News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-05-14
GREAT PROHIBITION RALLY +!
Hon. Frank PIumley Scores High License.


Hon. Frank Plumley of Northielc
was heard at town hall last evening
in an address on prohibition VS.. higl
license. The hall was filled to over
flowing and the speaker held the close
attention of the audience for some
over an hour. The Morrisville banc
gave concert in front of the hall be
fore the speech and occupied places
OH the stage during the evening. Geo
". Powers introduced the speaker in
the following well chosen words
The people of our state are taking inteli
gent interest in the temperance question-ar
unusually active interest. The splendid audi
ice like the one that assembled here only 6
few evenings since to hear the gentleman
from Rutland, bear evidence to the fact th al
the people are aware of the import&t.e af tbs
GIestion. The men have made a.most happy
selection in the person whom they have
G,Iosen to answer the questions presented by
lar. Clement; who carries in his heart most
IDLY interest in the community, whose
lAaole life has been an evidence of the good
] and order OF the prohbiuory law. Mr.
Flumley is prohibitionist because he believes
IN its dl ctrine, he is a temperance man be.
cause he believes in the principles OF temper.
ance and his life is an evidence of the wisdom
of the forelathers in establishing this law.
Mr.. Plumley said in part
This old platform, if iU is not
the same, reminds me of the one
where | used in early days to speak
my orations when student in Peo-
ple's Academy. 1t was in those stud
eDt days when my habits were formed,
my life fixed. | count it indeed an
honor as it is a pleasure to come here
Oh your invitation for the purpose of
discussing the question which has
been presented to you by your chair
man as the theme of the evening.
thank the honorable gentleman for
his kind and too complimentary al
lusions. Bat it will be for you to say
when the evening is done how we'll the
cause of prohibition has been present.
ed. 1t is not quite just to the cause
itself that one should be taken out of
the busy work of his profession and
come to discuss u question which
has been presented by one who is
it his study and work at the
present time. | have been compelled
largely to draw upon the thoughts
which have been with me as [ have
lourneyed through life and upon OBJ
in this state and in other
states for the comparative results
of the system of dealing with
~ oxic@ting liquors. It is not true
that the prohibitionist supports
the law now resting upon ourstatute
books, because he desires to lessen
the liberty of any; it is not because
the present law cannot be improved
and it is not because he is a man of
total abstinence. We care not for
the characteristics ofthe individual in
his daily life so far as those charac-
teristics do not feet the public. But
the public has q right to demand of
its cltiz ms that they observe order
They must so regulate their lives as
not to effect the safety of society or
be menace to the welfare of the
community. This is the right that
the state has over its citizens.
One of the great burning questions
in every state, in every nation, and
n every community is what to do
with Intoxicating liquors. 1t is true
that the mere selling of liquor is not
an offence in itself, but the place of
sale becomes a place of disorder.
You need have no fear that because
this law rests upon the statute books
anyone has any thought of what
shall be eaten or drunken as such. 1t
ls because the general concensus of
opinion in all civilized communities
makes the open saloon a menace to
the public that the law rests upon
cur statute books. The law that
says that the public shall protect it,
self is as we'll established as any law
IN the world. 1t is that great law of
self preservation, which has written
upon the statute books the prOhibi-
tory law.
The only question is which is the
most efficient, prohibition or high IL
,ense, which procures the greatest de-
gree of safety among our people,
which gives us least of pauperism and
crime, which best protects the home?
When this is demonstrated all men
who are patriots will support that
aw. | do not know how this ques-
ton was discussed by the gentleman
here so recently, but know if he dis
,ussed it as a patriot he placed first
The question, which is the most eftici-
,nt law? and not change that liquor
nay be more free. And if liquor is more
rec will he deny the fact that the
reer the liquor the more harm to the
The increased sale of
liquor increases the hazard of every
community. The courts are uniform
n their decisions respecting this.
Human nature is not yet perfect,
md whether we live under IL law of
or a law of license we will
ind the execution of that law diff
.ult matter. There is nothing in Ii
.ense which executes itself. There is
in license which improves the
character of the official. Did the dis
inguished gentleman tell you of a
Jingle instance where there was less
iquor sold in former prohibition
own after it had changed to high
icense ? Did he give you a single
nata nca Of q pitu hetternd bV hiUh