The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-03-14

nails, and humorous OF societies ana as
sociati ms, are constantly engaged in
discussing remedies for evils not only
of minor Importance, but many 1t not
most of them the direct or indirect re-
suits of this frightiul waste of capital
upon degrading and demoraliziug
agents.
Here in New York, as the speakers
at Cooper Institute the other evening
one and all admitted, we have actually
arrived at q local government based
upon the worst AMI most perniclous
emanations of the liquor interest. We
have come to be ruled in accordance
with the views of men who derive all
their power from their success III rum
selling, and whose following largely
consists of those whose intelligence is
habitually clouded by the same poison.
And because the passion Cor rum is so
strong among large proportion of the
masses, every effort to shake of this
corrupt and shameful despotism has
hitherto failed, ard drunkenness and
dishonesty go hand in hand, and laugh
to scorn every reform movement.
OF what use is il to talk about power
ty, restitution, squalor, misery, here
and there, when it is notorious that
tens of thousands are so enslaved by
vicious appetite as to be incapable of
helping themselves, Indifferent to the
nature of their surroundings, dead TO
every progressive aspiration. How
can we reasonably complain of any
minor evils while this gigantic one con-
tinues to hamper the Nations advance
at every step; while this vast drain
continues to carry off capital, one
years application of which would solve
every social problem that perplexes us?
If this is not practical question, then
there is no such thing as practicallty.
1t is the one overshadowing evil whose
existence of necessity prevents the
success of reform efforts in all other
directions. 1t is said that the condition
of the working classes is unsatisfactory,
that they do not prosper as they might;
tn answer must be that they can never
utilize their opportunities until they are
freed from the curse OF rum. II it is
said that our politics are corrupt, trivi-
al, mean, il must be assumed that our
| politics are too deeply entangled with
the liquor traffic TO be other than what
they are. If sanitary questions are
concerned, rum still stands in the way
of improvement. If religious progress
is discussed, the fact remains hat the
saloons empty the chpEches. If educa-
ton is considered, ii is notorious that
the same degrading agency seduces
thousands of our youth.
Wherever we turn, in short, we en-
counter this subtle and sinister agency.
1t is blight which lies heavy upon
our civilization, aud which will have
to be cleared away before that civiliza-
ton can become an object of just pride
and satisfaction. And the question at
Issue really is whether this great evil
shall be dealt with summarily, or shall
be approached by slow degrees. All
sensible men are agreed as to the nee
essity for getting rid of it, but opinions
differ as to the best method. Meantime
it proceeds without the least misgiving
or conjunction, never checking it.
self, giving full play to all its myriad in-
fluences, and opposing to reform solid
and brazen front. Its safety thus far
has consisted in the want of harmony
among its opponents. This has given
it time to establish itself ana grow
strong. But sooner or later it will be
necessary for the intelligent and pro
gressive elements OF society to drop
all lesser enterprises and combine in
one determined assault upon that vice
which is to-day the heaviest clog upon
progress, and the deepest disgrace of
the nineteenth century.