absurd system of rep
resentation in Parliament existed in
that country. Small towns and even
small villages had one OF more mem
bers in Parliament. while the great
cities of Liverpool, Manchester,
Sheffield, Birmingham and Glasgow,
had none. There was the little town
of Sarum that had two members of
Parliament. The town ran down to
nothing the people moved away
from it, not one remained, but the
two members from Sarum accepted
their seats all the same. 1t was my
good fortune to visit one Of those
members from Sarum. He told me
that when election time came, he and
his colleague went to the place where
Sarum once was, and there, they vo-
ted for each other, and thus had seats
in the House of Commons, while the
great flourishing towns [ have men,
toned had no representation there.
This state of things by and by was
thought to be intolerable, and an in
tense agitation sprang up in order
to change it. One would suppose
that a demand for just and equal
representation was so reasonable
that no intelligent man could object
to it. But moths reform was re-
sisted with an earnestness and bitter
ness that has no parallel in our time;
but after long struggle, a change
was made for the better. Every re-
form in England of whatever sort,
has been obtained only in that way.
No matter how great an abuse may
be; no matter what grievous injus-
tice and wrong may be involved in
it, the reform cannot be obtained
without going over the old ground of
a prolonged and bitter struggle to
win it.
In England as we'll as in this coun-
try, we are having the same strife
to obtain protection from the. infinite
mischief of the liquor traffic. In
this case, as we'll as others, it is not
with the ignorant and influential th9t
we have to deal, but with the educa-
ted, intelligent, cultivated classes of
society. 1t is a most curious thing,
that the most vigilant opponents of
all reforms, whether in politics, law
or morals are found among educated
men and women. It was so in the
days of our struggle for the over
throw of slavery in this country,
"the sun of all villainies." Clergy
men, bishops, churchmen, literary
men, and other good men, were the
most formidable opponents of the
anti-slavery agitation.
We find the same thing now, in
our great endeavor to relieve society
from the unspeakable mischief, mis-
cry and horror of the liquor traffic.
We state our case to these opponents,
but it does not change their attitude.
We say: the liquor traffic lives only
by spreading poverty, pauperism and
crime all over the land; by sending
an infinite misery to thousands of
homes, which but for it, would be
prosperous and happy. We say the
liquor traffic wastes the wages of la
Dor, at the same time disinclines to
and finally units men for all honest
work, >and casts them out, ruined
waits upon society, for the honest
and industrious to support. We say
that the liquor traffic casts out of
house and home many thousands of
helpless and dependent children,
| growing up in hunger, cold, wretch
edness and rags, to swell the ranks
of the dangerous classes of society,
who but for the liquor traffic, would
live in comfortable and happy homes
and become useful members of So
ciety. We say the liquor traffic fills
our warehouses, prisons and lunatic
asylums, with the wretched victims
of the liquor trade, a burden upon
the honest industry of the country,
who but for that trade would be self
supporting and useful members of
society.
Is not this true? Yes, and g
great deal more is true of the maligr
influence of the liquor traffic. What
then? Is there another side to the
argument? Is there any good what
ever from that traffic to nation. State
or people? None. What more
None whatever; it is all bad and sc
bad, that nothing can be worse 1
is so bad, that ''War, pestilence ant
famine combined do not infic
= upon the people so much misery
How can it be then, that good men
intelligent men, resist every endeav
or to relieve society from this tire
mendous evil Mead Doar.
BOYS, DOES TT PAY TO BE
A LOAFER?
Young man, it costs high to be
loafer. Does the young man VIII
persists in being one ever reflect hoy