St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-03-06

D
reform lags because the dive keeper
and many respectable man OF
business fail to do either. Today
too many bow down before the gods,
greed, position, or personal advance
ment Instead of seeking first the
kingdom whether or not anything
is added unto us, we seek first bust
ness, personal, professional or
political advancement. We are
workers together with God to bring
in the kingdom on earth. But the
kingdom wi. draw nearer only as
we fulfill our part of the contract.
III
Now to aim still nearer home.
We are soon to vote again on the liq-
uor question in this town. What
are we going to do about it?
Some feel that too much drinking
is going on here. That is true so
far as any drinking is going on, here
or elsewhere. Whether liquor is be-
ing Illegally sold here I cannot say
decisively enough to amount to any
thing in law. Doubtless considerable
comes from Boston thru the mail
order business. In my desk are
many letters received during the
last few weeks. They offer special
inducements in this line. One is
from Cobb Hersey Co., Boston; one
is from John Doane, Boston; Joseph
Spang, Boston, has also favored us;
Isaac MerkIe of Pittsburg did not
forget us; while Gushing Medical
Supply Co." Boston, mark the name,
would also like to supply US with
Spring Bitters,' tho that is not
what they call it.
Uncle Sam has made it illegal to
send obscene literature thru the
mail. But until he ceases to be a
partner to this missionary business
he will be open to censure.
Now permit a PERSONAL word. We
as a family have lived in towns where
drink was as free as water, where
nauseating fumes from it were
blown into ones's face at every
corner; and we have lived
in nomina1ly closed towns like
our own. In spite of all,
we do not believe that one half or
one-quarter as much liquor is con-
sumed here whether it is sold here
or in Boston, as would be consumed
if all was wide open. When my
family first came here we lived in a
hotel for several weeks. After being
there sometime and seeing no man
drink, neither smelling drink on
any mans breath, we looked at each
other inquiringly. 1t was new
and agreeable experience.
The old topper will have his drink
by fair means or foul, mostly foul.
But our young are at least free from
the menace of the open saloon when
those behind the bar say as did a
member of the liquor dealers associa-
ton in Ohio, "a few pennies spent
in treats to the young will return in
dollars to our tills later on; friends,
we must be missionary" The pow
ers of darkness are ever missionary.
What I'VE doing?
If man should want to come into
this town and should say, Friends,
[ am comingAin order to increase the
of your paupers, lunatics,
I am going to. ruin your
Young and thrive on others sor-
rows" What would you say? You
would say Never, by my consent at
least" Yet friends. by those
acts which toA the wise are
always more eloquent than
words every liquor dealer not
only SAYS DuI SDOulSs IAdI
When by our ballots at next election
we reply to, his request to come here
I hope we shall say mo" in way
that will be- heard all over the state
of Vermont.
w.
Every man of sense realizes that
the ultimate solution of this problem
as of all others. lies in the formation
Of character. Raise uD generation
of men of affairs who love God more
than man, and who therefore refuse
for selfish gain, to trade in the sins
and follies of men and we should
strike this curse a tremendous blow.
In the home and elsewhere educate
our BOYS and girls in total abstinence
and we find our solution. But on our
way there. we must have radical and
effective external restrictions. Splints
have to be supplied and kept until
The broken limb has an internal
strength of it's own. When the |
SMALLPOX or other pests are with us
The next best thing to the positive |
health that overcomes, is the mega
tive restriction that keeps in cor
ner. If fire should break out in
our town the next best thing to put
ting it out would be to confine 1t to |
the smallest area possible.
Let LIQUOR and other laws be en- /
forced without stint, or measure. !
Then let all positive forces, the |
home, church. school and press edu-
rate and uUlift toward the happy day
when Gods children walk free and
obedient to the inner and diviner
law Of liberty.