The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-07-06
ADDRESS
OF THE
State Temperance Convention,
TO THE PEOPLE OF MAINE.

Tho trends OF temperance, assembled
al Bangor in State Convention, ask the a.
ien,ion OF tho people Of Maine. We are
not unmindiul Of the Fact that the subject Of
this appeal has been prominent 90 long
that much Of It's novelty Is lost. No ques.
lion can be perpetual source OF thought
'Wssrinrss. And herein lies ibb danger
'ihat'now ,hfeatens Us. II Is this alone that
gives any hope 10 our enemies. II Is now
almost twenty Yeas aimee the people oil
this State began 10 unfold the great idea Of
protecting themselves against the enormous
evils resulting from the sale Of alcoholic
liquors by prohibitory law. They have
been years Of unremitiing toll, Of generous
self.sacrifce, OF heroic struggle. For q
long time the conflict was fierce, and the
issue apparently doubtful. But at length
victory crowned our efforts, and the advo.
Gates Of in,emperance weIe driven from The
field, with their banners trailing in che
dust.
Their defeat, however, has wrought nc
change in their principles or their designs.
They exhibit no signs Of penitence for the
pssi, nor any promise Of reform, except by
coercion, for the future. Seeking TO con.
troll the politics Of the State by wiles and
sub,eriuges which have thus Far failed oil
success, they have now thrown of all dis
guises and proclaim inierminable war. And
though they are diminished in numbers,
oud weakened in resources, still they are
armed for the fight. Another contest i'm
ponds, and tho people Of Maine are sum.
moned once more 10 defend their homes
from the destroyer, their cities and towns
from discord and riot, their name from dis.
honor, and their free institutions from
threatened overthrow and ruin.
Every true friend Of temperance knows
that his work 10 never done. BY constant
effort the iniquilous traffic in liquors may
be driven into dark corners, II may be com.
PEELED 10 hide under ground, in Jens and
cellars, -perhaps IL may be entirely sup
pressed. But let the strong arm OF The law
become for a moment weak, let one Of Ia
hundred eyes DO closed, though only for an
instant, and the germs Of this evil will
spring up Ia every direction. As il Is in
each community. SO II Is In the aggregate
Of communities which make the Stale. No
other vice has so strong hold upon It's VIC
Tins. No other crime requires for its sup
preston law more stringent, judiciary
more firm and unyielding, an executive
more active, intelligent, faithful and deter
mined. The Rum Power Il not dead-nor
will il be. ltlives in the depraved passion,
Of 'men, and like Millions devils,
ssvhsl In every part,
Cannot but by annihilsiins de-"
Il may DO paralyzsd. !, may be chained.
But Tho moment we fall asleep, II will
arise, 10 burst ito letters, and fasien them
on Us.
Our election the present is confined 10
the choice Of State officers. Il has there
fore only an indirect bearing upon national
politics. And though We would not, ri any
time, overlook great national quesiions,-
bu, would rather harmonizs all good OBJ
jects In one comprehensive movement
neither would We forget that 10 our Stale
elections, questions OF domestic reform arc
paramount 10 oil others. And among these
questions, no one has ever arisen Of such
magnitude NJ that OF suppressing the sale
Of Intoxicating liquors BY positive prohibi.
lion. To Maine 10 everywhere conceded
the high honor Of taking hs lead In such
legislation. In 1888 q committee Of our
State Legislature demonstrated liz necessity
ia report, 90 able and prolific In argu.
ment that Il was unanswerable. And Il
WINS not because the people did not desire
such law that u failed then. u failed, q
Il did repeatedly afterwards, bseause ne pol.
iiieians Of he State had Other objects In v;;s,o.
For this ieason alone iniempsrance was
permitted 10 WELD is bloody scsptrs IN.
checked for eight years more. In isl6 The
FIRST ptohibitory law was enacted, and oil
subsequent acis have been merely cumuls-
tive In remedy and penalty, - The sxpsri.
ence OF temperance men has proved their
necessity.
The lswoi 1851 was enacted BY 4 Legs.
laiure majority Of whose member be-
longed TO the democniio party. From what
motives they supported the measure Il 10
not necessary ior us now 10 explain,-bu
hat many voted for II who have always
been personally hostile 10 II, no one will
dsny. Siaoe that time, owing mainly 10
,auses which had their origin then, that
parry has been divided. And Tho party
low calling itself "democrstic' y no long
q the ssms. From this party u 10 evidsnt
hat the Temperance cause has nolhinG 70