Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-05-21
For The OSiord Democrat.
An Act 70 Ascertain the Will OF the
People Concerning the Sale OF Intox.
icating LIQUORS.

ing the sale Of intoxicating liquors did not
enter distinctly int, the the political cam
vass, by either the WING or Democratic
parties; but temperance men, through their
organizations questioned the candidates OF
both parties. who usually answered satisfac-
torily. The Abolition party was almost
entirely made up Of prohibiIioni.ts. The
democratic press, rs well as tae whis press,
lAbored to make the people believe tha, thar
candidates were righ upon the question Of
prohibition, NJ we'll a. free soil Both par
ties used every effort and argumen. 10 secure
the votes OF the Free Soil and temperance
men. Both parties passed high sounding
resolution. in lauda,ion Of freedom frou
slavery and freedom from rum. Thus
matters remained until tho call Tor a con.
yen,ion Of Democrats at Portland, which
resulted IN the nomination Of Mr.. Chandler
as candidate for Governor. in opposition to
DR.. Hubbard the regular democratic candi.
date, and Mr. Crosby the regular whig cam
didatc. Then the question began ,oassumo
a party aspect. and the next y,ar il entered
distinctly into the contest. as a party meas
urc. The temperance men were driven into
the contest in ,,lfd,t,ucs. The dr.t prohb-
TORY bill was paced by \ democratic legi.-
h,urc. assisted by many whis., AMI was
vetoed by Gov. Dana. Tie next bin was
passed by legislature strongly democratic
aud signed by GOV. Hubbard, also a demo.
crat. Thi. bill was amended and approved
/ by a whis legislature and whis Governor
. Crosby. Al parties as such were COM
mittci To prohibition up To 1855, when \.
T.. Morrill,, the great champion Of prohibit
ton, was elected Governor. and the law was
q" intensified" E,cn later than ihl.. the
democratic party passed resolution In their
convention held At Augusta IN l,jG, nt
which Mr Wells was nominated candidate
Tor Governor, declaring that they we're lin
favor Of a suitable prohibl,ory liquor law"
Bat the L"gi.nturc elected that year, elect.
ed M. We'll. for Governor, although herun
behind Mr.. Morrill, several thousand votes,
and IN full view Of their resolution in favor
OF prohibition, ani the pledges they bad
made 10 temperance men, 10 secure their
votes, they passed the present license law,
notwithstanding Mr. Barncs, chairman Of
the committee that had the subject under
consideration, reported bill somewhat pro-
hibliory in it, provisions. la view of thoso
facts, the Republican party resolved in their
convention at Bangor, in l,j7, that when
ever another prohibitory law was enacted,
It was advisable To submit IL 10 the people
for their approval or rejection. Ia accord.
anco with the expressed will Ut the people
az the last annual election, bill vas pass
ed at the last session Of the legislature. and
is submitted 10 the people On the 9Th OF
June next. tor their action. The question
arose, in what manner shall the question DO
submitted. II submitted - Vs. " no
vote, the friend, Of liccn-a might end fault,
aud say that you submit the prohibitory
law to a direct affirmative vote, and in order
10 vote tor our law, We have to vote no,
upon yours it YOU had given ~ an o?por-
tuni,y or voting affirmative upon our law,
We could have beaten you, ADD the license
law would have received the most votes.
Very we'll, gentlemen, we will give you an
opportunity to vote athrmaii,cly Tor tie IL
ccnse law, and then II YOU are beaten You
are forever e,topPcd from opening your
mouths
Again, some Of the temperance men wero
opposed 10 the manufacturing clause, and
felt il il were submitted To YES or novoie,
II they voted yc-, they mus, endorse this
provision, and they rroua not roie no, aud
therefore they mus, stay away from the
polls.
To meet the objection Of the two extremes,
the liccn., law Of 1856, and the prohlbiiory
law II ISIS, are both submitted 10 the peo-
pie. Those who think the license law Of
1886 preferable to the Prohlbitory law OF
ISIS, will have upon their ballots q" license
laW Of 1856" II they carry this yo:e, 1t
does mo-, necessarily follow that they ap.
prove all the provision, Of the law, but that
they prefer it to the law Of lNj'. Those
who prefer the law Of 1858. will have upon
their ballots, Prohibitory law Of lsiS.'
Whether they approve all it, provisions or
no,, II they prefer It to the law OF 1850, they
can consistently vote tor 1t. These aro
among the reasons that induced the lrg.'la-
,uro to prefer thus mode u submission. All
men now, have an Opportunity Of expressing
their preference upon this question. II
temperance men stay away frem the polls
on the 9Th Of June next, It j. equivalent q
giving a vote IN favor Of the license law II
those opposed to the Prohibiiory Jaw stay
away on that day and DO not vote, It isa
virtual admission that they prefer the pro-
hibitory law, and they are estopped from
finding fault thereafter. This !, not ques-
ton OF little consequence. IL i not qucs-
ton that concerns one political party more
tnan another. IL is question in which
every citizen should feel a deep interest, for
it is one that effects every individual in
community, and appeal. directly to bis sense
Of humanity, and his love Of morality and
good order Every family is directly or in
directly affected by tai. question. The raw.
400. OF intemncranc. are nreyinc nron tho