The Portland daily press., 1867-11-14


1,t.t ~ ,,,,. ..st,i, 4 IiaIlce of Maine, assem- |
hiad ia Api,urn Han Tuesday evening at Z IL |
o,clocl There was quite large representa- |
to, ,,o,n different sections of the State The
conn,odious hail was well filed, but owing 10
a severe storm the local attendance was much
less than it would otherwise have been. Not
many ladies were out.
TUESDAY EVENING.
The Convention was called to order by Rev.
l.. ). Fletcher of Gardiner, who read a letter
from Gov Chamberlain, President of the State
Alliance, saying he could not be present to
preside and take part in the deliberations, as Ne
would like to do.
Hon. N. G.. Hichborn of Stockton, was thoh
made temporary chairman. Upon taxing the
chair he said it was no ordinary occasion WHICH
had brought people TO this convention, -ior
temperance was one ofthe gravest OF questlons.
1t was time for wise counsel; more light,
more light was wanted Prosperity of religion
demands that grog shops should be closed
Taxation demands the same. Within few
days $4,000 have been paid for extension of the
State Prison. OF this cost the Warden said
nineteen twentieths was chargable to the use
OF liquor. This convention, he presumed, had
come together to deliberate for temperance
and for nothing else
H. A. shorey of Bath, was appointed tenn
porary secretary.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Mr. Ives of
Castine.
On motion a committee of five on Perma-
nent Organization appointed by the Chair,
to wit: f. Dingley, Jr, Bracket of Belfast;
Smith of Ellsworth; Kimball OF Bangor; Goss
of Bath.
On motion Business Committee of five was
appointed by the Chair to wit: Rev Mr..
Fletcher of Gardiner; Munger of Portland;
Dresser of Auburn; Joel Perham of Bryanl's
Pond; Griffin of Stockton.
Mr. Fletcher from the Business Committee
teported in part that the remainder of the
evening be devoted to addresses.
1t was moved by Rev. Mr. Ives of Castine,
that committee on Resolutions be raised
Rev. Mr.. Randall of Monmouth, thought this
committee should be large and wise. The
present was a momentous crisis in the history
ofthe Temperance cause in this State. Now
was the time for direct decided statement of
the views we entertain and mean to stand by
1t was voted that committee of sixteen be
appointed by the Chair.
Rev. Mr.. Sawyer of Bath, was now called
out. We must not, he said, be disheartened
We must place great reliance upon personal
appeal. Never were Temperance organiza-
tions in this State more prosperous than now.
The State Constabulary is success, otherwise
there would be no opposition to it. 1t is only
a question of time as to when total abstinence
and thorough prohibition shall be placed be-
yond dispute. Right is might, not expediency.
Camp Meeting John Allen said he had been
engaged in the Temperance conflict 43 years
next month"; and he was resolved "to fight it
out on this line" His motto was faith and
courage" Ifthey have voted Temper
anee down in Massachusetts,, they will vote it
up again by and by. Triumph is sure. He
was only surprised that so much had already
been accomplished.
Gen. Hall of Damariscotta, said he saw moth
ing for Temperance men to be alarmed at. I'm
til he could be shown that the present temper
legislation had injured some one, it
should stand firm as the hills. 1t was the i'm
prisonment for the first offence and the con-
stabuiary act which made the prior legisa-
ton thoroughly effective The temperance
people of this State will never submit to legal
lied liquor traffic
Mr.. A. C. Hewey, of Bath, said that he
for alarm. Only the mere politicians
who want the support of temperance men,
but want them to keep their sentiments
in allegiance, shaking and trembling. He
was glad that such was the case There
are three classes: the drunkard; the middle
class, who are laboring to reform the drunkard; !;
and the rich class who are carrying the Jug
There is very little real difference between the
uppertendOm and the fagendom of communi-
ty; the one is respected for its wealth. the 9TH
er despised for its poverty. As in New York
they fighting a license law, so it would be
fought here, should we descend to that But
Maine is for prohibition through and through
The hedgehog politicians, if they don't like the
company of temperance may 90 else
where
Rev. e. w. jackson, of Gorham, said he
has been in Massachusetts, the last few weeks
The temperance men of Massachusetts, had
fought glorious campaign The of
Maine should not despond because of their de-
feat They had vast capital to contend against
also very large foreign population. These
two things we have not, TO such extent, against
us in this State. We have noble, honest,
hard-handed yeomanry. Money seduced the
Republican party of Massachusetts. The
State Committee was bought up, and opposed
od-fashioned Republican meetings, and Sena-
tor Wilson could get up none in Boston. What
the men of Maine did after the Wells dynasty;
the men of Massachusetts will do after they
have tried their new dynasty. He quoted
Brown tbepriyate Secretary of Gov. Andrew, AS
saying that Andrew declared it would be i'm
possible to frame license law which would
fapta lu-- ,l,roc ac ba
patrons of Revere House and the patrons
of the low grog shops. Even the reputed
friends Of license cannot be satisfied. The
Massachusetts constabulary did not do its
duty; it too often favored the liquor interest,
and so disheartened and disgusted the tenn ]
perance men. Had the constabulary law been
thoroughly executed, it would have been bet
ter for the temperance men in the recent cam
pai9n. In Maine every grog shop should be
hermeticialy sealed up. This would give
strength to the temperance cause. Fhe tem-
perance men OF Maine should be of good cheer
If we yield one point, even the imprisonment
penalty, We should gain nothing but lose
much-we should divide our own forces
Hon. Sydney Perham, of Paris, said he
thought one reyerse-one example OF license
was enough for Maine. Prohibition was
founded upon Gods eternal truth. For one
he was not afraid of opposition; had been too
long engaged in the temperance cause to be
frightened. Temperance is the greatest linan- |
cial question Of The times In 1860 the coun- |
try consumed 90,O0000O gallons of distilled |
spirits; also 600 gallons of malt LIQUORS. |
The first must have retailed for more than |
$50O,0000o0; the second for more than S4OO.- |
OOO,OcO. Stop this liquor consumption, and |
money enough will be saved to pay off the Ma |
honal debt in IL years. Tho people of this
otate viii take no backward step
D. . kimball OF Bangor said the amend
mehtS ana constabuary act had done vast
good IN ms part of the State. He had mo
threats TO make He thought temperance
should be Kept out of politics Ifthare il to ba
repeal, let it be submitted to the peonle p,o
hibitiGn can thus be maintained
The following Committee on Resolves mae
now appointed: Hon. B. M. Roberts of stock-
tom Rev. Mr. Ives of Castine; Hon. Sid
ney Perham, of Paris; Rev. Mr. Snow,
of Auburn; Hon. B. F Tallman of Richmond; |
A. j. Potter, of Bath; 4. Hersey of Paris; |
Hon. N. Dingley of lewiston Rev. Mr.. Mum |
ger OF ofGardner; Maj. A. c. Hewey of Bath; |
Gen. D. A. Hall of Damariscotta r. Dresser
OF Aupurn' Gen. III. NJ. Plaisted of Bangor; |