The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-30
THE COMING CRISIS IN OUR PRO.
HIBITORY LAW.
An Earnest PrOhibitiOnist who Sees
The Practical Evil or Present COndi-
tiOns-A Candid statement from His
SIN nd mint

d.
intelligent observer that Vermont can
not long remain prohibitory stat
unless there is soon ii sweeping reviva
of prohibitory sentiment. At presen
there is no other law upon our statute
books that is so badly handled as thu
prohbitory law. Laws against theft
murder, counterfeiting, arson, perjur,
and trespass are fairly well enforced
but the prohibitory law is grossl.
violated in every: large town in the
state Why is this? From my youth
have been "A total abstainer and since
the beginning of my public life have
been temperance worker and an ar
dent prohibitionist, and can / think
speak on this subject with judicia
fairness. ] am especially acquainted
with the effects of prohibitory legisla
ton in Maine and Vermont.
The following present themselves tc
my mind as among the chief obstacles
to practical prohibition in Vermont.
Fully one-half OF our voting popula-
ton imbibe intoxicants more or less.
This may be disputed but | am salts
fed that il we include the cider SC
plentifully stored in the cellars of the
farmers and also the beers and some
other lighter intoXicants, my estimate
is conservative one In this first fact
alone prohibition encounters ire
mendous obstacle. A man who drinks,
even if he takes nothing more than
hard cider and an occasional glass of
beer or whisky, will not as rule be a
rigid enforcer of prohibition upon his
neighbors and friends who know his
h.hift. T., faAlc thn it1rangtgt.,,,,,, q
such course and so remains inactive.
1t is also IA sad fact that a large per
cent of our leading men in political
and business life are more or less al
dicted to bibu,ous habits. Some of
them only drink occasionally or mod.
erately; but very few of them are total
abstainers, even if members Of church
es.
\ second and | almost fear increas
ing difficulty is the awful treachery of
So called temperance people to their
own professed principles ANY man
who has had any considerable expert
ence in trying to enforce prohibition
impartially has learned this fact so
thoroughly that he will not be likely
soon to forget it. He may proceed
with as much caution as possible and
may be perfectly fair and impartial in
all his movements: but the moment he
touches some man in the community
of high social standing, your Frenchy
clothes.pin editor will publish scurril.
Gus articles against him written by
some coward who will not sign his own
name, and the church which the VIC
lator Of the law supports will be loud
in condemnation of his prosecution.
The hypocrisy of a very large per cent.
of SO called temperance people and
their disloyaity To temperance and
prohibition principles is a subject of
common remark and adverse comment
in almost every town of the state.
When they are tested and asked TO
take stand in the face of Il little op-
position. they are about as true 10
temperance and prohibition as Bcne-
diet Arnold was 10 the American re
public or Judas lscariot to Jesus of
Nazareth More than a score of storm
beaten pioneer prohibitionists in this
state will fully substantiate my charge
against these temperance hypocrites.
Our prohibitory law has more 10 fear
from their nefarious treachery than
from all other causes combined. Their
diabolicRl course has done more than
else to bring the law into
contempt and 10 foster a growing sen
timent in favor of It's repeal.
\ third obstacle TO the progress of
prohibitory law in Vermont and a con
cause to its growing unpopu-
larity is the fact that the law is not
enforced upon all classes
of citizens alike. \ good many TEN
perance people, so called-with others.
seem quite willing 10 have it enforced
upon the poor. weak and defenseless
classes: but they are not willing to en-
force il or have il enforced with impair
tial yigor upon every man who violates
it, be he rich or poor, a social aristo-
rrat or a vile saloonist. Now any law
| care not what It's nature may be,
will lose its sacredness in the eyes of
the masses as soon as it ceases to be
enforced: and this is pre-
true of all prohibitory laws
because they bear SO closely upon in
lividual rights and personal liberty
\ fourth obstacle and one | fear
which is Fastening the downfall of
in Vermont, is the atti
.ude of the politicians toward it, IT.
S evident that they do not believe in
he practicability of the law Many of
hem champion prohibition from the
most corrupt and selfish motives. 1t
$ a white horse upon which many of
hem ride into power. They make
tanning campaign speeches under the
influence of the liquor which the law
and deceive the people who are
oolish enough 10 send them to Mont |
,elier year after year to make the law
more stringent and its violation more /
lisgraceful. by their midnight revels. /
{ is truth that no man acquainted |
With the facts can deny that some of
he very best prohibitory speeches ever |
made at our state capital have been |
made by men who were intoxicated /
ither short time before or "A few |
lays after their eloquent deliverance. |
Besides these politicians are largely |
influential in the appointment of
Ulcers whose duty it is to execute the
aw without fear or favor. Many of
hese officers are untrue to their trust.
hey take brides and play fast and
pose with the law as best suits their
olitical aspirations and their love of
ersonal gain. Now there must be
cndnge Ii tne law is 10 stanu tne
'hristian and temperance elements of
he state must act unitedly and act at
nee for vigorous and honest enforce
lent If they do not do SO the law
hould be repealed in the interest of
lorality and good citizenship. De
ance of one law breeds contempt for
Il law. Hypocrisy toward prohibition
V professed temperance and Christian
eople must fearfully corrupt the
loral life of the youth of our dear old
tate. As good citizens we cannot
ford to allow it. We should enforce