St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-01-29
An Address to the People of the
United States.

AN Address 10 bu6 tOPlS vi IhS
United States.
Impressed with u deep conviction
that an urgent eXigency has arisen in
the history of the temperance cause,
large number of persons in all parts OF
the land have expressed the opinion
tina: new organization of the temper
auce forces should be effected on a
broad basis, 10 conserve and give di-
rectiOn to this important reform. For
this purpose, after extensive cOnsulta-
ton, a meeting was held in Boston,
Jan. !, 1888, ut which "a national
league (non- partisan aud non sectari-
any for the suppression of the liquor
traffic. was organized, under whose
direction we now address the public.
A great contest is upon us. A dire
aud barburous foe seeks to throttle the
republic, and no weak, doubtful or
one sided measures will suffice. The
times call for combination, on IA broad
basis of unity
History abounds in instances of the
usurpation and tyranny of oligarchies
which were everthrown only by the
uprising Of the people. A formidable
institution, familiarity called the liquor
traffic, eXerts a dominant, deadly intiu-
ence in American society. Its tyran-
nizing power is felt in politics and leg
islation. in courts and jUries, in trade
and finance, in literature and science,
in schools and colleges, in social and
religious life. An oligarchy of nearly
two hundred thousand men, engaged
in the sale of intoxicants, presume to
claim the responsibilities and privi-
legts of government over fifty millions
of people How far it has succeeded
i'm exercising its fatal sway is only too
palpable i'm the evidences of wretched-
ness, crime and ruin all around us.
Only united movement of the PEG
pie can overthrow this malignant des
Potism. To combine, so far as possible
all present efforts, and to create new
agencies for delivering society from
the evils which have proved insepa-
rable from the trade in intOXicants,
this National League has been formed.
Its members do not think it wise to
commit the organization to any pOliti-
cal party, nor to form a new one. AS
a matter of history, they remember
that oligarchies are usually overthrow
by the people, and not 10y divided
paI tizan action. The members of this
League therefore do rot favor entang-
ling this reform with partizan atfilia-
tions. They believe their purpose
will be soonest and best secured by
keeping it clear of all such embarass-
ments.
The work of the League must be
largely To create and intensity public
sentiment, seeking to build it up from
the bottom line of true reform. Intel
ligent convictions in the hearts of the
people. with Gods blessing, afford the
only sure basis on which deliverance
from the alcohol curse can toe reason
ably expected. To produce, strength
en- ana enliven such convictions will
be Il large part Of our work. The
needed legislation and enforcement of
law will surely follow. Public senti-
ment soon shows itself in legislation
and administration. We propose to
build the pyramid not from the apex,
but from the base.
This league also invoices and expects
to maintain the sanction of law, in
what they are willing [" call crusade
against this great organized evil so
much dreaded in the land. The deal
ers in liquors ask that they may he
left to the same laws which govern
other trades. But when n man sells
an article the use of which takes away
the Judgment of him who buys, he
must not expect to Toe left To the laws
which govern other tr:ltiesmer, for the
State must interpOse and insist upon
protecting those who are thus made
unable to protect themselves.
Is it said that a common business and
peril unite the dealers in liquors with
bond which makes it SURE that they
will act as one7 We propose to unite
against them hundred times as many
men and women. who believe that the
liquor traffic brings greVinus calami-
ties Ia the land. We shall use every
prudent aud right method to carry out
our purpose and ask all good people,
men and women, of all parties and
creeds, to Join Us in such endeavors.
DANIEL DORCHESTER.
President, Boston.
New England Rum in Africa.