The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-05-23
COMMUNICATIONS.

to the editor of the Register of late. For
long time he professed to be strong advo-
cate of the temperance movement, and Tor
that purpose opened a portion OF his paper to
be devoted to the interests of this cause In
the last issue he proposes to close up It's con-
tinuance in advocacy of the affirmative side,
and to now open his columns to the negative
or opposite If he means by the opposite
the evidence against prohibition, and consist
ent with that act published the Vermont
Letter" as proof of that position, do not
know where to place him. An organ profess
eddy published in advocacy of the rum IN
terests, protesting to adduce testimony to
weaken the cause of prohibition, and to STIR
up an increased interest in direct behslf OF
the license system could not have used more
direct effort than the Register used in its last
weeks issue 1 had supposed that he had
mind that was clear enough to discriminate
between evidence in favor of the g attirma-
tive" and the negative side of case
And, sir, cannot bring myself to believe that
he does not If he does his action brings the
situation to one of two dilemmas: Either he
intends to blow .hot" and "cold, and is,
as the stock gamblers say, veIt ring upon
'straddle," to catch both Sides thinking to
please all. If this is true he is mistaken, for
this cause has but one side that true chris
tan men can consistently entertain. The
other dilemma is that he has decided to throw
over the prohibition element and take up the
rum-sellers From a careful reading of the
article there is running through it design.
Everything turns upon mans design. He
manifests it in everything; in his words, IN
his works and in his choice of friends. From
my standpoint the writer intends to write an
article in opposition to the work of prohlbi-
ton. So it seems clear to my mind, from his
view of looking at it, he has given it color
ing in accordance to his views, and these
yieacs are erroneous. Other men say that pro-
hibition is not future in Vermont. But
suppose it is, it has been a success in other
states, and grand one at that. But has it
been failure in Vermont? If failure is to
be declared because rum continues to be sold,
then all other laws are failure. law, both
human and divine has been enacted and de-
clared against taking human life, and yet hu-
man life continues to be taken. Laws are
enacted against theft and enforced, and yet
thefts are continually committed. The same
is true of all classes of crimes, and yet there
is not one of them but that is broken. Proof
of this is demonstrated in courts, in jails
/ filed with criminals, and penitentiaries over
run with convicts and violators of every law
upon our statutes. But, sir does this prove
that laws to punish crime have failed because
there are so many violations of law? Who
would say, "Abrogate them, because men do
violate" Would the Register have temper
ance advocates stop their efforts because cases
of violation occur in Vermont? Would he be
willing to give the voice of his paper upon
the side of rum interests because of those
failures? AS consistent would it be for him
to denounce the christian church because the
mas, of men are not converted Men fire.
quently Judge cause by the number of its
advocates Judged by this standard many of
the grandest achievements of the past would
have proved failures The Son of God died
at the hands of wicked rabble, but it was
only for time,-he soon triumphed The
apostles were imprisoned, but divine power
soon delivered them to liberty. The early
christians were cruelty prosecuted, but the
cause moved steadily onward. There are
times when seemingly evil causes seem to tri-
umph, but it is only for season. This
work of prohibition is right in principle, and
it is destined to triumph. Every day new
adherents are joining its numbers. The very
course of the Register will add numbers to
our ranks. We are living in an age when
men read and think for themselves. To pub
lish an article like the Vermont Letter"
will do our cause good and bring to the ranks
of prohibition our better class of men. / am
really sorry that our old friend, the Register,
has taken an unwise step for himself How
ever, he alone must bear it, 1t is not too
late to make amends. Cease to cater to the
opponents of prohibition, and it will stop
further strife on this line. do not mean
that the friends of temperance will cease
their efforts to advance the cause of prohibit
ton. ''The Rubicon has been passed." and
now there is to be no retreat. We expect to
eight it out upon this line" AID FINEM.