Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-10-30
MISGUIDED ZEAL.

Some of the temperance people.
the order of Good Templars, the
w. G. /. Union, etc., are petitioning
the legislature not to favor the pro-
posed constitutional amendment, rel
alive to the manufacture and sale of
liquors in this state. Their grounds
of objection are based on the fact
that the amendment does not prohibit
the manufacture of cider and wines
from the fruits of this state.
Now we rate ourselves radical on
temperance, but this opposition seems
to us to be extremely unwise.
The present amendment, which
embodies almost everything which an
amendment on this line can embody,
has reached that state in it's progress
when it can become a part of the
constitution. To defeat it now, be-
cause it is not all that the most cap
tious and radical temperance men or
women wish it to be, is greatly de-
laying if not hazarding an object
which all temperance people wish to
accomplish. We like, when we can
get it, square meal, but there are
times when the state of the stomach
is such that two-thirds Or three-fourths
of a meal is acceptable. If this
measure accomplishes almost all that
can be accomplished, why is it neces-
sary to defeat it in hope of something
a little better? To change the con-
stitution for any purpose is not an
easy matter; to change it in opposi-
ton to the whole rum power of the
state is a more difficult job, but to
array against it the rum element, and
all who, right or wrong, wish now
and then to make cider and domestic
wine is combining elements of oppo-
sition which would be extremely diff
cult to overcome, even in Vermont.
This amendment as it now is framed
can doubtless be carried, but wheth-
er another more radical, Or of the
kind desired by the anti-amendment
temperance people could pass the Or
deal is a question of doubt.
Some people fail to understand
that it is not law that we want in
Vermont, to suppress rum and in
temperance, but the enforcement of
law and the building up of that sharp,
conscientious temperance sentiment,
which enforces law, makes drinking
odious and instills temperance doc
trine in the minds of the rising gen.
Grafton. 1t will not do to rely on
law or the constitution. Nothing
but eternal vigilance and faithful,
constant warfare against rum will
keep the state of society tolerable.
When it is necessary to contend with
avarice and appetite, something be-
side ideal law enactments and radical
constitutions is needed. We have al
idea that the same amount of time
and effort put into the enforcement
of the law, that will be put into peti
tions, would do much more good
Temperance friends, we need tx
strike straight out from the shoulde
and to hit every head of rum that il
sticking up among us. So soon a
we can make rumselling Improbable
we can close up the holes where rum i
peddled, and remove from the poore
class of drinkers the chance of oh
tanning liquors; and when we cal
= make drinking such disgrace in tn
, eyes of the community as to ostraciz
the drinker from the respect of hi
q neighbors, he will be liable to qui
his drinking habits.
y Our duty as temperance peopl
: cannot be done by law, but must b
done by personal effort in other di
o rections, and we hope that our sin
cere, Jealous, christian temperate
+ people Will not trust to any constitu
n tional amendment, never so restrict
i've, to accomplish desirable ends
i Let the amendment 60 as it is, an
: if it proves what is expected of il
the anti-cider and wine causes can b
incorporated in it hereafter.