Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-05-28
TEMPERANCE MEETING
Under tho Auspices of the County Law
and Order League.

and Order League.
A well-attended temperance meeting,
under the auspices of the Law and Order
League of Chittenden county, was held at
City Hall, last Friday. j. 5. Cilley of
Jericho, the president of the League, pre-
sided, and the platform was occupied by
officers and prominent menbers Of the or
ganization. The exercises were opened
with prayer, and with preliminary re-
marks by the president of the League.
President Cllley stated the object of the
League--to secure the enforcement of the
laws of Vermont in this county against
the traffic in liquor. 1t aims to effect it's
object in two ways, first by political &C
ton, second by aiding and encouraging
the officers thus elected III the perform
ance of their duties. One OF the Leagues
means of usefulness was also, President
Cilley said, the support of public meetings
like the present. He then introduced Rev.
j. l.. Sewell of Milton. who made the
formal address of the evening, on the sub
ject of obstacles to the Enforcement of
Temperance Legislation"
REV. MIR. sEwELL's ADDRESS.
This subject, said the speaker, assumes
two things. The first is that we have
temperance laws in this State. There
seems to be a very general ignorance of
the laws of Vermont on this subject.
There is, however a law which represents
the sovereign will of the people though
there is Il question as to the propriety OF
the term Sovereign will' in this connec-
| ton, for, secondly, the laws in the statute
| books of Vermont are not enforced. They
are not enforced in the city of Burlington.
The question then arises, what are the
obstacles to the enforcement of the law
against the sale of Intoxicating beveraEes'
| Various answers might be given, but
what have to say on the subject to night
may be included under these words
|. Appetite. The appetite of the drunk
ard is the first obstacle which the officers
of the law encounter in their effort to en-
force the law of the State Notice that
| this obstacle arises on the part OF one of
the two parties to the violation of the
! law-the buyer. The man who sells and
the man who buys both violate the law.
We cannot legislate against mans appe-
tte ; we can only strike directly against
the traffic itself
2. Avarice. The avarice of the liquor
seller is the second obstacle to the enforce
ment of the law. 1t is true, without eX-
aggeration that there's millions" in the
liquor traffic. The American nation pays
$50 900, 900 annually for its liquors. and
only SS5,00000O for education. DO you
wonder that there is power in traffic
which represents so much money
There is a certain sort of obstacle in the
open and avowed hostility to the temper
ance laws of some who are neither buyers
hardly worth mentioning. | pass to the
third and last and greatest obstacle to the
enforcement of temperance legislation
3. Apathy. The apathy of protested
temperance citizens is the chief obstacle
to the enforcement of the law. There are
multitudes in Burlington who feel keenly
the evils of intemperance, and yet are not
willing to do anything. Much of apathy
comes from ignorance. If the people
could only know more of the elements of
the problem, they would be drawn by very
shame out of their apathy and indlffer-
ence. Another cause of this apathy is the
failure to be personally touched by the
i; evils of intemperance.
In conclusion, said the speaker, | wish
to set before you the basal idea of this
league, that is the need of concerted &C
, ton. There was a grand illustration OF
. this idea in Burlington last winter, in the
way the winter carnival was carried out
by the young men. Here is an organiza
ton of men banded together for
, the enforcement of the laws of the
; State. Its future is in the hands
of the temperance people. II they will
take hold of this organization, they can
make it power in the land. The speaker
concluded with an enthusiastic tribute to
the work of the only temperance sheriff
in the State of Vermont and urged the
necessity of supporting him strongly next
fall also the importance of the Office of
q States attorney to the work of enforcing
, temperance legislation.
Rev. DR.. Halves of the Winooski avenue
church was then introduced by the presl-
dent, and spoke briefly but imprtssively
After a collection to defray the expenses
of the meeting the exercises were closed
with benediction by Rev DR.. Halves.