The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-24
The Temperance Reform.

| To THE EDITOR OF TIE PRESS:
SR,-The communication of "Washngton-
ian" in your paper of to-day contains some
very good suggestions, and yet wanders very
widely from the mark, at which the communi-
cation was aimed.
The suggestion that total abstinence socie-
ues should be revived would be more appro-
priate'H such organization did not exist in
nearly every town iu the State. The WASH
ingtonian society exists in this city to-day,
and its meetings would doubtless be more in
| terestiDg and beneficial, If sWasb;p poto,;,r,
would lend the aid of his presence and voice
Ii he will JOIN that society, or will or.anize
another of those persons who sympathize with
bis views about the law, venture to saw that
they can do much good and that, after six
months earnest effort for the cause, they will
agree with the "active" friends of temperance
as to the necessity for "law.' For there are
no more earnest advocates Of illegal suasion'
for the rum seller than those "Washinoton-
ians' who did so great work as to merit and
receive the appreciation of your correspondent
"Washingtonian." u lr
ent day" advocate the total suppression Of the
liquor traffic. Is there anything more ipcon-
sistent with the "Goldeu Rule" in this. than
in the laws, which l dare say washington
an" approves, for the suppression ofthieyinc,
arson, murder or any other crime which in
jures society? s.4...., ...........
Avariee nerves some men to commit Atheft:, :,
and all agree that society must be protected
by "law," from such men. Avarice promnts
other men to sell rum, the consequences of
which, to the community are hundred fold
more injurious than those OF "thievinc, and
it is not entirely suppressed. Why is it not |
as efectually prevented as "thieving ?, Because
it pays better. And it "pays" because the |
law for its punishment is not commensurate |
with the temptation toengase in it; and be-
cause, ii perchance a law is enacted. its or
forcement is almost prevented ny the men !
who while advocating law for the thief a, Il
murderer, yet plead the "Golden Rulcn in he
half of a class who cause nine-tentbs of all
the crime and poverty which afllet societyl
1t is fact that many seizures have been
made in this city during the past year. II is
also fact that much intemperance has nrc-
vailed. But to say that the latter results from
the formeris as logical as to claim that the
rebellion lasted five years because of the manv
battles that were fought The rebellion last
ed IN spite OF these until the iron will of Grant
and the concentrated determination of the
people crushed it out. So rum selling win
last, in spite of seizures until the law is err
forced with as much rigor as against nit;fu,
clothes thieves. and until the law is severe
enough IN its penalties to make the risk on !
the part Of the rum seller too great to con-
tinue the business. ,-.4. -
man loses few cents from his till and
the police "work' the case up and the i'll starr
ed thief is shortly incarcerated A mans son
is brought home dead drunk, or a woman drons
drunk in the streets and is frozen to death and
nothing more is done. Why {? because public
opinion is not educated to demand the closing
Of the grog shops, as loudly as it demands pro-
lection for the clothes lines and money draw
ers of our citizens. .
1t is matter of public opinion. And sac
tive" temperance men seek to create pubIie
opinion that shall accomplish the desired end.
They are opposed by three classes. The men
whose appetites prompt them to support the |
trafilc in spite OF the evil it inficts upon So
{ ciety; the men who make their money by SELL |
ing the liquor; and very large class of re-
spectacle citizens who have never paid enough |
attention to the subject to become convinced
OF the importance of the work.
The education of this last class, to a proper
degree OF interest in the work will accomplish
1t. But in the mean time is it best to sit down
quietly and, because it is difficult to suppress
the sale OF liquor,-say it is all right and prop
er; declare the liquor seller is strongly tempt |
ed by his love for gain to sell. therefore we |
should not seek to make his trade disreputa-
BILE by making it illegal? Il a.aaIs
And now, one word in regard 10 a para
graph, quoted by you from the Augusta cor.
respondent OF the Boston Advertiser, in refer
ence to the proposed amendment to the law.
This writer aims for the same thing that
"Waslngtonian'' seeks. Yet he takes differ
ent course. The one, claims that the law has |
been vigorously enforced and has failed to sup |
press the liquor shops, and, ergo-we should |
not enforce the law. The other claims that |
the law has not been enforced, as it stands,
and that we should not seek the amendment
If"Washingtonian" is right in his fact, the
Advertiser correspondent is wrong in scout
ing the desired amendment. If the Adver-
tiser correspondent is correct in bis statement
that the law has not been enforced, the duty
f"Washingtonian" seems rather to be the |
creation of public opinion that should give
the "law" fair trial, than in opposing it, as a