The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-05-26

fAateC IN victory oSrt tno u''o'u Hs VI in
tempsmscs. Opposition, then, 10 The Maine
Law, un,hsr whsieveri pre,ence. Is, in il
cssssce and spirit an abandonment Of The
temperance enterprise: leaving the com
nsniiy. 10 be uuu,rItdcn, 20 be prosiraied
Impoverished, debased aud besot,ed beyonc
tops add past redemption. lisr n'd'H1u
Trace back the history Of the lem perancs
ea,cfpsise and tell rs where In all the pas
which has been eoae ever, there Is sole
and effective ground on which 10 stand ant
cattle successfully ior The overthrow OF in
temperance, No man living can point IL
the spot. ELai. ll.sa. 10 10 b gained bY I
yelpn, bot TO repeat an old experiment
which has proved 10 DO Inefficient aud de
cep,ive, those who wish 10 amuse them
selves in such action can 10 50, but ,hey
must not expect 10 drag back the temper
ance men who have tried The. experiment
aud found its defects. q
The present position OF the friends Of tenn
perancc and the Maine law having beer
reached by hborious, earnest process o.
actual experiment, in which they have ex.
hausted the resources Of each step In their
course. until at least they bad discovered a
necessity for stronger position, there Is
no course le!t For them bat TO continue where
they are and 10 maintain their ground with
n zeal corresponding tn its importance in the
great social and moral work in which they
nrc engaged. They cannot cease from their
activities until society Is emancipaied IRON
the destructive inroads al intemperance. In
whatever form opposition manifests itself
they must meet IL. At tho polls IL il be
there in The Legislative assembly, IL there
II appear in the chief executive if opposi
ton proceeds thence in the Judiciary If op.
position seats itself there in the executive
officers Of the law &c they oppose in the
jailsr aud his subordinates IL they are found
in opposition, and by their acts or their neg,
lccts cause the purpose Of the law TO be de
feated; in short. in business, in social life
EVERYWHERE and in every form they mus
maintain their ground, by argument, en-
treaty, and by action. ,.. go 'rE
Such, il seems to Us, is the clear and un
nistakable duty Of temperance men. Tn,
only measure OF their eifJrts and actiyite
must DO the triumph Of their cause, an,
nothing short Of this. . Is o.. ....
The most formidable opposition to the Law
In Maine, and generally, we may say, il
other States. bot certainly in Maine, is
political opposition. The rum power is
temptation to political leaders who are reck
less in their means to secure victory, es
pecially since il is found that with man,
the desire for free rum oyer-rides politica
party ties and cohsidera' ions. This FAC
would DO fatal, was il no, Zoe another IN /!
parallel with il, that the desire for temper
ance Is. 20 strong with other men as to in
duce them, when they see the rum powe
courted and willingly yielding itself, to th
proHcrcd embrace, 10 lay aside the supre,n
acy OF their party attachments and unit,
themselves by coalition with other pariie
TO secure the benefits Of the law. w,
know very we'll that this is held up rs tn
extreme Of political detection MS sin il
politics not to be forgiven. and as shutting
the partieipators out Of the kingdom Of 20
litical hyoritism. Nothing otherwise is ex
pected OF devotee Of free rum, and for hin
TO 20 for the largest liberty in this direction
is all very well, very proper. very conssten
and very commendable n matter worth,
of boasting and an evidence Of a right min,
and even tender conscience. Bot for
man to leave his party one step behind h
vote for the maintenance Of law to, saw,
the State from poverty, drunkenness, degra
dation and crime, is INDUSTRIOUS in the ex
IRENE This nonsense the people have beer
taught BY the urgent necessities Of the cas-,
10 disregard. They have learned by Ion:
ind painful experience that if they woulC
secure the benefits OF The Maine Law and il.
most vigorous execution, they must stanC
by the law and sustain IL with their coun
ellis, their influence and their votes. let wha
may intervene = whatever obstacles oppose
whatever minor consequences may occur.
The accumulated testimony Of two year,
past must have satisfied the temperance
men OF this State tina, their only safety i.
In following up the course which the result:
Of two years OF only partial success TO tn I
cause have sanctioned. To falter now, what
ever the rreience, will be an abandonment
Of the great enterprise, with which, the sue.
cess Of no political party measures or party
men can begin to compare, because this en-
,erprise Of reedceming the State FROM the
effects Of free rum, is one which has mos
intimste relation with oil the essential ant
dearest interests Of tho people. And the
promotion Of these interests is that which
iegitimaiely calls fur the action Of men, law
and institutions. Whereas the protection
of run and the liberty to sell rum are nd
verse to the weliare Of the community an,
are no more deserving Of being sustaine,
than the business Of selling diseased meat
tainted provisions, or poisoned vegetables.
Bangor Courier. ... r.-.