The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-07-20

la.ions, p and "salutary Restrictions, while
I. suBasd .hs gresrs;ds 10 roliou, sprsadins
ruin and desolation In is path. Here, then,
We end tho Reed wings and the Wells DEM
banded together in an unholy warfare against
this law. To all inteuts and purposes they
are allies and fused together. and Il they
could seize the roins Of power, tho law
would be destroyed. Thus tho issue 10 fully
made up, On the one side wo have Morrill,,
tho republican party and the Maine law
On tho other wo havo Wells and Reed, and
hostility 10 tho law. On ono side or tho 9th
er every voter in the state must takc his po-
sitiou. There is no middle-ground-no half
way housc. AL who are no, for tho Law,
are against it. No Consistent friend Of the
Law can vote for Wells or Reed, or withhold
his vote from Morrill, without aiding them.
Now, therefore, choose 70 this LAY whom yc
will serve. Thus wo SEQ how this law Is in
peril, in this election moro than ever before;
and the question comes homo TO US oil, is
there anything in il worth saviDs--worth an
effort on the part oflits friends ai Boz
Passing over the beneficial effects that
that this law has produced, and is calculated
to produce, that are wel.known to all pres
ent, 10 the whole State and the world, let us
consider for moment the struggles which
lis friends have made to establish its princi-
pies. off. "a .f.'- !.'#s "ru . .i.
Prior 10 1898, The friends VI temperance
began 10 perceivo that tho only sound prin.
ciplo Of legislation on this question was
prohibition, no, regulation, and in that year
an able report was made 10 the Legislature
advocating this doctrine, but 1t met with nc
favo. Then the struggle went on year after
year. and ,oiled continually to imbue the
public mind with the great truth. But not
until 1876, was there any Legislation thai
ever recognized tho principle Of prohibi'
ton. The law Of that year was weak in il
practical operation and accomplished bu,
little. In ls4s, the great principle Of the
present law was first embodied into an act
bu, Gov. Dana putt into his pocket and
s,rangledit. In 1850, another bill was in.
,roduced almost precisely like tho law o
1897, passed tho House by decisive vote
went to tho Senate and was there killed BY
a tic IA yeas and ID nays, Isaac edpOtina
nay! In 1851, tho Maine Law on its pres
eni basis was passed. Here was decides
progress, bu, the practical operations de-
monslrated some defects, not in principle
but in tho administering measures. The
network was not close enough and many
dolinqucne escaped, and 80 tho friends o
tho law, having the power in their hands In
1853, adopted some amendments which
rendered tho law more efficient. sun there
were detects which experience disclosed
ana IN $780, Inc whoio law was 'o'''ea
ms law was mainly ofai'ea oy an eHpe''
enced and able legislator, and with grea
caro- and labor, yc, no ono protends that i
is perfect. No human Legislation ovor ye
was perfect, and the details OF Law lik,
this arc the mos, diffioul, 10 adjus, and har
monizo. While therefore i, is unfortunate
i, Is not strange Thar there should hav,
been an omission to confer express jurisdic
ton on municipal and police courts, and jus
,icc Of tho peace to try cases OF single sales
Taking advantage OF this omission, a mar
committed 10 Jail for not paying his fine, il
Konnebcc, was recently brough, before The
cour, and liberated, on tho ground that tn,
tmas,su.,o h.. no jurisdiction. Although
this oDinion of tho court is moi entirely sal