St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-04-04
BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION.

anu EXPRESS
BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION.
The Boston Transcript lately sent
out a thousand circulars of inquiry
to representative citizens Of Massa-
chusetts in regard to their opinions
on the adoption of the proposed con-
stitutional prohibitory amendment
and publishes the replies that have
been received from about One-fourth
of the number. OF these replies 10
are in favor of the amendment, 1873
are opposed to it.
Some of the letters given by both
the yes and mo" men are interest
ing as representing the general line
upon which the opinions are divided,
and we give a few of the more strik-
ing of each class:
"Yes' Letters.
A member of the first temperance
society in Eastern Massachusetts 60
years ago, | am, of course, in favor
of the constitutional prohibitory
amendment JOHN G.WTuTTIER.
Amesbury, March 16, 1889.
am in favor of the constitutional
amendment prohibiting the manu-
facture and sale of Intoxicating Ii
quOrs:
First-Because | believe that the
best men and women of Massachu-
sets, of all political parties, of all
sects in religion and of all walks in
life, sincerely desire the health, happi-
ness and prosperity of our people.
The sale and use of liquor as a bever-
age tends to destroy health, ruin
happiness and increase suffering, pow
erty and wretchedness.
SecOnd-Because vast amounts OF
liquors are manufactured here which
flow out into other states and cOun-
tries in foul stream which corrupt
youth, destroys manhood and car
ries sorrow and death wherever it
goes And this awful business is now
carried on under the direct license,
approval and great seal of the COM
mOnwealth.
Third-BecauSe a very large pro-
portion of our best citizens are in
favor of the amendment and because
every distiller and rumseller in the
state will oppose it.
bodyingin organic law an adherence
of business which can only prosper
at a cost of many thousand lives and
of unut terable misery.
STILLMAN B. ALLEN.
Boston, March 16, 1899.
"No" Letters.
do not favor the amendment for
the reason that | am in favor of the
most efficient means of SuppreSSnS
drunkenness and | believe the adOp-
ton of snch an amendment would
lead to an increase of drunkenness.
Whatever may have been the effect
elsewhere, statutory prohibition has
not been a success in Massachusetts,
according to the evidence which |
have been able to find; and | can see
no reason why constitutional prOhi-
bition should be more effective. |
recognize the sincerity and zeal for
good which inspires many of the adj
vocates of prohibition; but my own
opinion, reinforced by observation
and experience, is that prohibition in
Massachusetts has not been and will
not be a means of preventing or OF
diminishing drunkenness.
ALEXANDER II. RICE.
Boston, March IS, 1889.
favor total abstinence from all
intoxicants as a beverage except on
medical prescription, and | regard
prohibition as the ideal method OF
freeing any community which wei
comes and is ready for it from the
dreadful curse of the saloon; but |
gravely doubt whether any police
regulation may wisely be made a
part of our organic law, and | seri-
ously fear lest the adoption of the
proposed prohibitory amendment in
Massachusetts at the present time
may increase rather than diminish
the evils against which it is aimed.
HENRY Nj DEXTER
Boston, March 10, 1889.
| shall vote against the cOnstitu-
tiOnal amendment concerning prOh1-
bition First, because | think that
the constitution ought not to deal
with such matters; and, secondly,
because for promoting temperance |
prefer the combination of local option
and high license to prohibition.
CHARLES w. ELIOT.
Harvard University, March g.
HIGH LICENSE SUITS THE LIQUOR