Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-31
THE STATE TEMPERANCE CONVEN-
TYON

| THE STATE TEMPERANCE CONVEN-
TION.
The Temperance Convention at Lewiston
on ThursdSy and Friday last was well attend
ed On the first day Rev, c. \. King of Au-
rlsta called the convention to order, and on
his motion \. G.. uichborn, Esq, of Stock
ton, was made temporary chairman. Prayer
was offered 10y Rev. Mr.. Mathews of Auburn.
On motion of Joshua Nye. Esq, of Water
Vile the following committee was appointed:
Joshua I'VE of Kennebec; John S. Kmball
of Penobscot; Rev. c. Munger of Sagada-
hoe: A. j. w. Stevens of Piscataquis; Rev.
Geo. F. Clark of Hancock; b. ID. Russell Of
Franklin: Ara CuShman of Androscoggin.
On motion of Rev. Mr. Chase of Piscata
quis, the following committee on permanent
organization was appointed;
b. A. Chase of PiScataquis; A. Potter of
Sagadahoc: II. n. Winslow of Kennebec; J.
b. Thorndike of Cumberland; B. c. Jordan
of York.
| Rev. John Allen, in response to calls, made
brief speech. Hon. John J. Perry of Ok
ford also responded to loud calls for a speech.
He reiterated his belief in a State Police, and
|
Foster of Oxford county, for the manner in
which he has prosecuted liquor sellers. Hon.
VIM. p Frye responded to calls, and made
forcible speech, in which he stated that he
hoped the convention would declare for a
State Police.
Mr.. Chase, from the committee on perma-
nent organization, reported that Hon Sidney
Perham of oxford, be permanent President
and that the following gentlemen be Vice
Presidents
Richard Dresser of Androscoggin, Ii. W.
HYDE Of Aroostook. f. A. Sawyer Of Cum
berland, b. ID. Russell of Franklin, G.. b.
Willis of Hancock, J. \. Morton of Oxford
j. F. Higgins of Penobscot, Rev. b. A. Chase
of Piscataquis. Daniel Allen of Somerset, A.
W. burlington of Sagadahoc Charles Hill of
York. J. w. Thompson of Waldo, H. B..
TAYLOR Of Washington; Secretaries, DR.. W.
b. Lapham of Woodstock, H. A. Shorey of
Bath
| On motion of n. Dingley, Jr., Esq, of
Lewiston, committee on resolutions was ap-
pointed as follows:
Nelson Dingley, Jr., of Androscoggin,
Isaac Hacker of Aroostook, +. H. Starbid of
f. ~.
G. +. Clark of Hancock, Oliver Stoddard of
Knox, Rev. c. A. King of Kennebec, Samuel
Chisam of Lincoln, John J. Perry of Oxford,
John S. Kimball of Penobscot, Rev. B. A.
Chase of Piscataquis, Rev c.. Munger of
Sagadahoc. Daniel Allen of Somerset, N. G.
Hichborn of Waldo, Mason H. Wilder Of
Washington, and Charles Hill of York.
On Friday the committee on Resolutions
reported as follows:
Resolced That the temperance men of Maine as
sembled in mass convention, hereby reiterate their
deliberate CONVECTION strengthened by each years
experience that no efforts to mitigate the admitted
/ gigantic evils of intemperance and promote the
cause of temperance, can have any permanent val
ue unless they are based on the principles of total
abstinence for the individual, and the prohibition
Of tipping shops by the State-the former to be
urged rs duty, if not necessity, by every moral
means that can be employed; the latter to be APP
piled a necessary measure of protection against
dangerous foes to social order and as essential to
| remove temptations that cripple, if not overcome,
all moral efforts. Whoever may claim to be friends
of the temperance reform we unhesitatingly affirm
that its worst enemies are those who excuse or de-
fend the practice of called moderate drinking, or
who seek to give legal protection and character to
drinking houses and tippling shops.
ResOtUed, That the first and highest duty of every
wellwisher to the temperance REFORM is TO glvethe
influence of his example, his sympathy, and his ut
terance> 20 strengthen the moral sentiment ofeyery
community against the use and sale of intoxicating
liquors beverage. On the faithful use of these
means We have ever relied in the past; and now
that the inevitable decentralization consequent on
a long war has lowered the standard of temperance
throughout the Union, need more than ever to
continue the work in which the faithful friends of this
great movement have always been engaged, and to
strengthen their hands by the active cooperation of
all who have the cause at heart. In this time of
need we invite and expect every citizen who de-
sires the promotion of the temperance reform, to
enlist in this great moral work Let temperance
meetings be held in every city town and school dis
trct, and every voice proclaim the fundamental
truths on which the permanent promotion Of the
cause depends,
Resolced, That in view of the extraordinary facl
tiles OF the Church public educator, and her
past efficiency in the Temperance cause, we are
strongly impressed with the fact, that the success
Of the reform depends largely upon the continued
action of an agency universal and potential, and
we believe that the eXgences of the case call for
Increased fidelity in this particular department of
Resoired, That notwithstanding the general weak
ening of public sentiment in the direction of this
reform throughout the country in consequence Of
the demoralizing tendencies of the conflict of arms
through which the nation has passed. yet we rejoice
70 know that those states in which prohibition has
prevailed, have suffered least, and to-day are far
in advance of commonwealth in which the liquor
traffic has been protected by law. We regard this
fact rs reaiiming the value and necessity of pro-
hihltion ~ an adjunct of moral means and we
look upon all efforts to misrepresen the object and
scope of laws prohibiting dram shops by charac.
terzing the principle involved in them as an eff.
fort to make men virtuous by law" or an attempt
TO reach the impossible" as not only reckless and
unjust but also as striking at the foundation of all
laws against vicious and criminal practices danger
Gus to society,-for all laws prohibiting murder,
IppDclys lncitl houses, anu houses OF Ill
fame, "attempt the impossible" and "aim to make
men yirtuous by law" to the same extent that laws
prohibiting tippIng shops do.
. sResottsd, That inasmuch as the extent of the en-
f0rcement of the laws prohibiting crime, and
especially those against panders to vice, measures
in great degree their value adjuncts of social
means it becomes the moral as well AS constitu-
tonal duty of the State which enact statutes, to
provide means for their uniform impartial and Wig
orous execution, by placing in the hands of the
Chief Executive, who is under solemn oath ito
take care that the laws be executed" such powers
M For inn N
discharge the duties imposed upon hin by the Con-
etitutioA ana thereby 10 give that protection to al
the people for which governments are instituted
among men. t..