The Republican journal., 1871-06-29

Sometime since we published the fact
that the amount of drunkenness had great
ly increased, in this city and other places
in Maine, during Gov. Perham's admins
tration. We find in the Kennebec jour
nal the following
The Riverside Echo makes the following per-
tinent reply to the Belfast Journals remarks
about liquor selling in Belfast
''What has the Governor to do with that city
especially? There is no State police; and if
there We're, the same journal would probably
make a still greater cutlery against the prohibit
tory policy. If the journals that decry Tenn
perance measures, if nothing is done. and yet
more if anything is done, wish the evils of rum
selling to be ahated, let them aid public scnti-
mont in enforcing such laws rs exist, till better
ones shall be devised. The evils of the liquor
traffic are many. and oppressive to the COM
munity and to individuals. The Governor has
no more to do with the local enforcement of the
present law than any other citizen. and to call
him to an account for not seeing that the law is
enforced in Belfast, Augusta, Lewiston, or
Portland. is simply absurd The municipal
officers and the citizens of those and other
cities and towns are the ones to act; and if they
did their duty. the tlagrant yiolaterS of the law
would soon learn that the way of the trans
grcSsor is hard.
characterized by an ignorance of the du-
ties and obligations that are assumed by
the Governor of Maine, which is remark
able in one whose office is the cnlighten-
mcnt Of the public mind ''Thc Governor
has no more to do with the local enforce
mcnt of the present law than any other
citizen" The Echo is accredited rs the
organ of Coy. Prrham in temperance mat
ters, but we trust that this position is not
taken by his request. If it is, we would
suggest that he give Il careful pcrusal to
the 18th section of article fourth of the
Constitution, which says, in enumcrating
the duties of the Govcrnor-'sHe shall
take care that the laws be faithfully exc
cuted." And if Ills Excelcncv will over
haul his memory for six months past,
he will find that on inauguration day he
took "a oath like this
II do solemnly swear that | will faithfully
discharge. 10 the best of my abilities, the duties
incumhcnt on me rs Governor, 0cc0rding 10
hc ConStiiHtion and the laws Of the State. SO
help me, & ou.
The platform Of the radical party, upon
which Pcrham was elected. declared that
prohibition and the enforcement of laws
TO that end, was 2 party principle. More
ihan that, the inaugural message, after
stating the substance of the law, contains
the following language
If the principles | have thus briefly stated
are correct. i. follows that it is THE DUTY OF
THE STATE 10 enact and enforce, and for all
good citizens to obey and sustain such laws AS
will most etfrctuay prevent the trale.'
Here appears 4 glimmcr Of recolectio II
Of an official obligation in regard to the
law, which has more recently disappeared
If it be the duty of the State 10 enforce
the law, of course the Governor as chi eff
executive, has 4 responsibility in the mat
ter. And it is clear that Governor Per-
ham is bound to see to the enforcement of
the liquor law, among others. He was
elected upon 4 pledge that he would do
50; he promised in his inaugural to en-
force the liquor law the constitution pro-
yides that he shall do it, and he took a
solemn oath to obey. And now his or
gan declares that he has no more to do
with ii than any other citizen And un-
der the reign of the special apostle of pro-
hbition, rum from the State reservoir at
Portland, and from outside sources, is
flowing in rivers through the State, drunk
ennps5 runs riot, and the community is
honoy-combcd With moral decay and
death. And Governor Pcrhan has moth
ing to do with it
We suppose that the radical Convention
will get together at Portland this week,
and that they viii again resolve for pro
hibition and the enforcement of the law
And Governor Pcrham, the chief mags-
trate, who has nothing to do with it, will
be put in nomination, with the hope that
he will again he permitted to swear to
take care that the laws be faithfully exc
cuted- and then have nothing to DO with
it for another year,
What 4 stupendous farce, humbug and
cheat this whole business is