St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-05-22

from mo license" to license, and the
open saloon prevailed, that the number
of clubs increased, and their revelries be-
came more public. AS for home drinking,
no one can tell whether prohibition in
creases or decreases it. There are some
people who love their English Ale" and
their imported liquors, but would not be
found drinking in public places whatever
the law. That such would drink more,
if liouor drinking could be made respect
able by law, l doubt not. That they
would even then drink less at home, may
with reason be disputed.
We are next told that the 'prohibitory
law provokes resistance and as stolen
drinks to the young possess more sweet
ness, therefore the law against liquor
selling should be repealed" Well, well,
have we returned to the days of the
early christian church? The apostle
Paul met some people who objected to
law because it provoked resistance"
but be did not encourage or advocate its
repeal.
But again, we are told, chat the law
as it exists is connected with vast
amount of hypocrisy on the part of buy
ers, and sellers, and officials" We are
indebted to the bishop for thus classify
ing a portion, at least, of those that de-
mand change in the law. wonder if
they would be any the less hypocritical
under license law?
The sixth complaint refers to the old
demand for personal rights" and the
fear that young people now compelled to
abstain, will, when they get older, under
the instruction and counsel OF Others, be
led to see the unrighteousness of the law,
and look lightly upon drunkenness. This
is as strong an argument for the with
drawal OF all parental restraint as for
the repeal of the prohibitory law.
The bishop next gives us what he con-
siders lone of the most serious objections
to the law" l will state it in his words.
at tends to break down the sense of
obligation in the case of all law, human
or divine. Here some one says, is
law which is not enforced, to which no
moral obligation belongs (beyond the
fact that it is law which is commonly
disregarded. Why should not other laws
be disregarded likewise? ?" The trouble
with this SERIOUS objection" is that
neither premise is true, and therefore the
conclusion has nothing to rest upon.
The law is enforced as we'll as any
other law in the state, in four.fifths of
the state, and where it is not so well en-
forced, it is not the fault of the law, but
of the "hypocrites" to which the bishop
has already made reference.
Then the law has a moral obligation
belonging to it. Has not the law that
tends to promote good order and So
briefly that stands in defence of woman
hood and childhood, that would protect
man from physical, intellectual and
moral selfruin, does not such a law
carry with it moral obligation which
it imposes upon every citizen? If not,
then what law does have moral obliga-
ton belonging to it?
Once more, he says, Our existing pro-
hibitory law l consider foolish and mis-.
chievous, because it is largely an attempt
on the part OF one set of people Jour
Guilty IOlhI w lSSlolotS III elhoLhSl SGT
of people lin our larger villages and
cities)" But the same complaint can be
made of all legislation in Vermont. Per-
haps the advocates of repeal would
change the state constitution so that the
Country folk" may prohibit themselves
from stealing, and the city folk be
licensed to steal all they wish But is
the Golden Rule" only binding upon the
country folk" in their own more init
mate relation? "Who is my neighbor ?"
Surprising the cities should want to
license houses OF prostitution, would the
bishop draw the line between country
folk" and city people?
Thelbishop closes by saying: "But l
cannot think that the practical exper-
fence of Vermont, New Hampshire or
M ane is in favor of state prohibitory
law" That may depend upon what one
considers practical experience. But
surely, if driving an evil underground, Il"
and thereby making it more difficult for it
to pursue its ruinous work is not in favor
of state prohibtory law, know not
what is.
If a law that is terror to evil doors,
and thereby "provokes resistance" is not