The Portland daily press., 1876-01-21
Augusta Letter.
The Temperance COnventiOn-What Leg
isIation is Wanted-The Indians.

AUGUSTA, Jan. Goth.
The Temperance Convention as the PRESS
dispatches have already indicated, was the
largest and most earnest that has occurred for
several years. The representatives of the Re-
form Clubs have given to the exercises some-
thing of that heartiness and liveliness that
half dozen Methodists would infuse into a
Presbyterian prayer meeting. In many in
stances the changes have been extremely radi-
cal. The man who ten years lago was the
head and centre of drinking circle here,
who called the Good Templars "Finnegans,"
and as party man desired to change a state
official because he was "canting prohibition
ist,' now in earnest and eloquent words in
vokes all to join in this crusade against hell,
and wishes for thunderbolt law which would
strike the rum traffic and the trafficker dead.
There seem to be three classes in the conven-
tion, viz: those who would not have any legis.
lation, except perhaps to hedge about the town
agencies so that they shall not become brothels;
those who would include Mains whiskey-
wines called native and cider-in the list of
prohibited intoxcants, and the very few ex-
tremeists who sympathize with our friend Neal
Dow, and who in ordaining that the gallows
might be the penalty for selling glass of ale
would never think that the people at large
could possibly object to such a procedure.
Sincere men, honest men, they would make it
very disagreeable for rumselers were they at
the head of an absolute monarchy, and they
are naturally impatient when one suggests
that the people will not support their extreme
measures. A native of Portland, and always
a resident of that city, Gen. Dow talks as if
rumselling is confined to few foreigners in
Fore and Centre streets, and that the only
opposition to tine law comes from such! The
trouble is that this class of honest and earnest
reformers do not appreciate the strength of the
on nsition. They seem to forget that in this
country laws which do not commend them
selves to the popular support are worse than
no laws at ALL
AS to the wine and cider business, it does
seem that all the perplexties that arise from
cunning and villainous mixing of intoxicants
and selling the same under an innocent name
may be obviated by stating in the law that the
selling of any liquid as beverage which con-
tains over given per cent. of alcohol shall be
deemed violation of the law, whether that
liquid be called water or whiskey. 1t is OBJ
iected that it would be difficult to determine
the percentage Perhaps, but it is more prob
able that cheap and accurate, means of max.
ing such a test might be brought into use.
The leaders of the Penobscot tribe of Indians
are here in larger numbers than usual. They
seem to have a decided liking for the state
capital, and to address the Committee on In
dian Affairs. A number of them are very
forcible speakers, and all of them are bright
looking men. Thay wear good clothes and use
the English Language when they converse
among themselves. Born in Maine, able to
read and write for the most part, as intelligent
as thousands Of our voters, why are they not
declared to be citizens of the United States,
and ennobled by the right of suffrage? Several
of them served in our Maine regiments in the
war. Why are they not as much entitled to
citizenship as thousands who fought on the
other side? Better divide all their funds and
put them in possession of their lands, do away
with the guardianship exercised over them and
make them responsible men by making them
citizens of the Republic. S.