Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-02-24
BRATTLEBORO LOCAL NEWS
AN APPEAL TO VOTE mo"
Rev. George g. Lawson Pointed out the
Duty Of the Self interested, Indifferent

Duty Of the Self Interested, Indifferent
Voter.
Last Sunday morning Rev. Mr.. Law
son of the Baptist church delivered an
address on the present temperance stua-
ton which could with profit be printed
entire Space forbids, however, but we
give a portion and commend careful read
ing.
Text. Judges 8: % Curse we, Meroz,
saith the angel of the Lord, curse we
bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because
they came not to the help of the Lord,
to the help of the Lord against the
mighty
Mr. Lawson described the circumstances
that led to this Vindictive utterance of
Deborah. In the time of crisis, with Barak
the captain of the host she had gathered
all the forces of Israel to the overthrow
of their national enemies. Jabin and
Sisera. The victory won, she sings a
song of triumph, i'm which she honors
all the tribes and villages that had re-
sponded to her call In the midst of this
song is the ontburst of wild and fiery
Indignation one village had failed to
respond to the call for patriots. 1t nestled
among the hills secure and comfortable,
engrossed in agricultural ana shepherd
pursuits, absorbed in its own interests,
needless of the danger to the nation and
Indifferent to her welfare. The people
may not have been towards or intention
ally traitors they were simply self-in-
terested The war was far from them.
No danger threatened them. Their homes
were safe their fields and hocks rested
under the blue skies of security. Their
commerce and agriculture we're undis-
turbed. They were at ease. They knew
no pressure of need to exchange the
peace of home for the conflict of war.
Security induced a careless confidence.
They felt they were not needed. There
were fighters enough The battle would
come out all right
The victory was won, but Meroz had no
part in it, She did not come forth to
he counted among the Lords host. She
failed to act and the prophecies branded
her with a curse which viii ever remain
as the condemnation of indifference, use
lessness and inaction. 1t is the curse of
those who stand firmly for right, who
fight in a good cause, who suffer and
sacrifice for truth, who bear the burden
and heat, upon those who fail to do their
part. 1t is the curse of the patriot who
bears his part manfully and at whatever
cost upon those who want all the privi-
leges but none of the obligations of citi-
zenship.
These words were made to apply gen.
orally to the indifference of men to the
public welfare, and specifically to the at
titude of many to the temperance reform.
The advantage of the present law is in
that it forces this question upon the
townships for settlement; it makes it
living issue; it makes possible clear and
defninte discussion; it recognizes the.
principle of local self government, fixes
the responsibility with the people; and in
large measure it takes the question out
of the realm of party politics and re-
moves it beyond the chances and changes
of party maneuvring.
We have had long enough to test the
working of the present law and are well
able to make just comparisons between
DreSent and former conditions
I believe it to be the consensus of fair
minded and practical men in this COM
munity. that open saloons are a moral
curse to Bratteboro.
Those who have had the appetite for
drink fastened upon them have had re-
straints removed and with ease secure
the drink which satisfies and increases
that appetite. Men who have kept away
from drink for years and have made
fine and successful fight to keep clean
have become again addicted to the habit.
Young men have formed the habit. You
and l know of suffering of women and
children who have had to pay the price
of material comfort and family pride,
Money has been diverted from the
channels of legitimate trade.
Men whose authority cannot be ques-
toned tell us of certain violations of law.
Those qualified to make just COMPARE
sons say the earnings from revenue are
offset by increase OF expenditure and
police regulation. 1t not to be denied,
that the drink evil increases the burdens
Of the state for the sober and Industrious,
so that those who pay taxes, pay a con-
siderable portion of them because of the
saloon.
Being a border town our position is at
once more serious. The question is a
moral question to be decided apart from
the balancings of profit and loss. think
it is safe to say that one saloon on the
island will not work the harm that six or
seven licensed places are now working.
There is something interesting as 1t Is
pitiful in the fact that a single saloon
keeper, in a township of New Hampshire
shall dominate a moral situation in YER
mont.
Ours is not purely a local issue with
out reference to the state ISSUE Brattle-
boro commands position of influence In
this state which is to be sedulously guard
ed All moral questions reduce themselves
to a matter of sentiment and it's crys-
talization. Ours is no small part in shap-
ing and fixing the best sentiment of the
state. The action and registration of
single towns on this issue will affect more
than any other consideration the shaping
or sane and progressive state legislation.
know well that intelligent and earnest
men differ widely as to the best method
of dealing with this great problem.
There are those before me who are wide
ly at variance in their views 1t seems
to me that whatever be the measure we
may hope ultimately to secure, we may
all unite in putting away the saloon from
Brattleboro. The means of securing
advance in legislation lies in the way of
administering the law that is and In
taking advantage of all the law that is
There is strong sentiment in the
community that the town will go no
license. 1t is not to be taken for granted
Men must realize that every vote is neces-
sary. While one vote may decide the
issue there is need of a substantial
majority. The men who stay at home
ana allow the contest To pass without
personal interest and participation must
share with the inhabitants of Meroz the
indignation and curse of Deborah and
liarak who bear the burden and heat of
the fight