Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-11-19
THE LIQUOR POWER IN POLL

obliged to answer.
THE LIQUOR POWER IN POLL
ITICs.
All the signs of the TING indicate
that the time must soon come in this
country,when temperance will become
the greatsissue in politics. There is
a great agitation of the subject, from
Maine to Texas, and in many of the
states it is the issue already. Let the
time soon come when the whiskey and
beer makers and their supporters shall
challenge the temperate and moral
elements of this great country. There
will be contest as sanguine, it may
be, as the contest overthrow slavery,
but if the county can be saved from
the thraldom of intemperance, let it
come. The Neov York Observer,
under the above caption, has the fol-
lowing article:
zone incident in the election last
week in the state of New York is full
of serious suggestion. There was
something like it in Ohio in October,
but there it did not take so decided
and personal direction. Every cit
izen and philanthropist should pause
and ask whittier does this incident
point and what is to be the result? I
The incident was this. The two
great parties, Democratic and Repub-
lican, put in nomination candidates
for the state Offices: the highest of
which was Secretary of State. With
out the least reference, SO far as we
believe, as to their religious beliefs,
the Democratic Convention selected
as their candidate the Hon. Isaac I'll.
Maynard, gentleman of high per-
sonal character and beyond reproach
in all the relations Of political and
private life. The Republican Con-
vention nominated for the same office
its present incumbent, the Hon. j. B.
Carr, who has faithfully performed his
duties and is not assailed for any fail
ure. In the course of the canvass,
it was made known to the public that
Mr.. Maynard was strong friend of
the temperance cause, and in the As
sembly. when he was member, he
had supported such measures as he
judged the best to restrain the evils
Of intemperance. At once war was
Waged against him by the dealers in
liquor: money was freely contributed !;
circulars were printed and distributed
throughout the State calling upon all
dealers in liquors to defeat the cleo
ton of Mr.. Maynard. Although he
was at the head of the Democratic
ticket, and no objection could be urg-
ed against him, the liquor sellers of
this State succeeded in defeating him
and electlng Mr.. Carr, the Republican
candidate.
Such an incident should make us
pause, while we ask the meaning of
it. Is it true that there is power
that can put forth its hand on the eve
of great election, when one million
of votes are to be cast, and by sin
gle motion sway this immense popu-
lation, and show both parties that
they may set up whom they please,
but the decisive vote IS behind the bar
1t is not to one party alone, but to
both and all that this incident speaks
with intense solemnity and warning.
The Democrats are the first to be
alarmed, and the World on the morn
ing after the election, said:
TT is tolerably certain that the liquor
dealers crusade against Judge May
nard has been successful. He has
undoubtedly been defeated. The liquor
dealers certainly have not advanced
their interests by their exhibition of
brainless intolerance and their willing
ness to use money to influence an
election. Many persons who have
heretofore been opposed to Prohibit
ton will believe that business which
is admittedly an evil demanding re-
straint, might be considerablyrestrict-
ed when it undertakes to control cleo
tions with the money it too often
makes out of ignorance, immortality
and crime.
The Su1s is a Democratic paper, and
it tells the politicians and liquor deal
ers that they are playing dangerous
game when they array themselves
against the temperance sentiment -ot
a Christian community and this i;
its intelligent discourse:
The Roman Catholic church, az
pastoral letters have declared though
it does not condemn all drinking as
sin, is certainly DESTROYS of checking
the evils of intemperance, and priests
frequently make them the subject Of
their admonitions to their focks
Protestant churches are also giving
greater attention than usual to move.
ments for temperance reform, and in
telligent and thoughtful men generally
both here and in England, are listen
ing with greater and greater approva
to the arguments of distinguished
physicians against the free use Of al
coholic stimuIants, and especially dis
titled liquors. Drunkenness, once
tolerated vice in respectable society
is now deemed inexcusable there, an(
the heavy drinker-always liable t.
succomb under his excess-is regard
ed with aversion as an unsafe man.
{ Even the most conservative com
munion, the Episcopal church, alway
SO shy OF moral reform agitation, ha