Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-02-05
Rev. MIR. savery of Ellsworth said that

them 10 dotheir duty, Int 4 haxl resnltei
in nothing. He MAS satisfied that &c
laws would not be enforced in this WAY,
Hon. John r. Stevens Of Augusta, OPP
posed any State Police, and thought in
dangerous to make such an experiment
The question on the adoption Of Mr..
Talbot's amendment was then taken, ana
Il wasrejected by arising vote, the whole
Convention, with one exception) voting
against it. The resolution was then
adopted unanimously. d ~
Resolved. That with deyout and heart
felt thanksgiving to almighty God for
the guidance and success by him accord
ed to ourscausc In the past, the friends oi
temperance in Mass Convention assembled
reailirm the principles 81 often enunciat-
ed. and by experience established, that
all hope of progress i'll temperance reform
rests on total abstinence from intoxicating
liquors by the individual, and prohibition
of the liquor traffic by the State.
Resoised, That in the early history OF
the temperance reformation, its successes
were due more 10 the Christian Church
than 20 any other agency. and we do now
most sincerely and earnestly invoke the
renewed activity of ministers and church
members in cause So calculated 10 re-
move the greatest obstacle Ia the diffusion
OF the gospel OF Jesus Christ, and the
promotion Of the temporal and spiritual
welfare of our fellow-men.
RtSoirei, That while we place our
maine reliance upon the constant and
faithful moral efforts. which by the in
telligent and good are eXerted for the
elevation ofthe standard public sentiment,
in relation to the danger and the i'm
morality of the use Intoxicating liquors.
and the c,iminality Of their sales; yet the
impressive logic Of facts and experience
has demonstrated that the legal pro-
hibition OF the traffic in alcoholic drinks,
coming in as an aid TO mortal effort, by
protecting the inexperienced and weak
against temptation to vice, j. essential To
secure any permanent progress of the
cause OF temperance.
RsSOirtd, That inasmuch Is the value
of law prohibiting drinking houses and
tipping shops, depends upon the faithful
ness with which il is executed, we view
with alarm the open, organized and
defiant manner in which prohibition is set
at naught in many parts OF the State IN
consequence cf the unflithiulnc>s oflocal
officers, elected by the combination Of
liquor dealers and their sympathizers, and
in many cases influenced to this dcreliction
=. II 1. I 4 1
such defiance of law not only secures
license under the name prohibition, and
opens the flood gates of intcmperance,
bu, also tends To undermine all law and
10 destroy the foundation ofgood govern
ment nv encouraging the lawlcss ~ be-
hcve that the authority which makes
laws does nutpossess The powerto execute
them.
R,Aoirci. That while il is the duty Of
every good citizen "a assist those in
authority in executing tho laws, vet wc
regard it "a much the duty OF the State 10
see that the laws tor the protection ot it,
citizens are enforced, ~ il j. to enact
them. and that the Government which
should look on and see ia laws openly
deiiei, through the power of criminals or
the inclliCiuncy OF local officers, would le
iaithlc~s to the trust rcposcd in it and
unworthy Of the confidence ofthc people :;
we can, therefore. bat regard il - not
only the right but the duty of the power
that makes criminal laws Ia prov idc some
means for their enforcement in eases
where il j. not secured by local officers,
and We most respectfully pray he Legis-
latUrc of the State Ia prov Idle such u
system of State Police as shall secure the
faithful. impartial and constant enforce
men, ofall the criminal laws ofthc State.
and particularly these against which are
arIayed the cupidity and immense in
ilucuce of pandrrcr> Ia vice and 10 the
dcpravcd appetites of the vicious.
Hcsoircd. That while il is our desire
that the necessity for the existence and
Enforcement oflawS prohibiting the liquor
traffic should be 81 generally recognized
by All parties that there may he no
necessity for the friends ni temperance to
organize politically la defence OF cherished
principles, and much ~ We should dcplorc
the aT1aying of any political organization
against those cherished principles, whether
through platform or through nominees
for office, Vet, should this be- done. it
would be our solemn duty 10 meet such
an attempt To overthrow, diSanangc or
diSarm prohibition with counter organiya-
tions aud counter political organizations
Will recognize the vital necessity oi
advancing the principles underlying tenn
pcrancc 10y supporting and encouraging
the execution of the laws against the
liquor traffic by nominating for office such
men A. not only sympathiIe with those
principles but also give To them the inn
portant of example.
Il, >olred, That the sincere thanks Of
every friend of temperance j. due 10 Gen.
Ulysses ). Grant, President elect, aud
Hon. Schuyler Coltlx, Vice President
elect, for giving the weight of their
powerful example against the use of wines
and other intoxicating liquors on social
and public occasions; We hail such an
example as the Indication OF a new and
vital step in the temperance reformation,
whereby the virtue fstrict total abstinence
shall he added to the other qualifications
regarded rs desirable, and, as we trust,
n indispensable To commend a candidate
for office to the suffrages of the people.
On motion of Hon. :. L. Morrill, of
Pennington, the Secretary was directed
10 transmit copies of the last resolution 10
Gen. Grant and Speaker Coliax.
Mr.. Sawyer, from the committee on
Resolutions, reported a resolution COM
mendiug the work and publications ofthe
National Temperance Society. Rev. d..
c. Haynes of Lewiston, New England
Agent of the Society, gave an account OF
the work of that Society, and earnestly
besoght the cooperation of the friends Of
temperance of Maine. The Society is
sending agents to the churches and form
inr the children of the Sabbath Schools