St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-03-10
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BY PRES. JAMES II. FAIRCHILD, ID. D.,
OBERLIN, ONO.
You ask: lis it true that You boy
colt il druggist for selling liquor on IA
physicians prescription ?" No, we are
merely fighting the demon of the land
in his only stronghold among us. 1t is
the question whether we are to tolerate
IL saloon in Oberlin. The drug store
in behalf of which the sympathies of
some of our neighbOrs and friends
abroad seem to be moved, is the place
where the liquor business, So far as it
has existed, has been carried on for
many years. All the means available
had been employed, with the effect
only of inducing greater circumspec-
ton on the part of the proprietor, not
of abating the nuisance. No open
saloon had been able to stand the pres
sure of public sentiment beyond Il week
or two ; but during the quiet of last
summers vacation three men, embOld
ened by the success of this liquor sell
ing drug store, within the space of Il
few days each opened Il saloon, some
what ont from the business center. The
people were profoundly moved by the
occurrence and rallied to resist the in
coming evil. The saloon keepers.
when demonstrated with, replied that
they were only doing what the notori-
Gus drugs store had done for wears and
they saw no reason why they should
not share in the profits. There was
little logic in the argument, but it was
sufficient to turn public attention to
this old source of ottenSe. y strong
pressure of public opinion and remon-
STRANGE was brought to bear upon the
proprietor At last he came forward
with the following pledge. hearing his
own signature
We. the undersigned, agree not to
sell. give away. or dispose of any spir-
ituous or Intoxicating liquors in any
form, either with or without a physi-
clans prescription. to any person or
persons within the limits of Russia
Township embracing Obcrlin.
"PrOrided that all Oberlin dealers in
such aforesaid liquors shall sign this
agreement. and this agreement to he
of no effect until such time a. all such
dealers shall have signed this paper,
and is to become void in case any
agency for the sale of such liquors shall
be established"
The object of this proposal was mat
ter of doubt. The most natural eNpla-
nation was Il purpose to divide and
distract the temperance sentiment of
the place. The temperance people of
Oberlin had never held the idea that it
was wise to attempt the suppression of
all sale of Intoxicating liquors. They
have held and still hold the opinion
that the sale and USE for medicinal and
mechanical purposes is legitimate, and
the position taken in the pledge seem
ed extreme and unreasonable. We had
two druggists, who were dealing in
spirits in this Legitimate way. This
pledge proposed new departure.
Some were ready to accept at once the
proffered gift, even though coming
from an enemy. The majority felt
that So extreme "A position could not he
taken with any hope of permanence.
There was marked and decided diver
gence of sentiment, and the probable
expectation and hope of the mover of
the pledge seemed likely to be realized.
week was spent in daily meetings
for discussion and prayer upon the
question. At length the conclusion
became unanimous that the plan pro-
posed presented the only mode OF ac-
ton Immediately available. The pledge
had already been signed by three OF
the siX dealers in liquOrs-two drug
glsts and one saloon-keeper. To turn