The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-02-05
CORRESPONDENCE.
Our Dominion Letter.

i'i' HAh DAA ibf NSsf Jftiis -CNlI, lCJG.
To the Editor Of the Bdnner:--DEAR
SIR:-My last communication was writ
ten almost under summer skies, now we
have two feet of snow, with the mercury
POP below zero. La Grippe has ruled
here during the mild weather. now since
Jack Frost has taken the reins of govern
ment it seems to be abating 1t has
been particularly fatal to elderly people.
Clear cold weather as general thing
prevails here, but this winter has been
the same as everywhere else, an excep.
tional one. We are eighteen miles from
SOrel, small city about the size of Ben
ningtOn, situated on the St. Lawrence
river and at terminus of this branch of
the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Although
Sorel is beautifully situated ON this noble
rivGf where ocean steamers touch on
their way to and from Europe, it is as
dead as WOodfOrd. There is no manu-
featuring of any kind, not much COM
merce, consequently no work for the
laOOring classes. Within the last two
years there has been such an exodus to
the United States that nearly one third
of its houses are plaCarded tor sale OF tO
let. Hotels are plenty, however. Sey-
eral of them are licensed by the city
council, and liquor can be had at any
time, and in any quantity. There are no
temperance organizations there or in
this county, or if there is any | have not
heard of it. OF course in larger cities
the WOman's Christian Temperance
Union exists. In our town no bquOr
can be obtained, our good old parish
priest Contesting every inch of ground
against Incense whenever the question
is presented. Notwithstanding all this
there is plenty'o of the ardent here. There
is a brown dead head with a one sided
handle that travels on the cars I'M
mOlested, and its contents are brought
to the little villages along the line where
none is sold. | believe that liquor, in
stead of 4nOney, is the root of all evil.
Money is a blessing when used Tor the
benefit of mankind. Not 50 the awful
curse of alcohol. You cannot touch the
unclean thing without contamination.
It's destructive qualities pervade all
classes, the statesman and orator are not
exempt from its ravageS, 1T talnts the at
mosphcre of city and hamlet. III the pal
ace and hovel. Our language is rich in ex-
pressive and descriptive phrases, but It's
eloquent line sand rounded periods III ter
ly tail when one tries to apply it tu this
fiery curse. The world would be purer and
much better off financially, morally and
spiritually if the abOminatiUn had never
been manufactured. 1t never yet saved
human life, it has damned many souls.
Trace the history of all criminals and
you will find that rum is the starting
point and the beginning OF what ends Ill
murder, arson and theft. 1t creates
jealousy, envy and hatred. 1t makes q
man speak ut random, abuse his best
friends, his wife and children. 1t sep
arates those whom God has joined to-
gether. 1t creates poverty and squalor
1t clouds the brightest intellect, and |
might enumerate all the evils and repeat
all that has ever been said and written
ON the subject and it would only prove
what | said in the beginning. There is
no language comprehensive enough tU
take in the awful scope of its significance.
If had the power | would prohibit by
statute and enforce by law against the
of it. The sun would rise
and set just the same, generations To
come would be physically stronger and
morally better. Many child comes i'll
the world handicapped with the evil
effects of rum and tobacco inherited
from its parents. There is broad field
here for temperance workers. God speed
the day when its course will be checked
and its curse banished from off the face
of the earth.
In speaking Of the Canadian Pacific
Railway, was surprised to learn that
the president of tins road was native
born American who disfranchised him
self and swOre allegiance to Great BRIT
ain. He had to do this in order to fill
the position and | cannot comprehend
how any American would sell his birth
right for dollars and cents. This road is
owned and run by the Tory government
at Ottawa. Before the last election the
employees were distinctly given to under
stand how they must vote in order to re-
tain their places. Like the heather
Chinee, "fOr ways that are dark and
tricks that are vain," the Canadian
tories are peculiar. 1t would be anus
ng if it were not provoking, to read the
comments on the Chilian affair with the
United States. President HaTTisOn's
message to Congress is only the brag and
buster of a bully trying to cUerce a fee
Bile power. Blaine's craftsmanship is
)nly a bid for votes. They note and re-
mark upon the wonderful difference of
the conduct of the United States in the
Italian difficulty. They see a great sim
larity in the two incidents. They note |
he lack of discretion in the dismissal OF |
Lord Sackville- West without cause, and
compare Minister Egan's conduct very