The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-11-30

IFrom The Riverside Echo, Nov. SOL
We learn that Tuesday and Wednesday,
January 14th and 18th, are fixed upon as the
time for holding the Mass Temperance Con-
vention at Augusta; and that soon aCall will
be issued, signed by prominent Temper
ance men OF the principal towns through
out the State. The meetings will COM
mence on Tuesday evening, aad continue
through the following day and evening.
special committee at Augusta will make
all necessary local arrangements. Gratuitous
entertainment will doubtless be furnished
the clergy, at least, who may appear as dele
gates to the Convention. 1t Is probable that
the fare on all the railroads will be reduced
one-half We do not understand that the
convention will be held under the auspices OF
any particular society, but of the friends of
Temperance OF all organizations, and OF no
organization, if any such shall choose to at
tend. 4..f t.t,..- -
We further learn that an address to the
people on the subject of Prohibition is In
course of preparation, to be submitted to the
Convention. 1t is presumed that while the
call will set forth in clear view the reasons
for the Convention, the address, as an argtl
ment for Prohibition. will be entirely conclu-
slve. We trust it win treat the question as il
it were new, and that in this light il will be
sufficiently elaborate. For it should not be
which was at once thorough and exhaustive,
many persons then young, have come upon
the stage OF action, who are comparatively
ignorant of the principles upon which the
measure is founded and OF the reasons which
demanded its adoption. Nor is it less neces-
sary, perhaps, to remind many who are not
strangers to the doctrine, that it is quite as
important now as aforetime, and that enact
ed into statute, there is the same occasion
frr he ofi iaol or
As at present advised, there would seem to
be an indisposition among the friends of the
cause in any way to amend the P-ohibitory
Law or The Constabulary Act, lest the amend
ment should be interpreted as taking a step
backward. But zoe trust that no such feeling
,uiU control the Contention. If practical de-
tects shall be found In either, 1t Is FIR the
friends of the measures, not their enemies, to
suggest and procide the remedy. a
1t is not that pride of opinion may be graf
flied, but that the public good may be con-
served, che Convention will enter upon dis
cussion of the question, whether or not it is
expedient to modify the law. II every coun-
ty in the State shall be fully and ably repre-
sented, the law will doubtless remain in its
present shape. But il in this respect there be
failure, although the Convention may be
largely attended by those residing in its i'm
mediate neighborhood, there is reason 10 re-
lieve the law will be essentially m 1dified.
The importance therefore Of general rally
from the iemote sections OF the State, as well
as from other parts, is apparent. .asa. I.
1t need not be disguised that, in the his
tory OF Prohibition, a crisis has now arrived.
The soundness of the principle, aud the expe-
diency of the law, as well as the stringency oil
itsapplication, are to be subjected to a new tri
al. Experience and observation unite in at
testation of the signal utility of the measure
Let the issue be fairly met, and the triumph
| OF Prohibition is sure.