Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-02-19
For the Monito
LEND YOUR INFLUENCE.

In every Work or reform there come
times when crisis is reached, and
some new methods or new efforts APP
pear to be necessary to sustain and
advance the work; thus it seems now
in regard to the work of temperance
in this section, if not in the whole
state. Most of the older temperance
organizations, which did a good work
in their day, have, for causes which
cannot be fully explained, ceased to
be active and potent factors in the
work. The W. C.. T. Union, one of
the later organizations, and one hav-
ing an important sphere Of work, is
among the last live societies which
hopes to do a grand work in its place
and time. But the great question
arises, how shall we best push for
ward the work how shall we secure
more extensive. and more lasting vic
tories; how can the question be more
tenderly and persistently pressed
| home to the hearts of all who seek
temperance reform? In answer, let
us suggest that there be no division
of sentiment, which shall divide or
distract the soldiers of the temper
ance army. While some NAV look
to more stringent legislative enact
ments, as the one thing needed land
we have no doubt this will be a
"crowning day. when it shall come)
we would press forward the moral
reform with all our power. If the
law is not strong enough; or if its
strength is not tested by its faithless
execution, let us use that ever DOW
erful motor, moral suasion, by indi-
vidual effort and local organizations
in every village and hamlet. Let
there be no avenue through which the
serpent can crawl, for want of con-
centration among the friends of tenn
| perance; let shoulder meet shoulder
and not the elbow, and though we
may not be able to secure the strength
of the law efficiently in our behalf
today, yet the day dawns when the
Legislative halls must speak and speak
the voice of public sentiment too for
this is lar, and ever will be in
| Christian lands. But how shall we
enlist the wealty and influential in
our behalf? It is too plain to be
denied that the rich. the fashionable,
the talented, the influential of the
/ higher ranks of society are not al
ways foremost in these moral re-
| forms.
| By failing to render active assist
ance, whatever may be their wishes
or practices, they allow their infu-
ence to be on the wrong side. On
| the other hand, the abandoned drunk
ard is not an obstacle in the way of
our work /; his example and his life
are such as to move men and women
to action We have sometimes al
most been led to think that a worse
state of affairs in temperance might
| produce a temperance revival, which
would sweep the enemy from our
borders. Let it not be inferred,
however, that we wish anything
acorse than what may now be seen in
some of our localities. No; drunk
ards and hard drinking men are not
those who most oppose the progress
of the temperance chariot. But
there is large class of lazy, indif-
ferent people, many moderate drink
ers, those who aspire to office, and
all who for minor reasons do not care
to identify themselves with live tenn
| peIaHCo HoiheIS, WHo are IHe great
est obstacles in the way of pushing
the work to speedy victory. Would
it be unjust to refer to that large
class of professed Christians who are
content to look on and see men sink
in ruin, their neig ghbors' boys led
into inebriety and happy homes made
the abode of sorrow, without one ac-
tive effort to prevent the calamity
Yes; these things are among the
worst that temperance people must
contend against. If it were only the
,drunkards and the rum venders on
one side and the present active force
of temperance workers on the other
side of the contest, the war would
not be difficult.
How, how shall this Indifferent class,
on whose souls the blood of the
slain and the lost will appear at the
great day, be aroused? Will the
sorrow of fathers for ruined sons; OF
weeping wives over the loss and ruin
) of once devoted husbands; of strick-
en- families, whose hopes are blasted
by the ruin of some member; will
the curse of rum on the land, with
all its sorrow, destructionand power.
ty, move these to labor in the work
of reform? If not, what shall the
few do? Give up in despair? No
There is not temperance man Of
woman in whose heart is one feeling
of philanthropy who cannot and ma,
not do great good in his or he
> sphere. There is not a temperate,
organization SO humble or weak, bu
that it may be blessing In its com
munity. Rouse men, Rouse won
) en-. let the battle cry be Victory
Mrs. t.
Y A BLACK LIE.-Mrs. johnson Ma
: cey, one of the society ladies o
> Auctip Canf tho oolopa1 how che ha