Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-01-09

these burdens or removing tho CALLING
letters OF which they complain. If, when
this is done, our American ship builders
cannot compete successfully with others
in the construction OF sailing vessels. or il
they arc not in demand. they will turn
their attention to the building and sailing
OF such vessels as are required.
TEMPERANCE AND THE ExRcUTIoN or THE
LAWS.
The evils resulting from the use OF in.
toxicating drinks are alarming. aud de-
mand the earnest thought, and wise per.
sistent effort OF the Christian, the phian-
thropisl and the statesman. Through the
light that has been given. the moral in.
fluences that have been eXerted, and the
removal to some extent Of the temptation
to drink by the prohibitory law. there is
very much less drinking in Maine in pro-
portion to the population, than formerly.
aud less than in most other portions OF
the country. These facts are demonstrat.
ed by The recollection of those whose
memory goes back over the last thirty or
| forty years, and who have compared this
with other States. Still, intemperance in
Maine is a grea, public vil-destruclive
of private morals and virtue. promotive
of degradation and ruin-an enemy TO in
dustry and good order, and n serious Diet.
rimen, TO all the higher interests of the
| State.
The lime and money expended, the in
tellectual and physical powers destroyed,
the hopes blasted, the homes desc lated,
the pc yerty and crime Occasioped, and
the lives sacrificed through the drinking
habits OF our people, would make IN ap
palling chapter in our history. If we in
quire Mt our State Prison. we shall find
that prior To- their conviction, eight per
cent. of the convcts were not in the hab-
it OF using Intoxicating drinks. - twelve
per cent. drank moderately, while eighty
per cent, drank to excess and their
crimes were The direct result OF this prac
tice. A visit to our county jails would
reveal similar facts. This shows that
four fifths of the crime, and consequently
that proportion of all the expense, as
well rs all the private and public evils re-
sulting from the commission OF crlme,alc
The legitimate result OF inlempcranco.
Common observation furnishes convinc-
| ing evidence that large portion of the
pauperism in the State is directly or in
directly attributable 10 the same cause.
II these statements are correct, the
State, aside from its interest in the moral.
intellectual aud financial well-being of its
citizens, has direct pecuniary interest in
this subject equal to iour.filths OF tho
whole cost OF the execution OF our Grim
inal laws, as we'll rs the support OF pau
pers and juvenile offenders, made such
| bv intcmperance. The statesman. then,
charged to promote. in every proper way
the welfare OF tho State. has duty TO
perform in this regard which he is not ut
liberty to ignore.
The eradication of an evil like this
must be sought primarily through the
pulpit, the press. the platform and the in
| influence OF organized effort. thus awak-
ening the public mind and quckening the
public conscience As n result OF the ct
forts made through these Instrumental"
ties. large portion OF our population a6'
stain entirely from the use OF intoXicat-
ing drinks rs beverage, many drunkards
have been reformed and Il public senti'
ment has been created that has found eN.
preston in Que OF the most effective laws
! in our statutes.
1t is a fact worthy OF notice, and one
which has attracted The attention OF every
careful observer. that. in most places in
the State. intemperancc and crime and
all the evils incident TO lntcmperance
have decreased about in proportion to the
enforcement OF the law. and increased
| in proportion 10 the neglect to enforce II.
| The State has done wisely in supplement
ing individual and organized effort with
such legal aid rs it has deemed proper.
| The law itself is believed To be generally
satisfactory, but there is much complaint
| that, in many parts of the State, It Is
not executed rs it should be, and, by
many, additional legislation tor the en-
rorccmcnt OF this and other criminal
! laws is desired. The conviction is very
genera, that the necessity Is not 50 much
| for more law, rs ACKNOWLEDGMENT Ot
the laws we have. The importance of
faithful and impartial execution Of all
our criminal laws is too apparent to re.
auire discussion here.
| am not unmiudful OF The fact that no
law can be enforced through any instru
mentality, however efficient in itself for
Il term OF years, unless it be sustained by
the public sentiment of the people. On
that all our laws depend. Ii they meet
that approval they will be sustained and
enforced il not, they will be repealed
or become Il dead letter in the statute.
| The officers who execute the law come
from the people. They are the servants
OF the people, and will. rs general rule,
execute theil will. Whether the Judgment
OF majority of the people be right or
wrong-whether we accept or reject 1t
personally. it will in this country. assert
| itself in the enactment OF the laws, and
the election OF public officers on whom
their enforcement depend.
A proposition has been made, that the
sherilfs of the several counties and their
deputies, be charged with the duty OF in.
curing into the violation OF all criminal
laws, aud attending 10 their enforcement
within the limits OF their respective
counties, when the local authorities neg
| lecl or refuse to do so; and that these
| officers be made responsible 10 the ChieI
Executive of the State, and subject 10
his directions. The friends o. this
measure suggest that, rs the laws now
are, the Governor is required to take and
subscribe an oath TO see that the laws
are faithfully executed, but that there is
no civil officer on whom he can officially
call for the execution of any law, and
that the change proposed would make it
possible for him 10 preform the duties of
his office in accordance with his oath.
The proposition is not open to The oblcc'
ton that il would create new set OF OIL
ficers, which is greatly in in its favor. 1t
meets. understand, the approval OF a
large potion of the friends OF temper
ance. can see no valid objection to its
adoption.
A better execution OF our criminal laws,