The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-04-20
town agents, or by licensing the dram
shop and other attempts to elevate it.

Sndll Jle siege Db TdlSeu d1u tio
enemy be left in undisputed posses
sion? Then the ruin continues to 60
forward in a%ccelerating volume and
v%irulence.
We are in a time of plenty; self-in-
diligence is easy; the traffic is backed
by fabulous wealth and INSCRIPTIONS
talent. Liquors are poisoned with
drugs deadlier even than alcohol.
Our immense emigration is in bad
training and practice upon this sub
iect. Our free ballot is largely in
ignorant hands, and it is not too much
TO say that the hopes of the world
center in this westering civilization.
If zoe yield, all is lost. But we need
not yield. Let the drummond light of
intelligence and conscience be turned
upon this stronghold of the enemy;
shield appetite from this ingenious and
successful temptation from without,
and the field is won. This is done
when imperative law lays its hand
upon avarice, saying with irresistible
authority, bit real Kindness, "You
shall 10 longer fatten by wholesale de-
Struction."
Business pursuits are always a part
of the social machinery of which the
land is bound to take cognizance.
This it does by regulating or prohibit
ing any that imperil the general well
fare. Regulation, when the evils adj
init of remedy; prohibition, when
those evils are incorrigible. "To con
slider temperance as no other than a
moral question, is extreme blind
ness or extreme dishonesty. 1t
is a matter that involves
every interest of political economy.
There is not IN interest the legislator
or executive has committed to his care
that does not find itself associated with
it in every department of State life or
action" (Pittsburg Christian Adco-
cdte.)
Fortunately in our State the law
has spoken. rightly interpreting the
peoples conscience and reason. 1t has
recently amended it's demands so that
effectiveness might easily come from
it, as we have recently seen in an
adjoining county. Why is it not
efficient here? You, perhaps, know
better than I. Take, l pray you, this
one conviction to your hearts depths,
until it is made efficient, ruin of all
that you hold precious will go On in
c%reasingly. Teachers, parents, pastors
and philanthropists may do something.
but their best and combined labors are
not a match for the unrestrained dram
shop. Law helps these friends of
humanity as they work against other
crimes, theft, burglary and murder.
With its help they are not wholly sue
.cessful without it their failure would
be overwhelming. In like name they
must have the help of law in this
terrible conflict or fail. When that
help shall come, it is for you and such
as you, to say. Law of any kind
does not enforce itself. The time
is coming when officers created by
law, and by solemn oath before God
its servants, shall execute all its sacred
commands alike, where they will
neither dare nor wish, with infinite
audacity and wickedness, to override
the peoples sovereign will upon the
plea of local apathy. 1t will not do to
justify such criminality and real trea-
son by quoting similar %crimnality in
Mormondom. Such defense is whole
sale confession.
There should be no need of "citizens'
leagues" Their agitation, however
justiiable, is necessarily intermittent
and at wide intervals, at least in our
busy country towns. 1t allows the
enemy to raise a specious dust by coun
ter charges Of malice, persecution,
public disturbance, etc, etc. 1t is easy
for busy and quiet people to forget
that the face of law toward transgres-
sors must he stern, and they often
stop short of thorough discovery of the
real foes to peace, justice and rights
both public and private. 1t is not
equitable that the few should incur
the odium and expense of protecting
the whole. This may be necessary, at
certain times, as the only available ex
pedient, bat such is the case only
when there is serious wrong in other
quarters.
1t may be that in some places the
servants of the law need some organ
lied assistance. That being tn,
case, let the town as {
body make all necessary provision. Thi,
is in the line of self-interest, as well a,
humanity and duty. The town sup
ports schools at vast cost; the dram
shop bars entrance to them; the town
comforts the weaks helplessness of tn,
poor; the dram-shop manufactures pau
pers; the town invites capital within
her borders the dram-shop rots i
from sight; the town fosters quiet and
happiness; the dram-shop sows broad
cast disorder and woe; in short, ther,
is not an interest precious to good citi
Zens upon which this breathing hol,
of the pit does not wage relentless
war.
But whatever the mode or length o
conflict, can there be any doubt abou
the final result? The great question
for us Individually is this, Shall oul
lives, thoughts, speech, votes and pray
ers hinder or hasten the victory