Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-20

were ST ElhIN AIil'ilIliN-t ~ hl ~ li' uiNJ'I-
ijy report was concerned, minority Of seven had
instructed him to present The following additional
resolution:
MINORITY RESOLUTION.
We oppose all laws which are UNJUST or une-
anal ia their operations, and especially those
that progressively atfl ct The poorer aud humber
classes # society. The EXISTING legislation in
Maine relative TO the sale of liquors As now eN-
tcuteA, work wong and hardship. Amend
men; We believe IS necessary 30 tfst suppress
ion of an evil il society nay be promoted,
wllGout violation Of The rights of any citizens
Mr. Clifford supported this resolution in a
.rcech Of some leugih. lie said We are told that
the community vii raise their hands in hely her
tor # anything should he done in this convention
rejecting 10 the slightest degree on the present
y ohbirory law OF the State. But he knew the
people Of the State OF Maine were able TO dis
eliminate between protest against the unjust en-
iorcement IF a Law and protest against tAe law
u-eIf lie argued the prChbitory law is now used
hy the republican party as political machine TO
drag voters from the Democratic ranks He
spoke 10 high praise Of the good work accom-
pIi.hed by the Glod Tempsrs and kindred organ
izi,ions, and claimed that many Of their best
workers were strongly opposed to the present pro
hibitory lIw and especially the manner in which
il is enforced lie read some carefully compiled
statistics showing the startling advance of crime
and drunkenness in this State since the probbi-
tory law has been in vogue.
cod man Colby" then took the floor and
made Characteristic speech, VIII ich was received
with great applause. lie AID be was in London
month few years ago and never saw man in
toy Gated durng that period. But on his return
he passed through Lewiston and at the depot he
saw three drunken persons, one Of whom was a
woman Ard ,hi. III the home Of ey GOV. Ding
lev, one + nc strongest advocates of prohibition
in the State Jesus Chris drank wine at the last
supper, ard what Je-us drank he could drink.
The agencies sold rum that turned black on ex-
po.ure to the air. For heavens sake let US nave
some place where when necessity requires it we
can get pure liquor and let Us amend the stat
ute, thai il will not be a crime 10 do so. lie said
at the convention ast year the resolution for a
local option law wa stamped upon by few, and
the small vote the next fail was lamcnable re-
salt of that actor.
Capt. r VI Mason Of Auburn, said each wear
we are led to inquire what measure is to be put
upon the convention this year, and we find that it
Is the old dodge Of free rum. The gentleman
last up referred to my remarks of last year and
then asks why the vote so small Does he
not know that the very gentleman who offered
this resolution last year organized a bolt in
Penobscot county aud thus withdrew the votes in
tha, section.
/ Some Democrats think that Democracy means
opposition TO repub'icanism, and believe if they
should resolve that potato bugs are a nuisance
there are - mocrais who would come ia here
with resolution that they are not. | appeal TO
You Dem CT ats in behalf of the reformed men
whom the gentleman 50 justly horrors do not
place temptation in their way by sanctionng free
rum the Democrats drink no more than the
Republicans. Let the law remain as it is until
they yet 50 dry that they will want TO repeal H.
As Democrats we want nothing to do with il.
Mr.. Charles F. SWEET, of Porilani, claimed that
il llbel on the Democracy Of Maine t , assert
that y 900 of H. voters were reformed drunkari-
or men who had been such hsbi nal drunkards that
they needed reformation. On the contrary. the
men who habtualy tpp'c and hypocrtsly claim
to be total ab,tansis are to he found within the
republican party. As temperance man he wa
opposed to prohibition. The prohihitofy law is
positive detrmeut 10 the cause Of temperance a.
pcuous upon the mercantile Interests of Maine
ard ii curse 20 the city If Portland. The law was
prsc'ic, W rk'ng- only nut money into the peck
cts Of our county off ,al,. Moe liquor is inlpor
It'd into the city now than ever before. There a.c
- club rooms in this city where lquor. are dis
pcnsed, patrouized by on Young men, who won ID
not drink AZ open bars Ca ital is driven fir IN
our sac, aud our sheriff destroy poasanl. OF
barrels Of ale and beer which repleseut 50 much
capital and property, while our city liquor agenc,
supp les hotels and drinking men with their bev
erage-. The republican party axes prohibition
aat sf..sv.s
hobby upon which to ride into power The Dem
ocraiic party should not take the same hvpocriti.
col position 10 secure the country vote. Men can
not be made temperate by law. 1t must be bN
personal endeavor, and not by deputy sheriff
behiui each man kicking in the rear. The Dem
ocratic party ought to have the courage to vote
against prohibition, for nine tennis of the party
believe I TO be a failure.
Loud calls for the question Of aiding the mi
Monty resolution TO those reported by the mqj1ri.
", now arose and the sense Of the meeting wa,
attempted TO be taken by rising vote.
The Chairman announced that he was not salts
fed that he had the correct vote, bnt so far as ne
aad the secretaries will ascertain the vote stood
a. iol1w- whole number voting 3 81 for the mi.
notity resolu ion go; against it Ill, leaving a
majority OF lU9 IN favor Of the minority resolu-
tun.
Mr.. Piilsbury then stepped forward and claimed
that the vote Just taken mauifestly unfair.
lie declared the question had been sprung upon
the convention by a packed system A storm Of
lis-es greeted this assertion aud for few min
utes 30 much noise prevailed that Mr. Pillsbury
remarks were entirely drowned He concluded
by demanding the polling Of the house.
The conclusion after a scene Of great confu-
sion was that vote was taken by Counties re
sulting in l67 for the resolution aud ISL against
il, and the resolve was declared defeated by IA
majority
From the Portland Pressl
Here was a prospect OF good old-fashioned
democratic shiniy ia which every man wished to
take part Aud nearly every man did Amid
loud cries for the question the chairman took the
vote and declared that the amendm Mt was car
ried. The vote was doubted, aud was AGAIN tax.
en- hy iellets, the result being declared for the
amendment 30, against it Ill. The pandcm
ou,Um broke loose. The delegates were on thei,
feet 10 moment The license men cheered
their opponents Jerisiycy how,ed. +. +. Pin,.
bury rushed 70 the trout Of the platform and de.
clarcd with much heat that the resolution had
been sprnog upon the delegates and the conven
tion packed. The " Hest confusion followed III is
dsclafa ion. The speaker was ha~led down In
all parts Of the hall men were -hOnting themselves
husrse, AID Kissing, screeching, splitting and
swearing. Mr. ClIifjfd jumped excedly to hi
feet, aud accused Mr.. Pill.bury of slsndering
the convention. For at least ten minutes the
chairman coul not mike himself heard. Finally
be restored partial order aud announced his viii