The Portland daily press., 1867-04-25
tFor the Press.l
VIII Di.hone-'y aud Fui..hood prom ote
Good Causes

/
AN eastern paper from which fairness ought
10 pe expected, IN giving notice of n MEETING
oi 'ne "ranu DIVISION Of the Sons of Temner
ance, says:
1t is expected that this will be a sess,o,, os
much interest, IN view of the near annrnach "
the day when the people of the State are ceiiod
upon to vote upon the question of "Prob,iii
ton" or "License, Free Rum" with onai
bars to allure our young men INTO the vortex
which only terminates with the drunkard's
grave, or "No Rum, and the protection against
the nefarious traffic of the rumsellers.
What Shy friend of Temperance expects to
gain by such Misrepresentation it is difficult
to imagine. There was time when reformers
contended that "the end would sanctify the
MEANS" and did not hesitate TO burn and tor
ture for the glory of God and the advancement
OF his kingdom; but that time has gone by, es-
peeially in this land of liberation and light.
The truth is the question to be submitted TO
the people on the 1st Monday in June, has not
the slightest thing 10 the world to do with the
question either of Prohibition" or License. /"
Neither Of these questions is at issue. The
simple question TO be voted on is one relating
TO penalties; whether the law shall be provided
with penalties of increased severity; whether
imprisonment shall be substituted for fines
This is the question; the only question. Decide
it as the people may, and Prohibition stands as
the policy of the State; License will still be
unknown, and the law precisely as ii noao is and
has been tor ys ars, will remain in full force.
But the falsehood of the above extract is not
the only base thing about it. 1t asperses ,he
Prohibitory law OF the State which has stood
the test of years. 1t says the question to be de-
cided by the people is whether We shall have
Free Rum, with open bars to allure our
young men into the vortex which only termin-
ates with the drunkard's grave, or NO Rum,
and protection against the nefarious traffic of
the rumsellers." This is only saying that the
present law,-"the Maine Laao," the law adopt
ed by the people in 1853, and which has been
several times intensified on petition of the
Temperance people-lt is saying that this law
allows "free rum and open bars!'
1t really seems as though some would be fast
friends of reform needed to take the first les
sons in good judgment. The words quoted
above plainly indicate that ii man votes to
let the law remain as 1t is-the law made by
the Prohibitionists themselves and approved
by the best men of the State-he is to be de-
nounced as the friend of stree rum and open
bars" No man, it would seem, by such reform
ers, is to be allowed any Judgment of his own
He must "go it blind" or be traduced. If he
openly insists that our law is good one, and
that intensified penalties-the very consttu-
tionality of which is questioned by some peo-
ple-are impohti", he is to be branded as the
friend of 'free rum" "open bars" and the
drunkards grave! Such spirit never wins.
Such a spirit never reforms. How different
the spiri of the following extract, cut from the
notice of another Temperance gathering, and,
ESQ it is understood, at least,) penned by one OF
the truest, most persistent and best-knoaon
friends of Temperance in the State:
"In view Of the approaching vote on the pro-
posed amendment vi the liquor law, it is ex-
pected that the attendance will be large and
the discussions upon this important measure OF
an interesting character. An invitation to he
present and freely participate in the discussion
is cordially extended to those who NAV be on
posed to the amendment, and yet are in favor
OF temperance. Not only the legality or con-
stitutionality, but the expedfency of iinprison-
ment, is in issue; and remarks on either
branch will be i'll order, and very acceptable.
The sole object of the meeting Is to promote
sobriety and prevent inebriety-to do good and
overcome evil. Any person, therefor of what
ever political party OF religious sect, who is a
friend OF temperance, will have an oyportuni-
ty to be heard. What is needed is light; and
light usually comes from earnest, candid in
Quiry."
MAINE LAW