Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-22
Is TEMPERANCE A FAILURE.
An Interesting Discourse upon the Sub
ject BY Mrs, Emily L.. Mclaughlin.


1t would seem that the elements had com.
bincd TO defeat the purpose Of the temper
auce meetings that have been held here for
several evenings past. But the large audi
ence that assembled in Winooski avenue
church to hear Mrs. Mclaughlin Monday
would seem to indicate that an interest had
been awakened that is superior TO all consd-
eratiOns Of unpropitous weather. Those
who did not hear Mrs. Mclaughlin last night
missed not only a convincing series of argu-
mcnts against intemperancc, but also rare
intellectual treat. The lecturer discussed the
| topic us the temperance cause failure"
and Il portion Of her remarks follow
A tendency to morbid encouragement is
the unfortunate but certain accompaniment
OF great hunHni arian schemes. We are apt
to forget that all great reforms arc Of slow
progress. We forget that there has never
been broad highway cast up along which
reform movements could pass. To be sure
there are souls large enough to grasp the
truth that honest endcavor is with God sue
cess IN itself. But most of us in great re-
form movements, are more subject to des-
pO1dcnCY. There are too many that arc all
the time saying that there will always be
some that will drink. They say if we have
good meeting, Eyes it was quite good but
it will not do much good" They will say
~ told you so.' They are the most diff
cult people that we have to get along with in
the temperance work. We can get along much
easier with those outspoken against
the temperance work. There was lady
who when we lost an election in Massachu-
sets came to me and sad II told you 30"
| aud lost my patience and asked her what
| she bad told me. told her that had never
seen her in our temperance meetings and
| asked her if she had any practical PROPOSE
| ton to make to come to our next meeting
and suggest it. But she did not for she had
| no practical proposition to make. Such
persons never do. When we see how many
dollars are being put into the field against us
| there is cause to be discouraged, but ] am
thankful that there is another side. the
lamenlcd Wendell Phillips said that we
must consider the temperance cause not by
| taking The question as it is, butiwhat it would
have been Ii there had besA 10 agitation
upoa the subject. They said in the fore
part of the century that all the men were
drinking. Yes but compare that with the
present time. Why minister came &c
fremont Temple to preach along the line
| of moderate drinking and the next Sunday
his position was assailed from twenty-thret
pulpis in Boston. Is this not an advance
| The history ut the reform is this. First
came the utteiance Of truth, then the arrest
If thought then agitation, then came op.
position.
| In 1888 the first National temperance con-
vcn,ion was held in Philadelphia. Here fol
the first time came to be recognized the i'm
morally OF the use of intoxicating liquors as
beverage In 1910 the wonderful Washing
| Toni, NI,ia
vemcnt in which moral suasiou was the
method employed. This body OF workers
decided that the custom could not be settled
while license was being granted.
| Previous TO 1903 there was no law upor
the sat jct In that year an Indian chic
sent petition to President Adams, praying
him ~ prohibit the sale Of liquors among hi
| tribe Three thousand had already died. Oh
he put to shame some Of his white brothers
Some say that the Maine law is failure.
Ask Senator Frye. 1t is shown that unde
the law the average amount spent in liquor
| for each man has been reduced from $50 pei
capita to 50 per capita.
| Now want to speak OF our own state, W.
have local option, we are not satisfied bu
we have been able to do some good things
Undrr it, 1t secures the agitation OF til,
question every year. One of our most pub
he spirited men had not been n supporter OF
temperance but he finally was persuaded tC
vote against the dram shop, and when he
| went home he saw the decanter on his table
and he said this is not consistent. | voted thi
| CAT in one place aud in here, 80 he gave w
the dccGutcr being Il consistent man, and ht
| became total ObstalnCr Aud last year hi
gave MS second $500 10 help the women
along in the temperance work. And that
may be good suggestion to some of you Bur
lin.lou men who have $500 you don't know
what to do with the temperance women O.
this place can use it most beautifully.
| The prohibitOry vote in New \ ork ha!
doubled within the last two years. Ii
ONO there is the greatest movement eve
known and il is said if the vote had beer
counted right there would have been
a prohbitory amendment to tb,
State constitution. In Iowa, Kansas
glorious work is being done. Ii
Tennessee they cannot open saloon within
| four miles Of school house and when a
particularly had saloon is opened up goes
school house and the saloon has to move.
My friends this is not the time for dis
courHgement. Look where you will thu
cause is going on. Our enemies are closely
watching the little bodies Of women, and ask
ing that women may not be gran cd the sui
frage. For they know that if that shoul(
| happen they would have to close up thei
shops. And so they are calling for a higl
license law SO that drunkars cau be made IL
lhree or four places instead of many. They
want to make it hlgh-toued. The high
toned are most dangerous. We don't wan
riIh.,oncd, rep ctahle drinking PLACES. Boy
| viii 10 INTO thrm who would never 20 into
grog shop. A Christian went into one o
lh'sc places aud found twenty -scvcn student
OF u popular college, playing lizards, and he