The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-09-05
A Woman's View Of the License
Question,


stickler looses sight of his argument in
the all-sbsorbing topic Of interest that
precedes presidential election. One
lnvoluutarlly looks about in vain for a
retreat, where the din OF political
wrangie and proftless contention can
not invade. just now, however, the
presidential question takes back seat
in Montpelier and the focus Of popular
vision and the chief bone OF contention
for the time, seems to be the petition
for high license, which was lately cir
culated through the city.
The instrument itself was not so
much a cause of surprise, for we might
naturally look for just such an Auto
graph Album, wherein the vendors and
imbibers OF intoxicants would write
their names, but the fact that the
names Of some OF our most respected
citizens and heretofore protested tenn
perance men are found recorded there
caused, TO state it mildly, intense sur
prise and CONSERVATION, among the
temperance men aud women here and
else where.
The arguments advanced in support
of such II petition seem to lose the
bottom out when examined and an
swered as they recently were by Rev.
j. Edward Wright in his sermon of
August 26, and published in the Mont
pelier DAILY JOURNAL of tHe following
day. The EUening Argus also publish
ed synopsis of the discourse. Mr.
Wright did not deal in sentimental
effusion or draw on his imagination,
but confined himself to facts and statis-
tics and produced proof and cited in
stances in many different places to sub
stautiate his position. His reasoning
ought to convince any unprejudiced
person OF the immeasurabe advantage
of prohibition over the license system.
Surely if it is wrong for man to drink
and become drunken, it ia wrong to sell
to him the liquor to make him drunk,
and the person who does it becomes
accessory to his crime. If it is not
right to sell to such a man, then it is
equally wrong to license anybody to do
so.
Should high license become q law,
who among our citizens would be the
most probable aspirants for license to
sell? Would it be men noted for phil
anthropy and love of their fellowmen,
or would it not rather be the men who,
in days past, have caused so much
trouble and expense to the State, and
who are largely responsible for the il
legal traffic and drunkenness that has
so often disgraced our city? Can such
men be trusted to abide by the restrc-
tions OF the law, should there be any
restrictions with the law?
We are told that the licensed man
will look after the pocket pedler and
the various illegal sellers and protect us
from them, because it is for his interest
to do so, thus admitting the possibility
of not enforcing the law, providing
ones interest demands it, and this
statement is made by men who have
repeatedly declared "the prohibition
law cannot be enforced" 1t seems that
the 'interest" referred to means dollars
and cents, and we must infer that the
well being of our people does not in
spire zeal enough to impel one man in
Montpelier to accomplish what would
be expected of a probable ex-convict.
Allowing, however, that this licensed
man displays superior generalship in
suppressing illegal sales, who is going
to protect our boys from the baleful in
fuence OF this man and his saloon? A
wolf once went to shepherd, and Of
fered to take the place OF his dead dog
and protect his sheep from the other
wolves. The shepherd replied: "That
indeed would be an advantage. but
who is going to protect my poor sheep
from rascal like your" Will man
who pays a certain sum for the privil-
eye of selling liquor stop short OF plac-
ing in his pocket that amount multi
piled as many times as poor habit
bound, drink. cursed victims of intem-
perance can gather together means to
multiply it by?
What class OF people is going to be
made especially glad by the enactment
of license law? The saloon keeper
will rejoice, the manufacturer will be
glad, those who have been punished for
breaking the prohibition law will
chuckle with delight. The inebriate
will be eager to avail himself of the per-
mission to spend his last dime at the ex-
pense of his child's dinner and his own
last chance of reform. The rioters and
debauchers and those who people the
dives and slums of our great cities will
welcome to comradship the people who
favor law that assures constant in.
crease in their ranks.
Those who believe in the existence
OF devil can not stretch their imag-
ination far enough to picture him in
the act of signing the temperance
pledge or voting the prohibition ticket;
therefore his Satanic majesty will be
foremost in the ranks of the rejoicing
party, who will welcome the birth of
the high license act, should such law
be passed in Vermont, but from such
misfortune and disaster we reverently
entreat, Good Lord deliver u.s."
So much for the associates the men
have chosen who have taken stand
for the license law. On the other
hand who are to be made sad by such
law? All who believe il unwise and
unsafe to do or encouragage wrong
hoping that good may come from it.
All who believe in standing firm and
true to just cause for principles
sake, however discouraging the out
look may be. 1t is poor soldier who
deserts his post and takes sides with
the enemy because of the clamor of