Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-08-18
w. c. r. y.
TEMPERANCE VICTORIES AND WHY

not new IL Is ALMOST as OlO as cred-
ton.
Noah disgraced himself and family
by the use of strong drink, and Bel
shazzar, in spite of his knowledge of |
his fathers fate. gave himself over
to wine, and lifted up himself against |
the Lord of Heaven, but he saw even
as the liquorites are seeing today, the |
Handwriting on the WALL" and God
gave his kingdom into the hands of
the Modes and Persians.
Many young man has had his king
dom taken from him and given to
another because of strong drink, and
the saddest part of the terrible situa-
ton is, that those who love him best,
and would sacrifice their lives, even,
for his redemption, are powerless
because the state and nation license
this body -and-soul-killing evil.
Not more guilty were the states and
nation for the slave traffic, than they
are today for the chains of heredity
and environment they have forged
around the bodies and souls of men
and women by licensing the traffic in
spirituous liquors.
Just as surely as there came a time
in the history of the slave traffic, when
God said "It is enough" just so surely
has that time come in the slavery Of
the liquor traffic. AS it was then, so
it is now, God works through MEANS.
Lillian M. N. Stevens's proclamation
for national and constitutional prohi.
bition was as much an inspiration as
was Harriet Beecher Stoves, "Uncle
Toms Cabin"
1t is singular coincidence that the
question of state rights is presented
by the liquor dealers today, as it was
at that time by the slave-holding states
and you may rest assured that the liquor
trusts will leave no stone unturned to
| Try to convince the public that the
prohibition amendment is unconstitu-
tional.
| But in spite of all opposing forces,
one after another. the states have
either adopted statutory or constitu-
tional prohibition, until today there are
eighteen states that have outlawed the
liquor traffic since 1851, when grand old
Maine took the lead.
In 1880 Kansas said, ''We have suf
fered from this course long enough, let
us be free.'' In the years between 1880
and 1914. North Dakota. Georgia,
Oklahoma. Mississippi, North Caro-
lima, Tennessee and West Virginia
asserted their state rights. In 1914
an avalanche of prohibition sentiment
swept over the whole country and Vir-
ginia, Colorado, Oregon, Washington
and Arizona swung into line.
In 1915 again the battle cry was
and Idaho gave shout of victory, and
sang praise God from whom all bless
ings flow"
The results have been so satisfactory
in every instance, that numberless
testimonies from every state could, if
time permitted, be given in favor of
prohibition.
In rouslng temperance address,
given at the Vermont Methodist Con-
ference recently by Rev. Clarence
Wilson of Topeka, Kansas, the victory
note was very apparent. DR.. Wilson,
very comprehensively reviewed the
history of the liquor traffic and the
attempted remedies, and took up and
answered each argument of the liquor
dealers. from the original one that
alcohol is food to the last one that
they should receive compensation if
their business is to be taken away
from them.
He reviewed, one by one, the vari-
Gus attempts of this and other coun-
tries to handle the traffic, and declared
that every conceivable plan had been
tried but national constitutional prohi.
bition, and that the present generation
would surely live to see that. He
attributed the prosperity of Kansas tc
the 35 years prohibition of the liquor
traffic and said if you of Vermont see
your way clear to tackle this great
question next spring, you will be
doing the biggest thing for the Chris.
tian religion, your homes, your indus
tries, your children, your schools,
of your state and your nation that you
can do.
I notice in a recent issue of the
Union Signal report of this aggres
, sive work for the schools of Kansas
By action of the Kansas Legislature
Sept. %, or the school day in eacf
q year nearest that date, has beer
for the purpose of giving instruction
k and conducting exercises upon said day
relative to the history of benefits o.
prohibition. The bill has been signec
by the governor.
D The old argument that prohibition
:. does not prohibit is worked to fragile
q Would you for a moment use that for al
argument against any other law? w,
:, have laws to prohibit murder, theft
! and other kindred crimes, but do thes,
g laws prohibit?
Our dailies don't say so, but if we cal
l. trust the statements of our leading
q men in prohibition states, all over tn,
country. we know it to be a grea
advantage.
A congressman in Washington, D
= c.. was in the habit of sending f1owe
seeds for spring planting. to minis
tterial friend but cast his vote agains
national prohibition. On receiving tn
seeds this friend repliod sat xuopt r.
say that your constituents in tbi
prohibition territory would be mucl
better pleased with you if you woul
keep your flower seeds and give u
your influence for driving out tn
liquor traffic, which allows no flower
to grow where its curse blights.''
Russia has, with one grand exhibi
ton of power done what, because O
the difference of the governments O