The Republican journal., 1874-01-15
Grand Jury Resolutions.

The Grand Jury Of this county, at its
late session, seemed pervaded by Il deter
mination to ferret out and punish the
sellers of liquors. They appear to have
fully and fairly investigated the evil, and
to have found bills in cases in which the
law and their oaths as jurors compelled
them to. They could not do otherwise
without mourning the guilt of perjury
We are credibly informed that there was Il
very strong disposition to take measures
against the Belfast City Agency, but that
investigation shew the place to be protect
ed by the statute. however it might ex-
ceed its legal limits Before separating.
the jury passed the following resolutions,
which are presented to us for publication.
by 4 member thereof
GRAND jury Rooms, BELFAST.
Waldo Co.. January. 1874.
" herea> in examining evidence presented
here, for the purpose Of obtaining indictments
against certain persons for the illegal sale of in
toNicating liquors, we are able to trace greater
evil. resulting from the sale of such liquors
coming from the Belfast City Agency. than from
any and all other places, in said city, and in our
opinion such liquors are not bought and sold
within the meaning Of the statutes;
Therefore Resolved. That those whose bust
ness it is to see that liquors are legally and
iudclously sold, are guilty of remisSness in
their duty, and deserving of severe censure.
And further Resolved That until such time,
as said agency is properly restricted, we ask
that no more citizens of this and adjoining
towns be presented for Indictment for selling
such intoxicating liquors from WeG0} rum shops.
john HALEY, j. r. LtrTEFIfLp,
JOSEPH j. NIHoIs, ROBERT HICHBoEN,
O. L. BERRY, BENZ. KNOWLES,
5. g. BIcKNELl, GEO. O. HOLMES.
G. +. FARRtE IuOS. FOSTER,
JOSEPH MnClui1. Roscoe q. WlIMot IN.
j. 1. THOMAS, ). IA. BAKER
This paper as its readers we'll know, is
opposed to the present policy Of the State
which fines and imprisons one man tor
selling liquor, and permits another to Do
SO at his discretion IT is impolitic. an
reasonable, unjust, and ruinOu9 Of public
morals We have said before, and we say
again that it is not in the nature Of men,
even Of reasonably upright men, to ill
such q trust and not yield 10 the solicita-
when this is done the legalized rlm-shop
is better than no other, It is worse, for
while one is known and acknowledged as
illegal and morally wrong, the other Sc
cretly pcrverts the law to the worst pur-
poses. The trader who dispenscs liquors
at the agency in this city is a good citi-
zen and an honorable man as the world
goes He is imposed upon sometimes him
self; sometimes he is compelled 10 leave
lis business to other hands; he has the
traders desire to accumulate profits.
And 50 in one way and another liquor
ooZes out at the Splgots and faucets
Of the agency, and does its W0iul work
as etfectually as though coming from a
law-defying source But who can prevail
against this source Of evil, since the pro
hibitorv statute itself authorizes it, and the
strong arm Of the law protects it?
The fact is that the prohibitory law is a
constant testimony against itself Its
friends should not continue the legalized
rum-shops unless they can make provision
for placing before the door of each one, to
drive back Illegal purchasers, the angel
with the flaming sword that guarded the
gates Of Eden. 1t is possible that thereby
improper sales might be prevented; but
we feel sure that the business inside would
be 50 small that no one would care to have
it.