The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-10-25
Tho st.ts oonst.bulrY.

gard to the state Constnbulsry, great deal
derisively Of The officials, and considerably
more as to its usefulness and expense to
the stnic. The simple truth should be
told at all times, and in Justice to the meas.
.urc itself, and to the officials appointed
to carry il OUT VIC publish below the slate
ments Of Mr.. Nyc, of wn,crvillc, the
Chief of the State Constabulary.r At the
quarterly meeting Of the Andro.coggin
County Temperance Alliance at Mechanic
Falls, on Friday, Oct. ll,h, by invitation Of
the society, he gave the following accoun,
Of the operations of the State Police since
their appointment, IN April last Said Mr.
Nye: -I .,.,r ,-.,.. .-. r..
For twenty years I have been enlisted In
the temperance reform, during that time
I,havs not only expended over three thousand
dollars from my own pockei-money which,
could III pare-to advance this cause, but
have given my time In season and cut OF sea.
son for the same purpose. As long ago q
lSi7 As q magistrate, l sat In one OF the
hrst liquor cases under the act OF 1876, which
resulted in the Canaan riot, ~ called. The
fact that now rum-sellers can be proceeded
against without any such demonstrations,
shows how great has been the Progress in the
past twenty years. For the last nine years
every Saturday afternoon have met with a
band OF children In my own town, and assisted
them In maintaining section OF Cadets OIL
Temperance. At the present time there Il
over three hundred children connected with
this band, and since have had charge OF II
more than one thousand youths have been
within its influence and have subscribed to the
total abstinence pledge. Thirty of my Cadets
went into the army, and one In his dying mo-
ments while In service. said, "Tell Mr.. Nye
have kept my pledge" ...f.t. r..
mention these facts not to glorify myself
for I have only done my duty, but merely 10
show that the interest which now feel in ex.
tending the blessings Of total abstinence and
suppressing the rum traffic, Is nothing new,
Hence when the governor Of this State last
spring rendered me the position u State Con-
stable. without any application on my part
and even contrary to my wishes, / reluctantly
consented to accept the position, even at q
great personal sacrifice. Nothing could have
tempted me to take the place except stern con-
victions Of duty. The &C, establishing the
Dthtt Nbusth WINS ptSoSN WhHouN NY W.
vice or knowledge but supposed that almost
entire unanimity with which 1t was embraced
BY both branches OF the legislature, and by
leading men, showed they intended what the
measure prOposed-the execution OF the pro-
hibitory law. Although we had had q prohibi.
tory law on the Statue Book for many years
yet during the past Ave or six years In ma
iority of the counties Of the State, especially
In many leading places, II had become practi-
caiy dead letter. In AndrOscoggin County
the law had beeu we'll executed. and had well
nigh closed out the rum traffic, except as
against those low quarters where search and
seizure Is the only remedy. In q few other
counties the law had been executed, but very
generally Il had been allowed to lie dormant
and rum-selling there hourished almost as Wig
orously MS Il would have done under a license
system. In fact In many quarters the rum sen-
timent had become apparently predominant,
and nothing 10 say against prohibition un'
executed.
This was the resalt partly of the social laxity
arising from the war, during which temper.
ance was kept sadly in the background part,
~ from the acknowledgment growing out OF thu
fact that the penalties against rum-selling
were 30 light under every law except the Nui,
sance act, that repeated prosecutions in mos,
cases would not drive the worst rum-seller,
from their business-the large profits largely
overwhelming the fines and largely because
few persons cared to incur the odium Of the
rum-seller and his sympathizers by prosecut-
ing. Laws against other criminals execute
themselves, for the reason that the injured par
~ feels himself called upon to avengc his wrongs
but false pride leads the victim OF the rum
seller even 10 conceal the name Of his worst enc
my. Communities rejoice when the law isenforc.
ed and II will take but q short time to create a
healthy public sentiment. These reasons IN.
doubtedly led the Legislature TO believe that q
State Police would prove public blessing.
entered upon my duties In April, aud appoint
ell ut that time and subsequently about twen-
ty-fve deputies for the sixteen counties Of the
State. ! sought to get the best possible advice
in selecting these deputies, yet might have
erred In some cases. II would be surprising
II had not done 30. But mistakes, II any
there have been, In carrying out new sys-
ten, should not lead TO condemnation Of the
system ITSELF There are mistakes In every de-
partment of government, yet no one thinks Of
throwing aside government on that account.
simply claim to have acted honestly and faith.
fully according olmy best Judgment, and
instructed every officer to execute the law
without fear or favor. Complaint has been
made In some quarters that the rich and pow
erful rum-seller has Jared better than the
poor dram vender, but so long rs | occupy
my present position there shall be no distinc-
ton of persons.
have not commenced prosecutions without
notice and followed them up harshly, rs has
been charged. have sent my deputies first to
visit every man who was engaged In rumselling
throug hout the State, and have kindly admon
ished oil Of them to leave the business, assur'
ing them that II they did not do so. the Law
would surely DO executed. Ihtrfy-one hun.
drsd places rere found phere liquor ,1as sold
as a 6ererdge -four hundred In one oity-and
a large number of open bars. In ninety-nint
cases out Of hundred these men went out Of
the business when they saw this determination
TO enforce the law. Many hotel keepers said
they were glad the law was " be executed, be.
cause II their neighbors did not sell they would
not have 10. The mere occasional visit OF q
deputy through these sections has prevented
most of these men from resuming their terrible
business. without prosecution.
Now the question arises has there been any
change In consequence of this work Of the
State police OF course in Androscoggin and
a few other counties where the law was previ-
ously executed and intoxioation infrequent,
YOU do not mark an improvement rs Is appar-
emit in other countries. The very fact tina,
every rum-seller and rum-sympathiIer through
out the State Is 80 clamorOus against the Con-
stabulary, shows that their business Is inter.
tered with by II. These fellows never denoupce
law or officers that do not interfere with their
traffic. You might cover your Statute books
with prohibitory laws having tho scverest pen.
allies, and set an officer ut tina door OF every
rum-shop, but so long rs the laws were moi
executed, and the officers minded thsir own
business''-a use common phrase OF liquor
sellers-so long they would not have word "a
say. Therefore the amount Of clamor raised
By rum-selers. Is an index OF the efficiency oi
the means used to stop their business.
But there Is clearer proof than this Of the
efficiency Of the amendment law, enforced by
the Constabulary. 1t is Acknowledged thai
there are no open bars in the State at the pres
ent time: That certainly Is one point gained
for our youth are usually In little danger Of
going into seceet dens to take the first glass
I, however, am prepared TO show that there
Is not one-tenth a. much liquor sold and drank
now In the State as there was one or two years
ago. The ID ston and New York Wholesale
rum-sellsrs say that last year they sold one ana
a half million OF dollars north OF liquor to &c
into Maine, but ut the rate they have sold the