Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-06-20
w. C. T. u. COLUMN.
/, ctto: "Gcd arelEen eard Native land.
FORWARD OR BACKWARD?


ance reform since the close of tie
civil war? Previous to the breaking
out of the rebellion there had been
great activity, especially along the
line of total abstinence through moral
suasion. The Maine law chad proved
prohibition to be not only practical
but SO beneficiaP' that Vermont, Mas
sachusetts and New Hampshire had
fallen into line. Local prohibition
wasTenacted in some oe the other
ceived terrible setback in conse-
quence of the decentralization caused
by the war. The drink habit increas-
ed fearfu1ly in the ranks of the volun
teer army. The struggle for the pres
ervation of the Union was the one
dominant issue throughout our great
republic. When the struggle ended
the temperance forces found them
selves hampered in every direction.
The Government had gone into part
nership with the liquor dealers by
placing heavy war tax upon distilled
spirits and malt liquors. This action
increased the political power of the
liquor dealers immensely. Prohibitory
a widespread Indifference was mani
tested which was very difficult to
overcome. Decentralization was ev-
erywhere. The abominable traffic
was rampant, causing untold misery
in thousa nds of homes throughout our
land. Then came the crusade in
which women first began to take an
active part in the temperance reform.
We all remember how the crusade
crystalized into the great organiza
ton to which we belong. Soon the
''Third Party' begun to be more ag-
gressive in their prohibition cam
paigns. 1t took quite while to bring
the W. @. T. U. to the point of voting
to lend our influence to the ''Third
Party" but thanks to the prophetic
foresight and able leadership of Miss
Willard, we s'got there" without any
appreciate damage in numbers or
influence. The question is, what have
we to show for our hard work since
the crusade days? The results accom-
plished in the one department of S.
T. I. proves that along the lines of
department work we have met with
we'll merited success. Franchise has
been kept we'll to the front and is not
such bugbear to some of our mem
bers as il was when we pioneers work
ed so hard to get a recognition in the
annual resolutions. 1t is true that we
have many discouragements in our
work There will always be some
pessimistic 81 told you SOS" to assert |
that prohibition does not prohibit,
that there is as much or more liquor
drank than ever, that the traffic can
never be stopped, etc., but we who
have toiled on and on, through the
thickest of the fight, feel that our eff
forts have not been wasted. We know |
that our influence has helped largely
to render the drink habit unpopular
Isn't it proof that the trend of the re-
form is forward when railroads and
other great corporations as well as
large business firms insist that their
employees shall be abstainers? Yes,
there has been great advance since
the crusade days, but another war
with all it's demoralizing effects is
upon us. Already we read that saloon
keepers are giving "free drinks" to
passing volunteers. War is terrible
Let us pray that this one
may be of short duration and that we
may not be obliged to struggle out of
4 set back similar to that which fol-
lowed the civil war.
MRS. S. E. BLODGETT.
DERBY LINE, VT.
One Minute is not long, but relief is OBJ
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ung troubles.