The Republican journal., 1876-01-20
Artful Dodging in Temperance,


the remarks made at the meeting of last
Saturday night, called professedly in the
interest of temperance. 1t will be seen
that great anxiety is expressed that the
prohibitory law shall be enforced, and
that the business men of this city are to
be asked to sign a resolution to that effect.
by reverend clergymen, a Judge of the
Supreme Court, by the chairman. who
has not been prominent in politics. and
by one citizen whose special reputation is
that his nose can smell out a job that is
likely to put dollars in his pocket at a
greater distance than any man among us.
1t will be seen that the great desire eX-
pressed is to bring "the moral support of
the business men, to the aid OF the pro-
hibitory law. If we examine the proyis-
ions of that law, we find that it is com
prehensiye, stringent and severe, in pro-
portion to the offences aimed at, beyond
anything in the Maine Statutes. 1t has
been purposely and avowedly made so.
Any person, even 4 child competent to be
witness in court, can set it in motion
against an offender And its execution
is made IN es becal charge upon all
sheriffs and their deputies, falling in
which those officials may be removed by
the Governor Judge Dickerson testified
from the platform to his belief that the
law is the best that can be devised
These things being SO, why this newly
arisen necessity for invoking the aid OF
business men? And why is it invoked
Just at this time? The chairman took
the ground that the law ought to be en-
forced as etfiectually As that against horse
stealing. But when q horse is stolen we
are not all invited to attend a public
meeting, and to sign resolutions pledg
ing our 'noral support" to the sheriff
and prosecuting attorney in catching and
convicting the rogue Those tunctiona-
ries know their duty and do it. Why are
the ten men Elder Pratt could name
necessary to stop rum selling? Are they
stronger than the law-than u law en-
dorsed by the Supreme Court as the best
that can be devised?
A little reflection will convince our
friends, we think, that this movement
conceals some purpose. There is soon to
be a city election, and Belfast is now de-
batable ground between the two parties
Shrewd and cunning party managers are
putting forward the chief fuglers Of that
occasion to entice to the support of 4 tenn
perance ticket the business men Of Bel
fast, who will find in the end that they
have been betrayed into aiding a party
that do they not approve. and lifting into
office men who have now, always have
had, and always will have designs upon
the city treasury, We acquit the Reform
ers OF any such purpose. But the attempt
to use them in such a scheme is very ap-
parent
We would not throw straw in the
way OF temperance. The cause is an ex-
cellent one, and deserves all encourage
ment. Therefore should it be kept free
from the purposes of designing politicians.
Our city affairs require careful manage
ment by men OF known and approved
honesty And there have been lessons
enough in the past that should teach hon
est voters not to aid in putting in power
those whose first and only care has been
and will be to establish a conduit be-
tween the city treasury and their own
Professionalism such persons come in
the garb of temperance advocates, or any
other that may be put on for an occasion.
And we here put on record the prediction
that if the scheme now set on foot shall
unfortunately prevail, there will be big
ger crop Of Jobs fastened upon the city
than it has before known, and that the
tax payers will be made 10 bleed proper
tionately.