The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-09
THE PROHIRITIoN ISSUE.

The newspaper discussion and printed
interviews with all classes of citizens
called out by the "cider clause" and the
Bennington, Rutland and other towns
recently, shows wide divergence OF
views among those who may be called
good people. The late contest over con
sti'uIiunal prohibition in the Bay State
gave an opportunity for these schools oil
thought to be heard, both through the
press and on the platform. The result
is well known and among the causes
which led up to it, we have not seen 9
more candid review than that of The
ChUTclmdn which we give below. II
seems to us that the same elements con-
stitute the opposing forces on the battle
field in Vermont today, but the circum-
stances being different no decision, ex-
cept an educational bias, can be reached
The reason why some things are as they
are in this State concerning public opin.
ion is certainly outlined in the The
Churchman's argument, as follows
The issue which has just been fought
with great earnestness in Massachusetts
has been ostensibly between the rum
party and the Prohibitionists, but it has
res lily been among the temperance peo-
pie themseves-between those who b.
lieve in constitutional amendment and
and those who think that it ia not the
right way to treat such a serious abrldge-
ment of the liberty of the individual as
the amendment implies. 1t IS here that
the strength of the contest has been con-
centrated 1t is here that the defeat OF
the constitutional amendment has been
secured. The voting strength of the
whole State of Massachusetts, is unques,
tionably in favor of temperance, but
temperance people themselves are great.
ly divided as to to what course can best
be taken for the suppression of this evil
The strength of the present movement
s the measure of the strength of con-
viction among these classes The ques-
ton is the question of method in dealing
with an evil that presents special diff
culties-in dealing with it 30 that the
liberty of the individual shall not be i'm.
paired and society may be adequately
protected from those who would do il
harm. What the agitation in Massachu
sets has accomplished, and what it has
yet to accomplish still more, is the edu-
cation of the community to deal with
this issue personally, to obtain as string
ent working law as possible, and LheI
to enforce it in the letter and in the
spirit. Whatever has been really &C
complished in the Massachusetts, cam
paign is in a more intelligent public
opinion concerning this whole matter
As the Frenchman said II persuade
one man to think as do, and he is one
public opinion; then persuade another
and he is another public opinion; and &C
20 on" So the temperance reforrnel
has strength and power in the commu-
nifty just as far as he is willing to &C
conscientiously in regard to it. The at
tempt which has been freely exercised
in the Massachusetts, campaign to brow
beat individuals who cannot accept pro
hibltiou, but are thoroughly temperance
men in their whole spirit and purpose
has been strongly and deservedly cen
sured. What is worth the most in thiI
moral reform is the thoroughness anC
sincerity of the individual conviction
1t is in extending the number of thos'
who would put down the saloon but arr
not ready to interfere unduly with thu
liberty of the individual, that the tenn.
perance movement is to be really ad
vanced. Like every other evil, it is t
be overcome simply by inducing eacl
individual to act with conscience regard
ing it. Just 80 far as personal and con.
scientIous conviction controls the indi
vidual, the temperance movement will
have true supporters. The strict Prohi
biCiOnists make a mistake when they un
deTvalue conscientious convictions anC
insist that others shall accept the arb
trary method which they themselves ad
wise. Undoubtedly the saloon must go
undoubtedly the temperance mOvemen
will win, but, if it wins permanently, /
must have the assent of the conservativ,
people who carry weight in social life
1t is only as those who give tone to so
ciety are behind it that the Temperance,
movement will leave its mark in per
sonal results upon society.