The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-04-20
ton. What should be the paramount,

free the land from the drink curse,
but in the line of tactics what course
is open to all friends of the cause that
shall directly and efficiently tend to
compass this final aim? Peculiar po-
sitions bring peculiar duties and re-
sponsibilities, as, for example, those of
parent, teacher, minister, etc. What
we want is work open to all, 1. e.,
something specific, to which all in any
position may lend a hand, though per-
haps in different ways. Powerful the
impulse OF such united forces.
Is there any one point in the field
of our battle which practically COM
mands the wholep
When on the 4th of July, 1777, the
garrison at TiconderOga yonder
looked up at Burgoyne's battery on
Mount Defiance, they did not wait for
a single shot, but precipitately re-
treated as soon as night came. What
is the Mount Defiance of this cam
paign, which, one securely held, com
mands the field and guarantees the
result? After long and careful in
quiry, 1 unhesitatingly pronounce it
II DRAM-SHOP.
That held by the enemy, all temper
ance work will have meager fruits at
best, though not altogether fruitless.
That captured, 0ictoyy WiU not long
taryy.
BY dram-shop [ mean any place
where alcoholic mixtures are sold as a
beverage, whether by themselves or in
connection with other business.
This may seem visionary, but think
of a few things. Contrary to the COM
NOR error, appetite does not create the
drdm-shop, bit cjce cerSd. AS a rule,
almost without exception, the dram
sellers patrons have built their on
Stunning and imperious appetites at his
bar or at that of some other dram
seller. The business creates a demand
and then supplies it. Look at facts in
support of this position. How many
peaceful, temperate, law-abiding ham
lets Of New England have been in
vaded by the dram-shop, where, before
its arrival, the consumption of alco-
holic liquors was almost nothing. But
once there, by can known too well
to the traffic, an appetite is kindled,
and a business established. Reverse
the case. Expel the dram-shop from
any community, the appetite goes too
Not abruptly, of course, but progress
lively and with absolute certainty. Two
years ago., a judge in Trimble county
Kentucky, refused to license the sale
of intoxicating drinks to any man in
the county. His decision in that
land of Bourbon whisky, of inherited
and confirmed appetite, was stoutly re-
sisted, and the matter carried to the
Court of Appeals. There his decision
was sustained, and now in the
county seat, crowded during court
sessions, perfect order and
good will reigns supreme
There is not a criminal case on the
docket, not a criminal in the jail, not
pauper in the county, and not licen'
Sed barrOOm. How is it with other
counties of the same State? Anderson
county had two murders in n week
Jefferson county forty or fifty murders
per year, and 537 arrests in one city in
the month of June. Pulaski county
had ten whisky murders in near sue
cession, and Bourbon now has ten
whisky murders on her docket.
Undoubtedly these counties vary
somewhat in circumstances, but they
are all in Kentucky, under the same
general laws of appetite, and two
years time of suppressed dram-shops
puts Trimble county clean and free. II
appetite is so imperious as some claim
why do not the inhabitants of Trimblt
county send to Pulaski or Bourbon ant
drink themselves into the same muir
derous frenzy? They are of the same
stock and susceptibilities. The truth
is, as a rule, tipping is a %gregarious af
fair; the dram-shop with its facilitie,
and associations is a necessity. With
out the latter it goes as does fire, where
there is no air.
In the year 1S49 t he Church Of
Scotland appointed a committee t.
make investigation as to the cause o.
incompetence and report. They sem
out circulars and received reports from
47S parishes. From these returns they
drafted a report, in which they say
lHtitobAlio iidbO ~ NOui tbiiiiiitlSS
inquiries clearly prove that the intem
perance of any neighborhooi is mi
.formly proportional to the number o
its spirit licenses. So that whereve
there are no public houses, nor shop
for selling spirits, there ceases to b,
any intoxication" (quoted in Alcoho
and the State by Robert c. Pitman
LII. d., page 95, New York, 1879
AS evidence that the dram-shop i
the Mount Defiance of our campaign
let us understand more thorough,
what kind of an instructor it is. w
will make this inquiry in all candoI
and, that we may be thoroughly i'm
personal, let us call in witnesses from
a distance, and of unimpeachabl
veracity.
Says Judge Pitman, of Massachu
sets: Every whisky-shop is a re
cruiting station for any party havin.
evil designs. The dram-shop is tn
ally of every corrupt political ring. l