Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-12-28
The Right and the Wrone.

BENNINGTON, VT, Dec. 22nd, 1894.
Editor Bennington Banner: read in
the Troy Daily Times of Dec. 18th, a
communication over the signature of
Moderation" in which the writer says:
1T may be interesting to many to state
that Hon. ChaunCey NJ. Depew made
temperance speech last Tuesday night
which is III harmony with the work be-
ing done under the Gothenburg system.
1t was at meeting in behalf of the New
York Christian Home for Incorporate
Men, held at the Broadway Tabernacle"
Moderation" quotes Mr.. Depew as say
ing: THE question we are considering is
one of the greatest before the public. in
the past no matter has excited more
opposition by legislation than any at
tempt to restrict liquor selling The
wrong has always been not in selling
liquor, but in getting drunk" A little
further on he says: 81 have pity for
those who drink to excess. l believe
drunkenness is disease. The tempta-
ton to young men in the attractlveness
of the saloon is fearful. The sellers of
liquor make their saloons bright and at
tractive, and the free lunches that they
set out are prepared with such in
genuity that the drinkers thirst is in
creased"
"AOdeTaUion's" suggestion is well
founded, for it is always interesting to
hear from man who stands so high as
an authority on all matters pertaining to
the welfare of mankind as does our be-
loved countryman, the Hon. Chauncey
NJ. Depew, and especially when he speaks
upon the great subject of temperance,
subject which to-day is the most vital
of any question dominating the minds of
all thinking men and women throughout
the length and breadth of this broad
land.
When Mr.. Depew speaks, then it is
that we expect to hear something in
keeping with the reputation SO freely ac-
corded him by the people of both the old
and the new worlds, as being man of
sound judgment, great learning and pro-
nounced Christian morality. We are,
therefore, a little surprised to read in
the speech referred to, the statement
that 1.-The wrong has always been not
in selling liquor bur in getting drunk"
A little further on Mr.. Depew says: 81
have pity for those who drink to excess.
believe drunkenness to be a disease.
The temptation to young men in the at
tractiveness of the saloons is fearful.
The sellers of liquor make their saloons
bright and attractive, ana the free
lunches that they set out are prepared
with such ingenuity that the drinkers
thirst is increased" Are these Mr.. De-
pew's sentiments? Are his words cor
rectly quoted? or have they been gar
bled for effect?
| sincerely hope the err is the fact.
But if Mr. Depew has been correctly
quoted by "MOderation," then with all
due Difference to the high authority that
tells us 1.-THE wrong has always been not
in the selling liquor, but in getting
drunk" and with a full appreciation of
his pity for those who drink to excess"
the writer begs leave, very respectfully,
to inquire of Mr.. Depew, where he draws
the line or separation between The
wrong of selling the liquor, the get
ting drunk, the making of the saloon so
bright and attractive as to so fearfully
tempt these diseased" young men, and
setting before them the free lunc hes
so ingenious prepared as to increase the
drinkers thirst?
Is not the selling of the liquor the first
link in the chain? and the attractiveness
of the saloons with the ingeniously pre-
pared free lunches, are they not links in
the same chain, and all so a. fully welded
together and so cunningly bound around
many diseased young man by these
crafty and relentless rumsellers as to
hold him bound to his detruction.
If there is no wrong in selling liquor to
our neighbor, then why the injunction
of Cursed is he that putteth the cup to
his neighbours lips?"
THOMAS WHITE.