Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-01-26
W, G. T. U. COLUMN.
Brief Temperance Catechism.

l.. What is the power of the liquor
traffic?
Avarice and appetite contribute
most to its power.
2. Why are not these successful
lv resisted and overcome?
Because the Incorporate are slaves
to these passions, and do not choose
to resist them; and the temperate
are divided in their opinions as to
the best methods of opposing them.
3. Is not the Prohibition party
formed for the purpose of uniting the
forces of all temperance people who
desire the destruction of the saloon?
That Is its declared purpose.
4. Why, then, do any temperance
men hesitate to join it?
Because men are slow to change
their political relations, and few will
do so unless convinced there are the
pest OF I6dSOuS lOI 81 OOlHS'
5. Is not the overthrow of the liq-
uor traffic a sufficient reason?
Some think it is; others think this
one object alone is not sufficient rea-
son ;others still think its overthrow can
never be accomplished by any politi-
cal party, but by a combined move
ment of temperance men in all par
ties, irrespective of political action in
regard to other questions.
6. What binders the union Of all
honest temperance voters in one
grand party for the overthrow of the
liquor traffic? Several things, but
chiefly the following Old associations
and party affiliations are not easily
broken. The influence of past con-
ficts and victories is an irresistible
force over the minds of many, and to
such it seems little short of treason
itself to desert the old party for an
other. Whether this is creditable or
not to the majority of men, 1T Is new
ertheless one of the stubborn facts of
human experience. In the nature of
human affairs there can be but two
strong parties. One Of the two must
have the chief responsibility of enact
inc laws and of administering the
government, although the response
biIity will not always remain with the
same party. 1t changes, according
to prevailing opinions, from one to
the other. Therefore it is easy to
see that all the power there is to Sc
cure the passage OF good laws and
maintain good government at the
present time is lodged chiefly in the
dominant party. The present inter-
ests of all industrial pursuits are also
greatly affected by changes made in
the laws regulating commerce. 10
the business man and the statesman,
it becomes a very serious question,
whether for even so great a cause as
temperance, it is either wise or eXpe-
dent to take off the hand of control
from business interests, and leglsla-
tive bower, to add the influence of
their personality and vote to a party
whose power is as yet wholly a mat
fer of the future, in business and civ
il affairs. Things of such vast mo-
ment must nave oversight and ears,
while wisdom dictates the wisest pos
sible plans for time to come.
Z. Is there any line of activity
where all temperance people can stand
together?
There is, most certainly, as may
be seen in the following suggestions,
viz . LIST, Let it be the watciIWord oil
: all temperance people, 1.-The Liquor
Traffic Must be Destroyed I'd
7 Let all unite to enforce all prohlbltory
and restrictive laws. Sd, Let al
< mite to elect the best men to repre-
sent the temperance sentiment of the
people in the state Legislature anC
in congress, Let these officers
Il understand that they are expected t.
e change and perfect as far as possible
e every defective prohibitory law, an'
y add such others as shall guard soc
o ty most e~ffectually against the in
crease of intemperance. 4th. Let tn
1 goal to be reached ultimately be con
)c stitutional prohibition for each stat
and for the whole nation. 9th, Abov
all, keep the educational forces IN
q state of the greatest possible activity
in the home, in the schools, and
o the chuches, that thereby the rlsln
n generation become trained soldier
: for the war. n. w. WILDER.