Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-07

more, liquor sellers are held responsible for
all damages to individuals and society result
ing from it.
! After years of discussion, Maine adopted
the policy of prohibition in 1851, and, with
the exception of one or two years, ii has been
continued with remarkable unanimity.
This legislation is not intended to interfere
improperly with the personal habits OF indi-
viduals. 1t only seeks to prohibit a public
trade, which in the opinion OF large portion
of our people-perhaps all-Is a public mis-
chief. Nor does it attempt to dictate what
we shall drink more than the laws against the
sale of diseased, poisonous, or otherwise I'M
| healthy articles of food, dictate what we shall
| cat. In both cases, the laws are against the
sale, not the drinking or eating. The laws
of prohibition upon brothels, gambling houses,
impure books and pictures. houses of ll-fame
and tipping shops, all rest upon the same
| principle, viz that these trades are incon-
| sistent with the public welfare, which 1t is not
| only the right but the duty of the governmo mt
to provide for in all legitimate ways. There
| is, and can be, no difference of opinion among
| intelligent men as to the effect of the liquor
traffic upon the prosperity of the State, and
the happiness and welfare of the people. 1t
is in direct hostility to all the interests of the
country. No man can Iighttully claim that
trade so injurious in its effect, should be
permitted to exist for his profit or accommo-
dalton. Every man is bound by his duty to
society and the State to subordinate his per-
sonal preference and interests for the general
good.
If the principles have thus briefly stated
are correct, it follows that it is the duty of the
State to enact and enforce, and of all good
citizens to obey and sustain such laws as will
most effeetually prevent the traffic 1t is not
necessary to argue this question further before
haI o. int lit,l,, ,lyaf
Ifany have doubts on this subject they would,
am confident, be removed by careful COM
parison of the localities in this State where the
law is enforced, with places having similar
population in States where prohibitory legis-
lation does not exist.
The present law, where it is enforced, is, so
far as can Judge, as effective in the suppress
sion of the traffic as are our other criminal
laws against the crimes they are intended TO
prevent. In a majority of counties the law
appears to be well executed with very
favorable results. Whether any further
legislation in regard to the law or its exc
cution is necessary or expedient, is for
the legislature to determine. | commend the
whole subject to your careful consideration ;
reminding you and the people of the State
that while recognizing the law as necessary
auxiliary in our efforts against intemperance,
we should not neglect to use all the moral in
fuence within our reach to create and main
tain a correct public sentiment on this subject;
for on this the existence and enforcement Of
the laws and the good we hope to see accom-
plished through these efforts depend.
POPULATION AND EMIGRATION.
The Census just taken discloses some un-
welcome facts which demand your serious
consideration The increase of our popula-
ton during the last decade was very small
n,,d fbatp f
ceedng decades. This may be accounted for
in part, by our losses in the war and the de-
crease in the average number of children in
each family; but chiefly by the large emigra-
ton to other parts of the country. 1t has
been estimated-with how much accuracy
do not know--that five thousand young men
and an equal number of young women, leave
| Maine annually to seek in other States more
satisfactory fields of effort than they can find
at home. These are generally the most en-
ergetic portion of our population, and their
emigration constitutes drain upon the pro-
ductive capacity OF the State we can ill afford.
While the distinction to whick many of the
sons of Maine have attained IN other States
is exceedingly complimentary to "The men
We raise" it shows what we should gain by a
policy that would give ample opportunity for
the development and exercise of such talent
at home. Have we the resources? and can we
open avenues of business sufficient to retain
this portion of our population in the
State? are questions which deeply con-
Germ us. And on their successful solution,
our future largely depends. We certainly have
resources, the development of which would
require large increase ofpcpulation. Wheth-
er this development is to be made, depends
largely on the policy the State shall adopt.
The extension of our railroads, the cultiva-
ton of our unoccupied farming lands, and the
occupation and utilization of our waterpower,
will do very much in the right direction.
NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
In climate favorable to health and the de-
velopement and exercise of the greatest phys
ical and mental powers--in our soil, favora-
BILE to agricultural pursuits, some of it equal
| to any in the country-in our forests of wood
! and timber-in our extensive sea coast, and
safe and capacious harbors, furnishing unlim-
| tied capacity for shipbuilding and commercial
pursuits-in our ability to make the very rig
or of our climate and the sterlity of our coast
| contribute to our wealth by furnishing unlim-
tied supply of ice and granite, unsurpassed in
| quality by any in the country; and in our wa
| ter power, unrivaled in extent and adaptation
| 10 manufacturing operations, we have resour-
| ces which, if properly developed will furnish
| profitable employment for all the increase OF
our own population and large immigration for
! centuries to come. That the labor and CAPT
tai necessary for such development would be
advantageously employed there can be no
| doubt.
AGRICULTURE.
The idea entertained by some that farming
is not a paying business, and that farmers are
obliged TO work harder and for less compen-
sation than persons engaged in other pursuits,
is incorrect. 1t is true that fortunes are some
times made more rapidly in other kinds OF
business. 1t is also true that they are often
er lost There is no business among us that
is so sure to furnish an abundance of all that
is necessary to ensure real independence and
happiness as farming Nor is it necessary
for farmers to go out of the State to find de-
sirable localities for this business. Some
western farmers do better than ours Others
not so WELL On the whole, it is probable tina
our Maine farmers make nearly, and perhap:
quite as much money according to the amount
invested, they would in the west, and ell.
JOY very much more of all the comforts ant
conveniences of life.
Between three and four hundred townships
equal to seven or eight millions of acres, com