The Portland daily press., 1868-12-15
Tempera nee Meeting.

The third of series of temperance meetings
now being held in this city, convened at the
Pine street Church last evening. The meeting
was called to order by E. II. Laid, Esq, one of
the city committee ON whose motion c. j. Nor
offered by Rev. Mr.. Wetherbee, pastor of the
church.
The chairman, after few general remarks,
introduced Hon. w. HI. Vinton, of Gray, who
said that the question which now presented it.
self to the temperance men OF Maine is, "shall
we give up the cause?" 1t was not subject
free from perplexity, and he was not prepared
to say that as temperance man he would dis
card all other questions and insist upon the
temperance question wholly; but this cause
shonld he managed with wise reference to and
in connection with other important questions.
Rum is now sold freely throughout the State
In putting our reliance upon law we thereby
substantially abandon the field of moral effort
Now if we give up the law the field is lost. The
speaker was of the opinion that we had upon
the statute book sufficient law if it was enforc.
ed and that it was useless to enact more strin-
gent laws if these were not enforced.
He advocated the enactment of State Con-
stabulary law in an amended and perfected
form, so that the State might have specific
force set to the work of enforcing this specific
law. The Constabulary was repealed upon the
plea of its cost. Anything expended in the
line of moral effect could not be lost. No mat
ter how many thousands it cost to stop the
traffic in Maine, if it be stopped the State
would be the gamer.
The next speaker was Rev. Mr.. Pottle, who
spoke of the moral aspects of the question:
We cannot entertain the thought that the con-
test is to be given up. Political questions
have been settled, and there is nothing now to
prevent our attending to temperance. He re-
garded this question as greater than the rebel
lion. 1t costs more money; it costs more lives;
it destroys character and brings poverty and
misery. What is our duty? We must feel
right, and then act right
+ Judge Davis was then introduced. He said
we can no more give up this cause than we
can give up the cause of Christ. The present
aspect is discouraging in view of the reaction
of the last year, but We shall reach higher
stage. We are apt to single out classes as be-
ing rcmiss, but there is general rem ssness
found that the men who most earnes tly adyo
Gated the law were the most active in the NOR
al field. Law was from its nature progressive
He was in favor not only of the Constabulary,
but of the law as the people had ratified it,
viz: Imprisonment for the first offence. He
believed that this feature of the law had done
more and would do more than all other legal
agencies combined.
Gen. Dow being present was called out, but
owing to the lateness of the hour submitted a
few remarks upon the state of the cause gen.
orally, and concluded by saying tina. we must
unanimously petition the Legislature for the
re'enactment of these laws. He offered res
Oluton to that effect, which was unanimously
adopted by rising vote.
This was an excellent meeting. 1t was fully
attended, and though it continued to late
hour the interest was undated to the end.