Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-13
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
concluded from first page. /

| first section, shall be lawful Provided, That the
true destination Of such packages be plainly mark
ed thereon.
| Section 8. Should this article not be ratified by
threefouths OF the States on before the last day
OF Dec 1890, then the first section hereof shall
take effect and be in force at the expiration of ten
years from such ratification; and The assent of any
State to this article shall rot be rescinded nor re-
| versed.
Section 4. Congress shall enforce this article
| by all needful legislation.
Mr.. WHEELwRIGHT proposed the following
Thereupon be it resolved by the Senate and
House Of Representatives, Of Maine in Legislature
assembled, that the movement of the Hon. Henry
w. Blair, member of Congress from the State of
| New Hampshire, in introducing in Congress a re-
| solution proposing an amendment to the con-
stitution of the L United States, so praseworthy in
its character and important to the well being of
thd people OF the republic, is heartily concurred in
| by this body
Resolved, That as further expression of the ap-
probation OF the legislature of Maine in the afore-
| said movement, we hereby respectfully ask the
hearty cooperation Of our delegation in Congress
in the support of this or some equally efficient
measure IN the interests of temperance and true
reform in this country.
Resolved, That copy Of these resolves be for
warded by the Secretary of State to each of the
Maine delegation in Congress, and to the Hon
Henry W. Blair, member of Congress from the
State of New Hampshire.
Mr. WHEELwRIGHr moved that the resolutions
be laid on the table and printed, which was so vo-
ted. Before doing this he spoke substantially as
follows:
1t gives me pleasure to introduce these resolves
because | believe it to be our duty to embrace ev-
cry opportunity to advance public sentiment on
this important subject.
| must confess that the qualification f, 1t at the
Introduction of the matter into Congress was some
what moved by the fact that so late date as the
year 1900 was fixed for its contamination.
The more the subject is considered, however the
better satisfied am that it was wise TO do So. Ii
is better TO wait till public opinion will sanction
both the passage and enforcement of the law, than
to attempt at too early day what will prove to
be failure.
When we consider that after % years of trial
with our prohlbltory law we still find its complete
enforcement difficult; when we consider that
with all our satisfaction and success with IT, so
few Of the other States have followed our exam
pie when consider that we shall have so many
and great obstacles TO overcome, we may be well
satisfied if in another Is years we are able to ac-
complish the stupendous work.
Prohbitory laws are not new, they are the foun-
daton OF all moral and civil law. But for some
reason great rejudice exists against laws TO pro-
hibt sales aud use of intoxicating drinks.
There are two kinds of liquors, fermen,ed and
distilled. The first are not included in the oil
before Congress, but we must be thankful
for what we can get. Distilled liquors have been
10 only about 200 years; for $500 years the
world did without them and the terrible evils
of brain softening and death that have come upon
within the past 200 years in consequence of them
are leading the public to cousi Ter the subject and
see II we cannot again do without them as a
beverage.
More than 100 Of the principal medical men
connected with hospitals, medical schools, etc. in
New York, say, IN medical declaration 1--WE
would welcome any judicious and effective legis-
| lation, State aud National, which would contine
the taihc IN alcohol to the legitimate purposes of
| medical and other sciences, art and mechanism"
! Some Of the facts which were presented to Con-
gress by Hon. H. w. Blair in his recent speech are
truly Acknowledgements gathered not by true tenn
persnce men, bat by the Bureau of Statistics and
| the census.
| DR.. Parker in New York, in public address,
declares that in that city alone, within the last 80
years, 100 000 deaths have occurred a. the result
| of the use of alcohol.
| The State Board OF Charities of Pennsylvania
state that in the careful breeding of cattle at
least 30 per cent. come to maturity; of horses, 9j
per cent; while of the Infinitely more precious
| race Of men, 80 per cent perish in the bud of
! infancy OF blossom Of early youth.