Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-05-10
An Appeal.

FELLOW CITfzENs:--1he Grand Lodge
Of Good Templa,s of Maine, fully alive to
the Importance of securing an emphatic
decision in favor of the amendments to the
Maine Law, submitted to the popular vote
Nv our last State Legislature. authorized
the undersigned to issue an Address to the
people Of the State. setting o.th some on
the reasons which call for the ratification
Of those amendments by an overwhelming
majority.
fine crisis is an important one in the
history of our State. We have never be-
FIRE been called on to act in an emergency
ike the present. For nine years the liq-
nor traffic has been out -lawed in Maine; yet
for nine years, in utter disregard of the
popular will aud with the brand of crimi-
nal upon his forehead, the ruulseller has
continued his terrible work in our midst.
The very corner stone of our institutions
is at stake. The solemn vote of the poo
pie, upon the one side;-the avarice of the
liquor dealers, defying the people, upon the
ethes,-Which shall yield 1T is an im-
portant question; aud will be decided on
the third of June.
We have not space to cnumerate the
burdens upon the State. nor to depict the
misery and wretchedness in thousand
homes, all res.lsing fress the liquor traffic.
Nor is it necessary. The most tl,oughtiess
must have noticed and the most Indifferent
must have mourned all this,-Whether in
peace or amid the appalling calamities of
War, in all the exigencies OF the State,
private happiness and public prosperity
have been sacrificed to ths liquor sellers
greed Of gain.
This has caused three fourths Of all our
pauperism and nine-tenths Of all our
crime.
This has been in constant and open an
tagonism to our schools and churches.
And this, in every village. has bred a
hopeless inebriate, aud in every church
yard has filed a drunkard grave!
Having thus defied the people, outraged
society and insultrd God. the liquor traffic
is brought once more to the bar of public
opinion, for Judgment.
The amendments submitted to the peo-
pie, provide imprisonment for every viola
ton of the existing law-thirty days for
the first offense and sixty days for the sec,
ond. Is this too severe
If there is one crime which, more than
another Injuries society. it is run,senns.
The criminal. thus cursing the community
has no excuse.
The murderer may plead momentary
nass;on in eytennation Of his crime, but
Tho rrmsallnr can only offer his love of
cain. HopeIess novrr,y NAV tempt the
thief to violate the law Int the rnmseller.
reduced to no extremity, seeks only an
easy path to wealth. If, in the punish.
ment of crime. the extent of the iniury
aud the absence of all extenua:ing cir
cumstances are +, he considered. surrlu
Imprisonment is not too severe for the rum
.e'Ier.
Rnt law has vet a HIGHER aim the pro.
lection of society. And for this PURPOSE
M necessary penaltv is toe seryere. Is I'm
pr;sonmeat Unnecessary /! Let experience
answer. LARGE proft; have embollened
the liunor. dealer to scott at the paltrv fines
and ANAL contiscations, imposed for con-
victious under that clause of the present
s,atutc. most easily enforced. He readily
transfers such penalties to his customers,
hv advancing the nrice of their daily DRAINS
and continue shis business, in ill-concealed
contempt for the law he is TINS enabled to
violate with Immunity. The rood rcsults
If the n-csent law have demonstrated the
wisdom and expediency of Prohibition,
Hundreds of gror. shops have been closed
br IL And thousands of inebriates. fins
ys,;arc5 from, the constant nresence If
temptation. have been restored to family,
fr;enIs and manhood. In all the smaller
,awns Efforts n enforcc II have heen crown
N ,,.;,h hancfcent rosnlts Rut wbererer
~ in onr cities and LARGER towns. the de.
r,ana far I;nuor il creat fines. have nrov-
..1 "sn agf for the nnrnoses Of the law
I9nless the neonle would abandon the nos.
;,;on ,ber assumed in Ia5a. a severer ncn.
. a,tv - dsmanJed. This nenalty is nrnv;J.
Cd in ,hs nrn,I;no a,nep]mants which |
49,, ua, ~ fran,ed hr ae,,leman wbos, larai
.,,a;omants ars oni,. eonaiio3 hr b;s a.
~a.;on ~ ,ha oan.n Tflbosa a,,a,d n ~
,,.arnf,rs are s;n,nlv devised to aracn.o ,to |
'.;i, ~ H. 1872 c ~ pnou,n,.nrnS 'n
,ha ' G IL o trafi;c r. rst;f.J prah;h;,on
WI. .,iI ~ ra,; amJ not ~ w., u"'U "u,.
n nr, Of onr STATE NV, merely nominal If
Ir";.o,.d tho eIsct;o, vii ha nnns,r,od
, ~, onlr IN w" distant states and sre;~n conn
nv. o"t: =, . $50, 70 roa,, =, ~