The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-02-27

OF rms
State Temperance Convention,
TO THE PEOPLE OF MAINE,
ON THE SUBJECT Of PR0HIBITr0N

of almost two year,, W. have assembled once |
moro to take council together in the tenn
pen.nce reform. We need not sy that
these years have been full Of disaster aud
defeat. The reyerses with which we have
met are too recent, and their results are too
elaring. To need any description. The year
1s57 opsn, in painful contrast with 1885.
Then Maint was the Acknowledged leader
in the temperance movement, extending Its
influence into other States, and stamping
its policy Of prohibition upon their leg.
islation, its very name watchword vi
progress nop We have become an object OF
pity and repruach--still marching under
our vaunted inotto-but taking the head IN
retreat rs dlsgracelul as our advance was
honorable ana glorious. Too years ago no
liquors were brought within our borders Tor
safe as a beverage, except by stealth ana
mono were sold except In secrct-the trafhck-
srs hiding, like other criminals, frVm human
observation and from the light OF day; nolr
carsoys are landed at our wharycs, pipes aud
barrels are displayed in our market-plaees,
and alike In brilliant saloons and dinSy
gruggsrles the tempting bottles glitter and
allure Us in olden time. Then, except IN
two or three Of our large cities. drunken
man was u rare sight; nOae, in more than
half the towns IN our State, II Is almost
daily speca.cle. The shadow has turned
backward upon our dial over space oil ~
years. Intemperancs again stalks abroad
in our streets -muttcrs It's insane babblings
by the wayside,--dissnaces the social gath
eriny, and the public board,-entices our
young m.n into habits Of dissipation ills
our poOr-houses, nils and prisons, carries
poverty and wretchedness TO the tiresides oi
families, and hurries Its victims into drunk
ards graves.
BY what power has this terrible change
been wrought? What cIuses have prodLc-
ell 10? What prospect OF redemption irOm
il? Can this tide OF evil that Is now sweep
ing in upon US, bringing ruin to SO many
households, and sorrow to 80 many hearts,
be turned back by the strong arm OF pro
hibltory law? From the bottom even OF
Pandora's box, according TO poetic fancy,
was found the angel-hope. Is there any
hope for usi IL rs to those questions tha1
We invoke the attention OF the people oi this
State.
Reversing the order Of the topics here in
troduced, We take courage IN the belief that
majority Vt the peOple ia this State arc III
favor of prOhibiIUry Law by which VIZ
mean law that prohibits the entire trIihc
in alcoholic liquors, except Tor medicinal
and mechanical purposes. The repcal OF
the Maine Law furnishes no evidence thai
thi. is not the case. The causes that result
ed IN that repeal were accidental and trinsl.
tory. We do not deny that there were ini-
perlecliYIs a.. tue statute vi 1855 that made
a revision necessary. It's enenIes seized W
ON these, and with the aid vi an excltent nt
caused by local disturbances, and by con-
slant Misrepresentation, they sueceeded IN
alarming tue public mind. Many timid
men yielded to the pressure. IL Was also a
year OF new inbinations in politics, and
the people were cheated with false pretenccs
of politicians, who pledscd themselves To do
no more than amend the iaw-tO substitute
for 1t "a siaiGJis prOhibltOry Law. That
u Legislature, chosen ut such a time, aud
cOntrOlIe, by such men, should trampie the
law under 4 OF, and, in spite Of promises
and plcdSes, license the sale Ut rum, Is not
surprising But their act are no evidence
OF the popular will. The license system
which tney established will soon be -nOwn
only as InOnunent of their briei authority
aud speedy condemnation. That hrc only,
Vt nincty-six members who voted Tor IL have
been Reelected. is abundant evidence Ot the
estimation in when they arc held by the
people. Aud the fact that "a large maj 'rity
IN our present legislature are IN favor ol a
pro ibilo-y Law Nc regard Us an indication,
Ut Least, Of the popular majority ON this
question.
We know. indeed, that the membcrs OF
the present legislature were not elected on
this issue. Another important question alb
sJrbed ,hc public interest. All good reforms
move ia haruOny--but they d. not all move
by tbs same impulse. We DO not complain
that the past year has been given 10 free
dom.
hut no other cause needs, or has the prom
ise of the COMING year. NJ great national
question wall demand our exclusive attention.
aud We appeal 10 the pcOplc Oi the State, as
they lOoS out upon the hunireds OF thou
sInls or fountains that are day aud night
pouring forth their poisonous streams IN our
midst-unchecked aud many oi them estab'
lished by law If the time has not come
when the ciuse Of temperance demands our
avd, and is paramount 10 oil others IN It's
importance!
Tho temperance reform, in its application
% the habits OF mon, advanced through NJ,
riOus stages, until the only SURF blsis was
found 10 b1 in total abstinence IRON tho use
OF intoxicating liquors rs beverage. No
fact is better established in physiological
scie,ce than that alcohol not only contains !
no nutrimon,, but that 1t Is actually poison |
GUS 70 healthy system = aud, like other |
poisons. should only be used in eases of dis ,
ease. That il creates an unnatural thirst,
which will sooner or later enslaye all who !
Use IL, which makes inebriat,s OF even the |
M 1T gifted VIII ch brutiliz,s, cOrrupts and !
dcprlyus all which has bScn the prolific /
sJurcS VI pluperism, crime, an i untold evils !
- individuals and communities, has been
abundanly demonstrated. No principle. /
therefore, has become mOrs firmly establish.
ell and universally cOncedSd by all the
friends of temperance, differing however
widely on other points, than that OF toia!
abstinence.
Standing upon this ground. We cannot
see how there can be any difference OF opin'
ion ON the question OF prohibition. fhc
latter is bat cOrOlliry OF the former. IL
eutIrc absginenoo Is tie only sale rule vi
late, entire prohibition 10 the only rule v!
Law. They cannOs BE- separated. II the
Use Of alcoholic liquors "a beverage Is
wrong, Vt Injurious, vi obstructive to the
b5SG Interests ot society, tho Necessity oi u
prOhlbitOry law Is sell'eyident. fnc mcrv
regulation ol the tralhe, n &c wero not im-
possible, wOuld be absurd.
Bat the attempt - rcyI!aic, instead ot
prohibH the sale OF liquors, Is attempting
an inpossib lity. II they are allowed to bo
sJld -. all Tor ase Us beyenisc, the sale will
OF NECESSITY BE- practically UNRESTRICTED. IL
they NAY ever % thus sold, every man must
b. Jadse Tor himself of :he time the Oc.i-
siou, and the quantity. tn traffic Is like
Ire that cannot be controlled alter IL Is
once kindled. IL Is like hOOd that has
bIrsl It's bounds, when there is no longer
any ground ON which carriers can be erected.