The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-08-28
Hillism In Vermont.

The Brattleboro Reformer processes
to have "read with interest the COM
ments of the republican state press on
the Woodbury. libel suit business and
to be " highly edited by the unanimity
with which they avoid the real ISSUE"
That issue, the Retormer declares, is
whether Governor Woodbury. know
ingly permits the sale of liquor on
premises owned by him, in violation Of
the law and the prohibitory principle"
The Reformer is as blind as bat when
it suits its purpose not to see.
Our contemporary recently de-
nounced Governor Hill for his utter
ances against the enforcement of the
excise law in New York city. But
Governor Hill said no more-nor in a
different spirit-than the Reformer has
been saying for score of years against
the prohibitory law of this state. Gov
ernor Hills example and the pernieious
influence of his words in New York are
not one whit worse than the Reformer'S
in Vermont Still the latter processes
to be in favor of the enforcement Of the
prohibitory law in Vermont, while
there has not been an instance,
from the recent Howe case back for
twenty years, when it's carping crit
icisms have not accompanied every
effort in St. Johnsbury, Montpelier,
Burlington, Rutland or anywhere else,
to enforce the law. When high license
and local option bills have been before
the legislature, and there has been a
practical opportunity for rational and
effective effort to secure the substitu.
ton of another policy for the policy of
prohibition, the contemporar has been
as dumb as an oyster, or its voice has
been but feebly raised. Where was
this Roderick in 1888, when the Pitkin
bill was before the legislature? No
blast from his bugle-horn was blown.
Still the Reformsr processes to be op-
posed, not to the enforcement of the
law, but to the prohibitory system of
regulating the liquor traffic. Between
elections and legislatures its strident
tones are ever heard denouncing the
law. When there is opportunity for
impressing it's views directly upon the
law-making power its insincerity, or in
difference, or poverty of the common
est resources of practical craftsmanship
become wofully apparent. SO it is with
the whole anti.prohibition press of the
state.
There are other laws, those relating
to taxation, to the suffrage and its ex.
ercise, to property rights, personal
liberty, divorce, etc., etc., upon the
wisdom or rightfulness of which men
are not agreed. What would be the
effect upon society if these were made
the subject of such constant and I'M
reasonable opposition, such incendiary
comment and criticism, as this particu-
lar law is? The practice would be
anarchism, the result, anarchy. Such
a course is regarded as a conspiracy
against law and order. Johann Most
and his comrades in anarchism have
been arrested and punished for their
declamations against the establish ed
order of things legal and social In its
effect upon certain elements of society
their course has been regarded az
subversive of the institutions of the
country, and the law has taken them by
the ear and led them to Jail. The
course of the Reformsr and it's Co
laborers in their opposition to the pro
hibitory law in this state has been NJ
more just or candid or patriotic thar
the rawlings Of Hill and the Tammany
chiefs against the enforcement of thu
excise law in New York city; no NOR,
decent or respectful than the lurid riot
ing of Most and his compatriots agains
all law.
We are saying nothing about the pol
icy or principle Of prohibition, or tn
license or local option system. Tha