The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-10-10

we'll informed about its workings as Mr..
Jump. In letter to the Popular Science
Monttly, written in contradiction of an
article in that publication asserting that
the prohibitory law was practical fail
ure in Vermont, Mr.. Benedict says
The liquors kept for sale are kept under lock
and key or in dark rooms or cellars; and even
then seizures are frequent and fines numerous,
and often ruinous to the business, ana prosecu-
tons are by no means confined To llrst oncnces,
or 10 liquor dealers of the lowest class. The law
is one which enables the citizens of any town TO
do what they choose as regards illegal frame IN
liuuor. If they choose, they can Danish IL. II
they do not care to Danish ii, they can restrict IT,
if they will, to almost any extent. In point OF
fact, in Vermont as whole, the law exercises
steady and increasing pressure upon the Illegal
traffic, and makes 1t II very risky and disreputa-
bic business.
Mr.. Benedict evidently believes that
the magistrates do not habitually violate
their official oaths. If they did, the sit
uation would not be as he describes it.
The only difficulty with the law arises,
we suspect, chiefly out of the provisions
of the law itself. 1t is practically made
the duty of everybody in general and of
nobody in particular to enforce it. An
amendment passed at the last session
gives any one citizen power to open the
ball. But the citizen thinks the prose-
cutting officer should take the initiative,
and the officer looks to the citizen, and so
it goes. When rumsellers get too bold
the citizens go to work, and, with the aid
of the officers, close them out. That has
been done here, and in every large place
in the State, and can and will be again.
We believe the prohibitory law is sue
cess, gagged by the same standard
that is applied to other laws. Fa-
natics to the contrary Notwithstanding,
it has decreased the sale and use of intoX-
icants and will continue to do so in great
er degree as people come more fully to
realize the evils growing out of intem-
perance. SO all effort tending to the en-
lightenment of the people on this subject
should be commended and supported by
every good citizen. and that which tends
in the opposite direction should be OPP
posed. That is why we object to Mr.
Jump.
We should like to know when, where
and how he presented his facts to the
proper authorities The public want to
know, too, that those who have been in
fault may not again be elevated to posi-
lions of trust.
One thing more and we are done. Mr..
Jump thinks the "REGIsTER office court"
is not impartial when trying ''clergymen
who venture to tell the truth" Mr..
Jump ought to understand that a clergy
man when he delivers public address
on public question is just as much
amenable to criticism as layman. A
manly clergyman would not accuse one
who questioned the truth of his state
ments of hostility to "clergymen who tell
the truth" Mr.. Jump seems to be one of
those gentlemen who have reached that
state of self-complacencv described by
Burns in Hoy Willie's Prayer
| Thou might hae plunged me in hell,
| To gnash my gums, 10 weep and wall,
| In burning Lake,
| Where damned devils roar and yell,
| Chain'd to stake.
| Yet | am here a chosen sample,
| To show thy grace is great and AMPLE
| Pm here pillar in thy temple,
| Strong as = rock,
| guide, a buckler, an example
| To a thy flock.