Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-09-17
y. %. 8. Q. Column.
!. o. CT. DIRECTORY OF ADDl.
SON COUNTY.
WHAT CAN | DO?


nothlngs of the temperance cause ask |
the question, "What can do?" and then |
add, ~ do not see anything that l can
do silly as it may appear, there are
as many professed friends If temper
ance vino lie behind this intrenchment
they have thrown up and actually |
accomplish nothing. Many of these
intelligent people, VINO talk sensi- |
bly, of the importance of the temperance
work, and, we are charitable enough to
believe, actually wish the cause to sue
seed. Yet they never make any effort to
further its advancement, simply because
they appear to be waiting for some one
to come along and tell them what to do.
Micawb erlike, they are waiting for
something to turn up" Many of these
are men of means, have intellectual gifts
of high order and unlimited social in
nuence. Their means are withheld not
because they are penurlous, mean or
stingy (for they are profuse in their
gifts and generous to a fault, but be-
cause they do not seem to realize that
the cause of temperance needs Just as
much financial support as any of the
recipients of their bounty. No great or
good enterprise can be successful unless
it has financial basis firm and secure.
Is new church to be built? Money is
wanted and not a spade full of earth is
turned up until it is obtained. Are tracts
to be distributed: Not a letter is set up
until the funds are secured. Are mis-
sionares to be sent to convey the glad
tidings of salvation to the heather sit
ting in darkness? No one moves in that
direction until money is raised to equip
and support them. Nor is this only the
case in religious and moral affairs. What
political party would venture into
campaign with any hopes of success
until they had first made the wOuld-be
ofliceholders contribute of their means
towards the expenses of the canvass -
/ flaming posters, bands of music, torches,
banners and fireworks and last, but
not least, the political orators must have
money, otherwise the drum is silent, the
powder refuses to explode, and the army
of stump orators are dumb. Is rail
road to be built, canal to be dug, a
states prison or a lunatic asylum to be
erected-the first thing to be secured is
money. Every year millions of dollars
are contributed by the liquor dealers, and
freely spent in protecting their interests.
And yet the friends of the temperance
cause are expected to bring about a sue
cessfu reformation without the aid of
means. The great need of the temper
ance movement today is large amount
of money. And, pray, what for: says
one. To change it from defensive
position to an aggressive one. Thus far
we have only warded of or parted the
blows of the enemy. The cause has
been nearly starved to death, and we do
verify believe that no cause of equal
magnitude could or would have survived
the amount of starvation that the cause
of temperance has endured. 1t has life
and vitality, not through its financial
support, but in spite of the Withholding
of that support. Let our men of means
then give literally to this movement
That is Omething they can do. Place
the movement where all other great and
, important ones are placed-upOn secure
financial basis. UnmuzZle the press anG
let it ring forth its anathemas agains
1 the vice with which we are cOntending
e This can be done with money, and can
a., not be done without it. The liquor in
/ terests control the press of the country
; Deplorabe and sad as this may seem il
>, is terribly true. Point us to a daily
l paper In any of our large cities tina
r espOuses the temperance cause. No
one. Compare the reports of the nationa
. conventions of rumsellers with the re
ports of national temperance conven
tlons. The first have extended notices
even columns are devoted to them. Tht
+ latter are but briefly noticed, if at all
and it would seem as if they acted upol
. the principle that the least said about
q the better. Why is this: The liquo
e dealers have as much money at their dis
t posal as they require. Their treasury i
u full to repletion, while the Temperance
d men have barely enough to publish
II condensed report of their proceedings
:, But few of the men of wealth identif.
j. themselves with the movement. Let tn
- wealthy men who claim to be friendl
y to this movement contribute of thei
means in the same proportion that tn
tried and true friends of the movement
have been doing for many years, and
- revival will inevitably follow. To thos
then who can do nothing more we sa
give, not stintingly, but literally, O
your means towards the promotion c
the cause. We want the influence an