The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-31
How shall We Voter


The special election to be held on Monday
next in relation to a proposed amendment to
the Maine Liquor Law, making the first Of
fence for selling liquor punishable by impris-
onment in the Jail or State Prison, seems to
demand some explanation and more argument
than we have as yet seen on either side.
We have heard great many good Republi-
cans and Temperance men candidly ask the
question at the head of this article within the
last three months; and there seems to be a
large amount Of reasonable doubt in the COM
munity at large, as to what course ought to be
pursued. 1t is truly delicate and perplexing
question as to how it is best to vote, whether
for or against the Imprisonment amendment.
In the first place it has been decided in Mas
sachusetts this very spring in relation to sub
hitting the question of the proposed annexa-
ton Of Roxbury to Boston, to the people of
both places that all such action is illegal and
unconstitutional, for the reason that the peo-
pie in the State Constitution, delegate all the
law-malIing power to the Legislature, and no
law of this general character can or ought to
be made binding and operative upon the peo-
Pile by vote, other than the legal law-making
power which is the Legislature.
In the next place, is the average opinion of
the people in favor of the stringent provision
proposec? We cannot honestly say that we
believe it is; that is if, there could be such a
thing as secret ballot, say in an envelope, SO
that no one could tell how another might VOTE
Many persons fear some degree of personal
persecution from the more radical total absti-
hence men and they will not dare, or wish to
auhiact fhatnspyas n. IL in caea tbau vote
against it. Then many persons honestly doubt
whether the Prohibition principle is right after
all, and if it is, whether it is best to execute it
with such indiscriminate rigor by the State
Constabulary and police. There many
nice determinations about this law, that it is
difficult to decide what is crime and what is
not. In the first place the General Govern
ment allows it to be imported and it derives
is legal to buy, to keep, to drink any quantity
ofany kind of liquor, provided such buying
ETC. does no detriment to any one else Then it is
property for medicinal or mechanical purposes.
and declared not to be for drinking purposes
when bought in any other than the original
imported packages, The rich man can obtain
allhe wants because he can buy a cask, put it
in. Ills cellar and drink it at pleasure; but the
poor man who has to buy and drink by the
single glass, cannot obtain the stinlulant for
the want of the necessary amount of quid pro
quo. l..l ,,... -..
In this connection let us alude to the unde-
served and malignant abuse which has been
poured out upon the head of one of the purest
patriots, most eminent, honest, faithful
and devoted statesmen and philanthropists
that our country can boast-by the religious
press of New England simply for expressing
his opinion whether it be correct or mott upon
this subject. If anything is calculated to dis
gust and turn away honest-minded men from
the adoption of still further stringent provi-
sions in the Liquor law, it is such bitter per-
sonal attacks as have been cast upon the devot-
ed head of Gov. Andrew of Massachusetts,
SO honest, true, unamb tious man as he is adj
mitted to be even by, his adyersarias.
Again, is there not great fear of reverse of
pubic sentiment in this amendment is
adopted? Do not many men use for them
selves or families some stimulating liquor un-
der a physician's prescription? and as they
may find it hard or impossible to obtain it, will
they not feel provoked to change their policy !?
Then as there is. already an Imprisonment
clause for the third offence, in the present law,
why ask for any further legislation, when the
present law is not executed? And why is it
not executed? whose fault is it?
One word as to policy. We have personally
heard many Democrats say within a short
time that they desired an ADOPTION of the
amendment not because they are in favor of it
themselves, but because they hope to see the
law carried to excess, and consequent revul-
sion of public sentiment. They intend to make
party capital of this matter if it is adopted, by
asking the liberal, conservative portion of the
Republican party to vote with them next Sep
tember. Republicans, should you not take
word of warning from this fact? ..-.........
We have thus presented few questions for
sober, candid reflection, not to suggest course
OF conduct. We are in favor of temperance, of
the prohibtory principle even; but we are not
so stupid as to believe the talk of some men
about shutting up all the rum shops at once
and stopping the sin of drunkenness atogetb-
er;any more than We can stop any other sin
completely, at once and forever Intemnerance
is like any other sin. How then shall wa yotoo
For ourselves we can only say that we feel
somewhat perplexed. We are for temperance
but we doubt the policy of this proposed amend.
ment very much I'VE fear that it will be carried
to excess by the constabulary and thus pro-
mote bad feeling in the community, and alter
ward that the cause will be set back as it was
IN 1855. '-'''"' CANDoR