The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-12-26
More Trouble.


More Trouble.
The editor Of the Democrat is in trouble
again. Intemperance is ON thsincrease, and
the Republicans do not propose, 30 the edi-
tor says, to enact the Maine law again.
There is sad state Of things, existing, and
all under that beautiful Temperance law,
fixed up last winter by the EDITORS friends.
Here is par. of what our neighbor says
{" All our old temperance organizations
have gone TO decay; the mutual pledges to
abstain from intoxicating liquors, and from
furnishing them to Others, have run out -
there are no old-iashioncd temperance meet
ings, with their appeals to the moral senti-
ments; there are no old-fashioned temper
ance journals, with their array Of facts and
arguments, unconnected with all that ex-
cites party prejudice, and that carry conyic-
ton TO the mind Of every reader. And the
absence of all these is seen in the sadly al
tered public sentiment that prevails. Every
man seems TO feel ut perfect liberty to do
that which appears right in his own eyes
to DO the very best judge Of when he him
self shall drink liquor, and when he shall
let il alone"
a gOOdly proportion of the above is strict
ly true. There is, or appears to be, sadly
altered state of public sentiment, and just
such men as the editor of the Democrat, is
responsible for it. Liquor is soldand drank
with perfect IMMUNITY, and it will be SO,
just so long as men scout at the idea OF pro-
hibition, and brand everybody who feel that
there Is necessity for legislative restraint, as
fanatics" and " hypOcrites," &c.
The article, from which we quote in the
Democrat, isa confession that the law which
wa, paraded before the public, with such a
flourish Of trumpets, last winter, is q failure.
When others in the community get their
eyes open, as well as the editor of the Dem
ocrat, to the failure which has attended
this effort to restrain intempennce, by en-
acting a law, through the provisions OF
which twenty grog-shops might break at
once, then something may be done. The editor
will find, at last, ifhewill waita little while
longer, that this very state Of things, which
he deplores, will, in due time, arouse the
people Of the State to the necessity Of doing
something, which will eilsctually restrain
the sale of liquors, excepting as a medicine.
The temperance people have not, US he inti-
mates, abandoned their position, nor will
they cease their efforts; but they have not
been in the habit Of taking council from
their enemies, as to the time when they shall
act, or as to tho nature Of the efforts they
may make.
The editor OF the Democrat says, and he
complains, "there are no old-iashioncd tenn
peranse meetings, with their appeals to NOR
al sentiments" Why do not the editor
and his friends, who believe that temperance
Efforts should be exclusively confined to
moral suasiOn, get up some Of these meet
ings? There is no friend to prohibition,
who will interpOsc to counteract their infu-
ence, but, on the contrary, will gladly say,
God-speed to everything which will, in any
degree, mitigate the evils, under which the
community "recls and staggcrs." The idea
that there is, or has been partizan laws on
the subject of temperance, 50 elabontely en-
forced by the Democrat, is false one
There was no party division when the first
Maine Law was passed, in 1851, and pol
itics were not thought Of, in connection with
the matter, until they were brought in by
the friends of the editor Of the Democrat,
who made issue on the point, agains, tho
reelection OF Gov. Hubbard, in 1852, be-
cause he signed the law Of 1851. The arti-
Gle in the Democrat is written with no IN
tention or desire to help the cause Of tenn
pcrance. Its purpose is easily seen through
the Transparent veil Of affected interest for
temperance. 1t is written for political pur-
poses, but will ail of accomplishing the OBJ
ject for which il was published. 1t will
neither drive real temperance men from the
impregnable position they occupy, nor lead
them to indiscreet haste in pcrfecting such
measures for restraining the sale of liquors,
rs they may think eSpedien., and present.
ing them for public approval, in such q
way, and at such times, as they may think
will promote the lasting interest of the tenn
perance cause.