Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-09-24
y. %. 8. Q. Column.
/. o. CT. DIRECTORY OF ADDl-
SON COUNIY.
WHAT CAN | DO7

MINUS VI Oul COuullJ AlN AilNy DlOuS
up by the liquor interests? Can it be
possible that the greatest writers, teach
ers and speakers (men who sway the |
people at will, and who by the exercise
of their talents work wonderful re-
forms), are so completely under the in
nuence of the liquor interests that they |
are silent upon this question? We are |
loathe to believe it. and yet the fact |
that we receive no aid from that quarter
would seem to say that they are either |
with the enemy, or are so afraid of him
that they dare not be known as being
identified with our movement. With a
few honorable exceptions the states
men of our country are silent upon this |
great and important question. Here and |
there we find one, who, at the risk of
losing his popularity and cOnsigning
himself to his political tomb, boldly |
espOuses the temperance cause; but they
are GASES i'm the desert, few and far be-
tween. Some, it is true, of our leading
statesmen are addicted to the use of in
lOAlNdtiilS ll'IuOlo liiNihHCiNCof anu biiohA
accounts for their silence upon this
question. And again, some are fast be-
coming drunkards, and a consciousness
of that fact makes them silent. But
the classes named. Then why not
identify themselves with the movement?
We believe it is mainly attributable to
the fact that they do not realize the alb
soute necessity of contributing their
help to the movement. Theyl probably
reason in this wise: "The temperance
question is in the hands of the temperance
men and there is no necessity of our in
terfering.' Or thus, "We have given
the question no study, and therefore are
not competent to take part in the move
ment;" or, as a leading statesman once
said to a committee of temperance men
who waited upon him to secure him to
deliver a temperance lecture, "HOur
cause is a good one; | wish you God
speed, but the fact is have no influence
and could be of no service to YOU" And
yet the same person had influence enough
to secure an election to congress, and
for many years was returned to congress
from his district.
No man is so high in position as to
excuse him from identifying himself in
some way for the good of his fellows.
and he cannot put his hand to more
needed work. Men of high social in
| fluence should exercise that influence to
make the cause of temperance popular
with their social circle. The higher the
social position the greater need that the
influence of that circle should be on our
side, and to affect that circle requires
influence in that circle. 1t is a well es-
tablished fact that circle of society
can only be reached and impressed by
those who mingle i'm that circle or are
above 1t. Those who occupy lower
social positions rarely, if ever, exert an
! influence on those of a higher one;
hence the importance of the people who
move in the highest circles those from
whom the masses take the cue and
whose actions are initiated and copied,
taking an active part in the temperance
movement, and thus giving more respect
ability and character to those who rep
resent it. Your cause is confined, says
one, to the middle and lower classes.
BE this true or not, let us suppose it to
be so, and then ask. Whose fault is it?
Certainly not the fault of the cause, for
it Is as well adapted to the higher as to
the lower circle. And there is greater
need of reform among the higher than
the lower classes. Ii is the support the
drinking custom derives from the higher
classes of society that gives character
and respectabilty to it. Remove the
social drinking custom from the higher
circles of society and it would not be
long before the lower would follow in
in its train, because all classes want to
be considered respectable. And in or
der to get what they consider respecta-
blitY they copy the customs and habits
of those who move one circle higher
than themselves. Let all who wish to
see this country rid of the sin of drunk
enness resolve to do what they can; en-
all of US emulate the example of the
brave sailor, who was on visit TO the
city of New York many years ago. 1t
was nearly midnight and he had been
wandering listessly over the city until
he had reached the outskirts. He was
aroused by the cry of fire. Fire, fire,
fire." rang forth from the throat of fire
men and police. \ tenement house had
caught fire and it was spreading with a
fearful rapidty. The lower floors were
fast being consumed. What was to be
done must be done quickly. From the
third story windows were seen the
anxious faces of some of the inmates
unable to descend, as the lower story
was one sheet of flames; and with pale
faces and beseeching looks they appeal
to the awestruck spectators to rescue
them. But they are helpless. At this
) critical juncture our brave sailor makes
his appearance, bearing on his shoulder
a ladder. a cry of Joy rang forth from
the excited multitude. But alas, the
ladder was too short by over five feet
and again a murmuT of dismay is heard
The sailor, nothing daunted, stoops
down, and placing both hands on the
= bottom Of the ladder, raises it slowly
70 until it reaches his tough, broad should