The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-08-28
BIDDEPORD, AUGUST as, 1881

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though 40 doubt the cl,mor that was
raised on its account and some unfortu-
nate cventsthat occurred connectedwithits
execution, contributed in some degree to
the result Of that struggle. We do not
believe that the people Of the State have
yet, nor will they hereafter, repudiate the
principle contained in the law first passed
in 1851. Never, in our view, has there
been greater necessity than at the pres
ent for the passage OF a law which would
effcc,ually shut up the grog shops whose
poisonous watcrsare flowing over the land,
and in common with the friends Of the
principle, we shall look to the Legislature
Of ON State, to adopt measures such as
are suggested in the appended article, and
such as WILL in our opinion, be the means
of finally placing on the Statute book a
law which shall effectually restrain the
sale of ardent spirits, and put an end to
the evils of intemperance. With the
brief Introductory remarks we commend
the article from the Evangelist TO our
readers.
OuR TRUE PoLrcr.-ln the present crisis
of the Temperance Reform, it IL an important
question whether Its friends shall pursue the
policy Of exclusion and narrowness, or inclu.
sion and comprehension-of denunciation or
Cancellation. There are those who will join
US and work with US in our efforts to secure
judicioua and acceptable prohibitory law,
ID we invite their cooperation and counsel,
and who will be repealed, II we In arrogant
self.suf6ciency. treat them " our. enemies
and the enemies of the cause al i6e. The
cluse is not That Of any party or any narrow
circle of individuals, but of the whole people
Of the State. II not Republicans alone, but
Of the whole people of the State. Ii is not
Republicans alone, but DemOcrats rs well.
thai are concerned to abate and II possible
wholly subyert the evils Of lntemperance.-
There is not father in the State-nota
brother, not u son, not mother, wife or sis.
ter, that has not IN interest in the suppress.
ION Of the traffic in intoxicating liquors.
Point us to home that has not been desola.
ted or may not DO desolated by the incursions
of inteinperance and we will point you to
one that has no interest in the progress OF
the temperance reform. lnismuch then Us
it 10 matter moi Of partg or section, but OF
universal concern, the widest cooperation
should be sought, and the most diverse, IL
friendly, counsels welcomed. On the ques.
ton about the law which Is to supersede the
present one, If il shall De superseded, all
opinions .hUuli be welcom d, since it is to
derive its practical force not from clique
or party, but from the great masses of the
people, scattered all over the State. Ii mat
ters little what specific law ice might enact,
II oil the power of its enactment and cxccu.
ton lay with us. The important thing is
to know what law will meet with general
acceptance and furtherance ~ IL working
Iorce. We are utterly opposed to the cract
Vient of prohibitory law till the people
nave gwen their sanction in an unwistakable
way 10 the principle of prohibition. The
people by this time ought to know what kind
of law they want, and they must be con-
suited in tue matter, rs without them any
law will remain dead letter upon the stat
ute book. We IRE not in favor Of coaxing
OF Cabling, or cheating a law out Of the PEG.
pie. Weare not in favor of treating them
- children, and binding them to its impor.
uint provisions. Let them enact virtually
the law, knowing t,.e while, what they "re
dong, and then we may hope to get u law
that will stand fre-that We shall not b.
afraid to carry right strait out through oil
distractions. Some iow men may frame a
law, and work party machinery to get it en-.
acted, but they cannot make II q working
force when it is enacted. We are tired OF
laws that men write out and put to vote and
write within paper covers, and there they lie
A, harmless and IA fnrceless IA the dahd in
their graves. Laws that run before public
opinion-laws that are the opponents Of ex.
IRENE ylews-of the men who range ahead Of
the masses are utterly valueless. They are
not worth the paper they srs written on
Do the people Of this State want prohibit
tory law, yes or no? If they do, lot them
say so-if not, let them say so. All we want
ofany party is just to give the people an OPP
portunity to say yes or no on this matter
If some sixty or seventy thousand voters do
not want prohibtory law, ice don't want
one, for without u majority of ten or fifteen
thousand voters We could not woik any law
cf this sort to much advantage. Our true
policy Is to invite all, Of all shades Of opin.
ION that will cooperate with us, to do So
We should denounce none-w, should repel
none Weshall need all we can get. Ey.
cry mans vote counts one. Not exclusion,
but inclusion should be our policy. IL is
not for any man to dictate to his fellows or
10 be cross or snappish because they will not
do US he wants them to do. II is u matter
for mutual consultation and Cancellation,
and the man who petulantly seeks and dc.
termines to have his own way in thing Of
this sort shows net his strength and wisdom,
but his weakness and f lily. We are in favor
Of prohibitory law-are you, fellow citi.
zens some sixty or seventy thousand Of you ?
If we say yes, and you say yes, We will have
one-but IL you say no, we shall just have
to wait till rum has destroyed few hundred
more of your. fathers, brothers, sons. and then
II a.I..