The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-12-15
Terms $500 per amasmns, in aarance.
DAILY PRESS.
ND
Thursday Morning, Dacemb,r Is, 1870
PORTLAND


Prohibition.
Many years ago, was sent for by poor
woman VINO was in distress. She had seven
or eight young children and drunken lus-
band, who held responsible place in an i'm.
portant position. He was then off "on beer ),
and his chief had threatened to DISCHARGE
him, in which case the family would be with
out resource, and must go upon the town
The salary paid to this man was sufficient fol
the comfortable maintenance of the family
but everything had been spent from year tc
year, so that there was no resource against a
day of trouble, and the loss of the situation by
the husband, would instantly bring them to
absolute destitution.
The poor wife said there was one particu-
lar rum shop visited by her husband, the
keeper of which had great influence over him,
and If this man would refuse to sell him any
liquor, and would advise him to come home,
he would do so, and would soon be over this
"turn" and would be able to resume his du-
ties. Unless this could be done soon, she
said, he would be made sick, and the chief
would not be able to wait Cor his recovery
but would employ another in his place. The
scene was most deplorable; this poor woman
in feeble health, with the sole care of these
children, doing all the work for the family
while her husband was away at rum shop
spending the money desperately needed at
homeland incurring the imminent hazard oil
losing his situation, and so being bundled of
to the work house with wife and children,
whom he was abundantly able to support, but
for the Intervention of the rum shop between
him and them.
"Where is this infernal'grog shop" asked.
SIN such street" she said; "Jenney 90 and
show this gentleman where it is. She has Of
ten been there to try and bring her father
home" Entering the shop said-"Is Mr..
Samson here% "No, he's been gone from
here two hours ago." At the same time
heard loud talking, swearing and fighting in
the dark, back room, and went for the door,
before which the rumseller placed himself to
bar my way. thrust him aside and entered
the vile place, steaming with rum and tobac-
co and resounding with the oaths and ribald
talk of four drunken men, one of whom was
Samson. I took him suddenly by one arm
brought him to his feet with jerk, and out
into the light of the front room, surrounded
by the runseller and his victims, who wanted,
to see "what's up."
"Look you," said to the rumseller-"this
mans wife and children are at home suffer.
ing for the money he's spending with you for
rum. He has not been home for three days,
having spent all this time in Jour shop. He
is in great danger of losing his place, and then
they must all go to the work house. His
wife says if you will refuse to sell him rum,
he will not go elsewhere for it, and she can
make him fit in a day or two, to 60 to his desk
again, otherwise she fears tney will all come
to beggary."
swell, that's my business to sell rum," he
said, "it's none of my business if men get
drunk and neglect and abuse their families
Pve got family to support as well as others,
and the way do it is by selling rum" eyes,
but in this particular case, you see the ruin
it is working in this mans family" he broke
in-"Look here, I don't want none of your
preaching; it's my business to sell rum; I'll
sell it to him and to any other man who's got
the money to pay, and as long as they can
pay, it's none of my hunt if they get drunk
and abuse their families; I've got license to
sell rum, so help yourselfif you can; don't
want none of your advice, when do I'll send
for you, SO there now you've got the whole
story"
"You have license, have you, for selling
rum? You are empowered by law, are you,
to destroy your neighbors, body and soul and
to bring their wives and children to the Aims
House? You support your family, do you,
by destroying other peoples families? Well,
Heaven helping me, I'll see if all that can't
be changed~ And that's the beginning Of
the Maine Law. Many brave and true men
from that day commenced in Maine-in every
part of Maine-an unceasing agitation for the
suppression Of the rum trade. In winter aad
summer, without ceasing, crusade was
preached against the rum shops. In every
country Meeting House, in every country
Town House, in every roadside School House
was the fact proclaimed, that the rum trade
was in deadly hostility to every interest of
the State and 10 the welfare and happiness
of the people. The result was the Maine
Law by Sc to 40 iii the House and Is to 10 in
the Senate, and its approval by Democratic
Governor. N. D.