Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-04-23

prohibitory law, because of violation,
and for money consideration grant per-
sons the protection of the Government,
to destroy property or do violence to a
fellow being.
Nor can it be proven that the case is
not parallel until it is shown that the liq-
uor traffic does not wreck the physical
man, impair the moral sense and destroy
the whole being. The records of the
past are positive on this question.
To chain the tiger and allow the tigress
to go free is no assurance of safety. Let
them both receive the same treatment as
they have the same nature.
Many are the crimes traceable to liq-
uor. We are often met with: "If the
law is all right, then why does it not stop
the traffic?' The asking of this ques.
tion is opening the door for the presenta-
ton of some facts, often overlooked, and
may not be agreeable for some persons
to think about
Let us keep in mind that thele is no
law, no matter how excellent, well adapt
ed to human need, or beneficial in effect,
that will enforce itself.
Resolution or law is good and reads
well on paper, but it is powerless until
the principles set forth are transformed
into life aud become living, vitalizing
force.
To prove beneficial, principles must
find expression in action. For any peo-
pie to place law on the statute books
and then fold their hands, is farce, an
imposition upon the community and in
no sense trial of the law. We know
the value of law as it enters into and
governs lives. If all persons were dis
posed to right and virtuOus living, and
sought to cultivate only purity of life,
there would be very little demand for a
law against those things which destroy
life or virtue. But with the natural
trend toward wrong, the cover of right
and independence of the individual Of
fers the opportunity to violate the law of
righteousness, although at the bar of
their own conscience the person is con-
victed of wrong doing, yet this does not
prevent repetition of the wrong.
Because of this disposition there is the
necessity for law and officer, placed in
trust thereof, by the exercise of free
people at the ballot box, and by his oath
of Office he becomes public guardian.
He is expected to understand at least the
general principles of the law and has
pledged himself that to the best of his
ability will see that it is enforced. To
stop short of this not merely casts a re-
Election upon the officer, it involves him
self, his reputation as trusty servant of
the people, truly public officer is
servant-he may serve we'll or i'll, and the
estimate will be rated by fidelity rather
than a show that amounts to only the
money received as salary.
The man that can wink at evil for the
sake of votes, or look the other way
when evil exists that he has power to
stop and is bound by his oath of office to
remove, is not one that you can safely
trust with interests that involve the good
of the community or protection to the
rising generation.
Let an officer ignore house of small
pox and how quickly he will be informed
of remiss, no matter who or what the
family connections are. From moral,
physical or financial point of view this is
preferable to liquor saloon; the small
pox but once, but the saloon is con-
slant temptation, and the drink habit
will curse the person as long as life lasts,
cover the name with disgrace and entail
on his family poverty, disease and ruin.
Let no man accept an official trust unless
having counted the cost, he will to the
utmost of his ability as a public servant,
see that the law is executed against every
violater. 1t is not what he may think
about the law, but the real facts, the law.
Have it distinctly understood that no
other person can have the support of vir-
tuous citizens, and then ON election day
let every man that has the good of the
community in his heart and is interested
for the rising generation, stand up and
be counted. Let Christian men vote as
they pray,-not for a political party, a
machine, but for right principles to pre-
vail. To vote for an unworthy nominee
simply because he is in the field and on 4,
the party ticket, is to stain ones hands
with the records of unprincipled officials.
Those that have the best interests of |
the community at heart should attend |
the primaries and see that only those
that are qualified to honor the position
are placed before the people for office,
and when placed in official trust let the
people demand that he enforce the law
and make it uncomfortable if he declines.
There is tremendous responsibility
resting on those that are voters, with
reference to this person who shall ad-
the law.
1t seems to me that it will be a happy
day-the benefit can hardly be properly
Highest Of all in Leavening Power.