The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-05-02

airy truths, viz, prohibition, familiar
and frequent feature of necessary law;
individual liberty, alwavs to yield to the
demands of public safety, and that the
coercion of force must come to the rescue
where, otherwise. moral suasion would
be blocked and neutralized we are pre-
pared for direct answer to our third and
last questions to the remedy for the
wholesale violation of law in our coun-
tyr
When Napoleon I. was only licutcn-
ant, he was engaged in the siege of Tou-
Ion. The assault had gone on for time
unsuccessfully. lie then called the at
tention of his superiors to position
where, in his judgment, the bombarding
cannon should be placed, saving "Sirs,
there's Toulon." His suggestion was
needed, and the result proved its
wisdom. Our difficulty located,
we are well on the road
toward its removal. What is our difficulty
1t is simply this; Men ELECTED AND
SWORN TO ADMINISTER LAW ARE UNFAITH-
FCL TO THEIR DUTY. We have faithful
county commissioner, honest and true.
but what use is it for him to provide ia
cilities for a proper sale of alcoholic mix
lures when illegal sales abound on every
hand We shall conquer our Toulon
when, and only when our county officials
are in harmony. Discord is never allowed
among the commanding officials of a
steamboat, no more should it be among
the officials of our ship of State. Let
a full board be elected friendly to all
laws, at least obedient to their solemn
oath of office; then, as now, in Chitten-
don county the sheriff and all his subor-
dinates will, in good faith, arrest all evil
doors; then the States attorney will
make genuine and persistent endeavors to
convict; then good men and women
will cheerfully and abundantly Join hands
with such officers; then witnesses will
not treat a summons to appear at court
with contempt; then those who appear
will not dare to perjure themselves; then
dram-shops will not multiply; then
their keepers will not buster in our vii
lage meetings with insults to venerable
citizens and taxpayers; then the rum
power will not dictate nominations and
breathe threats more or less public as
they dare against good men who believe
in law, who do not propose to have fell
lowship with deeds of darkness, and who
will reprove with faithful emphasis in
all practicable ways.
Gentlemen, fellow citizens, fellow
Christians, there's your Toulon. Can
you take it,
Some facts certainly suggest the neces-
sty of earnest battle so to do. You do
not forget that two years ago both po-
litical parties united in nominating and
electing sheriff not friendly to all the
laws of the State, whatever his other
qualities; but times have changed in the
last two Years. 1t may be that such
combined nomination then did not mean
deliberate betrayal of the cause of hui
manity. am sure did not mean that
when voted for him. But whatever
the truth upon this point, temperance
men are in the ajority in Addison coun-
ty. If they were not, it would be none
the less their duty to combine and act.
All reforms begin with minorities; other
wise there would be no necessity for
them
You cannot forget the incompetency,
or wO Sc, of our States attorney. 1t is
for you, and such as you. to say how long
this state of things shall continue. You
are masters of the situation if you please.
The time is coming-it may not be far
away-whcn in our beautiful county
there will be no shadow Of suspicion of
official completely with wrong-doers;
no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness but reproof everywhere, on
the street, in the market place, in the
parlor and on the platform; by the press
and in the pulpit; and, 0bore ali,
N THE TI-RY RoX AND JI-DGE'S CHAIR
Then as in other cases of criminal as
sault upon public peace and safety, re
straint will be laid upon that crime of
crimcs-drunkarl -malling-by Il steady
and increasing pressure ranging all the
way from social condemnation to legal
retribution unhinchingly applied by
faithful public servants,
MAY GOD SPEED THE DAY.
Then your sons will walk your streets
unassailed by pitfalls ingeniou, as
dangerous; then Undesirable woes will
be lifted from hearts now breaking; then
your churches and schools will do their
work freed from present embarrassmcnts
and antagonismS; then the ballot-boX
will be pure. and the safeguard of your
liberties; and then the star of hope and
promise will shine for coming generations
with true prophecy.