St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-05-02
Prohibition in Vermont.

EDITOR CALIFORNIAN
Ii is probably known to many of the
readers OF the CALIFORNIAN. that there is
some probability OF a prohibtory law
for the city OF Washington and the Dis.
t let OF Columbia.
The "Webber bill' means prohibition
in the District, and ii it becomes a law
will do much towards cleansing the
"Augean stables" and making Washing.
ton one OF the most moral, as it already
is one OF the most beautiful cities in the
couHtry.
very vigorous temperance campaign
has been carried on for several weeks,
with Rev. E. Tennysou Smith as the
representative speaker. Mr.. Smith is an
English gentleman who has been making
tour OF the United States, with view
to ascertalning whether pI ohibition is a
success or a failure in this country. The
Washington campaign has been great
SUCCESS from a temperance standpoint,
and naturally the political cauldron is
on the lid"
The Washington Post, a very bright
and readable sheet, INDUCES in an col
torlal "jeremiad," in a recent edition, be-
walling the tact that foreigners who
come to this country remaining a few
weeks or months as the case may be, re-
turn to their native land and mist epre-
sent the people of the United States. The
writer mentions that Enghshmen and
Frenchmen have thus written us up,"
and he might have included Russians If
he had thought OF it, since Maxim Gorky
allows that Americans have the same
disgusting habits that they had in the
time OF Dickens. Perhaps he threw out
this Eek parte" evidence, because Ger.
tainly, Maxim has grievance ALI this
can be borne however, but now comes
the climax, Rev. E Tennyson Smith
has publicly announced that when he ie
turns TO England, be shall report that
1.-THE policy OF prohibition is a success,
and the statement that prohibition is a
failure, is a lie" Men may criticise our
manners; we are used 10 that; they NAV
even attack us upon the moral side:
safely inIrerc hed in our citadels of virtue,
we can withs aud the shock; but when
they begin to NEEDLE with prohibition.
we are vulnerable.
The writer goes on to say that every
] intelligent American knows that Dro
hlbtion has been failure il every state
} where 1t has been tried" including Ve,.
| mont,
. How are the mighty are iallen'-Wt
nh 80 Il.
. Vermont were endowed with fair share
e OF intelligence; in our most optimistic
/, moments we had even persuaded orr.
t selves that they were perhaps superior
d Alas, must They also be classed with
G women and idiots?
:, We are surprised to learn from this
S sage adviser, that the pronlbitory law
h mas proved powerful promoter OF vice
e ana crime and that the only approach
S 10 & nuine prohibition. is in local option
d communities 1t occurs TO an .;ntelli
It gent American" to ask right here. how !,
e happens that resident OF the District n
It Columbia should know so much NOR,
/. about The state OF affairs in Vermont
l. than the natives of that state?
We are glad to be assured from tn,
same reliable sour,e, that the cause O
temperance is prog essing, mainly. as tn
Is writer SAYS, through the avenues O
e public sentiment, and commercialism.
&c 1t would appear from this that GU
oracular friend desires to be consdere,
E. an advocate OF temperance.
y Why must the cause we love, so oite,
81 be wounded in the house of its friends
y II the prohibtory law does no
prohibit, as its opposers say, why ar