Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-08-23

ture for the professed object OF aiding the cause
of temperance. Up TO this time we had IL
cense law, which had been on our statute book
twenty-five years. But the act OF 1916 intro
duced new principle, it being prohibitory
law, but recognizing liquors as needful for
medical and mechanical purposes. This law
the people could have acquiesced in, and it
was growing in favor as a prohibitory law
1t was considered a benign law but yet, mild
as its provisions were, compared with what we
now behold in the act of the last Legislature,
il did not do much TO stop the traffic. 1t was
imperfect In many respects. The result was,
that our Courts of Justice were crowded with
prosecutions against worthless persons. Ju-
ries would often disagree-quarrels and litiga-
tions grew out of it; and in some counties,
thirty, forty, and in one instance, about one
hundred of these liquor prosecutions were
swept from the docket by prosecuting officers,
because the proof proved unayailing, and the
law was obnoxious. And yet the very same
men who knew that this law of 1916, was too
severe in its penalties TO be successfully en-
forced, and that they could not and did not ex-
ecute it, are found in four or five years, de-
manding law still more stringent and still
more obnoxious in its penalties. Hence they
obtained the law of 1851, but that proving a
failure, they procure another in 1858, and be-
fore the operation of that could be ascertained,
we find the last Legislature enacting the pres
ent law, the most defectire and incapable of ex-
ecution of any that preceded it-a law which
prescribes penalties, but gives no jurisdiction
TO the magistrates in the several counties for
prosecuting offenders And BOT satisfied with
making four laws on this subject, we are now
threatened with another one TO crown the eli
max of folly. The law of 1855, gentlemen, is
not only unconstitutional in some of its proyis-
ions, and incapable of being enforced: but it
seems as if its trainers intended and tried, in
some respects, to make it as tyrannical as pos
sible.
Let il be remembered that the Democratic
party were in power in 1876, that Democrat
ic Governor approved the first law then passed
and yet the party is now denounced as a
rum party, and by whom! By the very men
who, regardless of the temperance cause and
ignoring that issue in this coming election,
are now attempting to bolster up conglomer-
alton of all parties as fusion party, to acquire
political power in our State. Claiming to be
the erclusiue friends of temperance, they have
denounced you democrats, as opposed to tenn
perance law-as seeking TO break down all re-
straints upon the traffic in liquors. Not con-
tent with having our individual support for a
wise and efficient prohibitory law, they de-
nounce us as party because we will not bow
the knee to men who have no distinctive prin-
ciple to bind them together except the paltry
love of political power for the time being
They challenge us as being opposed to tenn
perance, because we cannot concur in the
course they pursue in dragging the glorious
cause of temperance into the political arena
They undertake 10 present false issue on tenn
perance, the better to disguise their objects,
and on that issue we are ready to meet them
before the enlightened citizens of Maine. We
are opposed 10 defective, inefficient law, en-
acted for the purpose of furthering the schemes
of fanatics, aboiitionists and disGniensis, but
DO not oppose, but shall in good time give our
entire influence as party for such law as
the people will sanction as wise, judicious and
effective.
In the presence of about fifteen hundred of
our fellow citizens in York discussed this
question, and have been misrepresented.
stated to them that an issue about the present
worthless law had been forced upon US, and
that the democratic party done right in their
platform at the State Convention in taking the
bull by the horns-in meeting the issue, and
it has been manfully met in the resolutions
there adopted. 1t is the peoples platform,
and reflects the sentiments of all honest demo-
Gratis.
By the present liquor law intoxicating liq-
uors are defined to mean every liquid prepdra-
tiOn that ioiHpr0duce into1ication. This will
include cider, beer, ale, and all medical pre-
scriptions, such as laudanum,' paragoric, cam
phor, tincture of rhubarb, and variety of
tinctures and essences in common use in every
household in the land. No apothecary can be
safe in selling tinctures. To enable the apoth-
ecary to sell. prescription is required in all
cases from physician. This is only one pro-
vision, but it pervades. the entire law, being a
governing principle as TO what is prohibited.
Do the free citizens of Maine favor provis-
ion like this1 Why, the deiusire character Of
the law is transparent 20 any we'll balanced
mind. They prohibit mans getting alcohol
except for medical and mechanical purposes,
but what becomes of this prohibition when the
liquor is once obtainedl Once out of the
hands of the town agent, the purchaser may
use it as beverage as he pleases. The law s
power is ended with delivery from the agen-
cy, and nothing except the Judgment of the
purchaser regulates the purpose of its use
when once obtained As well might a man
after selling you horse or an OK, command
you to feed him in particular manner. 1t is
a mere naked command or injunction to the
agent, who can't control the use of the liquors
and cannot know but drunkenness may result
from their use. The law makes the agent the
arbiter of his necessities-his medical adviser
1t is the agent who decides who shall not have
liquors to use in his family. He may deny
any man, however honest and urgent his ne
cesslties, and there is no redress and no appeal
from his decision. 1t is the agent who shall
judge for us, and not we, or our wives, OF
daughters, for ourselves. 1t is in fact no more
nor less than placing an overseer above us who
who shall say when we shall and when we
shall not use liquors as medicine ! thus
placing master over every man and every
mans family, to decide upon our domestic
wants and necessities.
Our fusion friends are attempting to make
capital out of an expression dropped at AL.
fred, that | would not go to one of the Agen-
cles, supplicating the hired man of the estab,
lishment to sell me a quart of liquor. / did
| express such sentiment, and | now repeat it.
Qor have nothing to disguise from the peo.
| ple,) that never will surrender my liberties
in any such manner, will never humble myself
before any such Agent, nor insult the great
and important medical profession, by asking q
respectable physician, in the language OF the
law, lin order to get prescription made up
if he is really g man of sober Kfe, . g not ad
dicted to the use of intoxicating liquors % To
say nothing about the needless expense of a