The Portland daily press., 1879-08-02
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE.

time seven open bars, selling 230O gallons
liquor; now none is known to be sold as a bev-
erage in town. Augusta, population 39S0) re-
ported in 1927 that there were twenty-four
open grog shops in town, selling 00000 gallons
liqnor-a large portion of it to sell again;
now, with double the population, secret sales
are reported to not be a fraction of these fig
ures. Pennington population 23il) in 1927 re-
ported $500 gallons spirits sold in town; now
comparatively none. Bucksport at the same
time reported 1900 gallons spirits sold by five
open grog shops; now no place in town where
liquor is known to be sold as a beverage. Bel
fast, population 3000) thirty-five grog-shops
and 10000 gallons liquors sold; now but a
traction OF this. Bangor population 2S6o) in
1927 reported forty-fve grog-shops and 1900
gallons of spirits sold-one-half at retail.
3. The evidence is conclusive that there has
been marked improvement in the drinking
habits of our people. Sec. Pond states in his
reply that in 1880 nearly every male and many
females drank liquor; that liquors were kept
in most of the houses to treat callers that the
day-books of most of the stores showed more
frequent charges of liquor than of any other arti-
Gle; that nobody thought of having company or
a raising, or bee without supply of ardent
spirits; and there was nopublic opinion against
the moderate use of liquors, and very little
against their immoderate use. Now more than
half the males are total abstinents; few are
willing to have it known that they drink even
moderately; very few keep liquor in their
houses to offer to guests; no liquors are found
at raisings or bees, and the public sentiment
against even the moderate use of liquors is such
that business men and candidates for public
office esteem it important to have it understood
that they are total abstinents.
4. Statistics show an equally marked mitiga-
tion of the evils of intemperance in this State.
Sec. Pond in his report for 1888. covering re-
turns for large number of towns, states that
the previous year, when the State had only two
thirds OF its present population, there were 1O,-
600 persons Zone out of every 45 of the popula-
tion) accustomed to get beastly drunk, and that
800 OF them were women; that there were 200
equivalent to 300 with the present population)
deaths in single year from delirium tremens;
that there were 1900 paupers equivalent to
2200 now) brought into this condition by drink
ing; that there were 300 convicts equivalent
to 450 with the present population,) in the
State Prison and i'll jails and that large pro
portion of the homes even in the rural parts OF
the State were going to ruin in consequence OF
the intemperance of the owners.
Now the most careful investigators are con-
fdent that not one out of 800 of the population
is drunkard; that the annual deaths from de-
l1r1um tremens now are not 80; that the num-
Der OF drunken pauperS and convictS i'll prisons
and iails aside from those incarcerated for SELL
ing liquor, is reduced, notwithstanding the in
crease of criminal tramps during the past few
years, and Notwithstanding so large a proper
tion of our present criminals and paupers come
from foreigners, of whom we had comparative
ly none forty years ago. The increased thrift
ness of the people is very apparent in the ap-
pearance of the dwellings. ,
Specific statistics are in the same direction.
The town OF Alfred reported in 1888 to Sec.
Popd o5 men and women accustomed to get
~peastly drunk; now we are informed that the
number of such is but a fraction of this. Ken
nebunk reported the same year % drunken
men and 10 women; Westbrook 131 notorious
drunkards; Topsham population 1864 30
drunken men and women, with cases of de-
lirium tremens; Readfield 45 drunkards; New
Gloucester 40 drunkards; Wiscasset 80; North
Yarmouth IS; Belfast deaths from delirium
tremens; Pennington so Incorporate men and
6 women; Wayne 80 Incorporate men and
women. These are only average specimens of
reports from over 200 towns Now nearly all
these towns report not fifth, and many not
tenth as many Incorporate persons as former
ly; and more marked reduction III the num-
Der of those who drink even moderately.
Mr.. Dingley then proceeded to consider some
of the dangers of the temperance movement in
Maine at this hour of rejoicing over past tri-
umphs as follows:
/. The fact that prohibition is so firmly in
trenched as to make it impossible to overthrow
it, has led its opponents largely to adopt the
Ensign Stebbins policy of favoring or at least
ceasing to oppose 1t, and opposing its enforce
ment. Not indeed that any body of men make
this an open issue, but that they aim to secretly
take advantage of the security of the temper
ance men, and secure the nomination and cleo
ton of officers who will execute the law as
loosely as possible Prohibitory laws will not
largely execute themselves, as other laws do,
for the reason that the victim of the dramseller
usually endeavors to protect his greatest enemy,
while the victim of the thief takes the lead in
securing his apprehension. As the opponents
OF the law and nearly all our foreign popula-
tion are concentrated in our large cities, their
officers cannot be relied upon to enforce the
law there, but must look to officers elected by
the aid of the rural VOTE
This has thrown the enforcement of the pro-
hibitory law mainly upon sheriffs and attor-
neys elected by the people of the several coun-
ties. Where they are faithful and efficient,
the law is successfully enforced Where they
fail to do their duty, the law is to a great ex-
tent nullifed. 1 understand this is largely the
case in Penobscot county, where the enemies of
prohibition secretly secured last year sheriff
who neglects to properly enforce the law.
What has been done in one county will be
done in others unless the friends of temperance
are alert. 1t is our duty first to see that men
who will make faithful sheriffs and county
attorneys are put in nomination by the several
parties; where either fails to do so, to mass the
temperance vote on the candidates who can be
! relied on; and where neither party puts for
ward reliable men to bring out those that can
be trusted.
that the firm establishment of prohibition
seemed to render the present a favorable time
for an increase of the penalties of our prohibi-
tory laws.
q Inc Iurtner progress OIL the temperance
cause is endangered by the widespread opinion
that alcoholic liquors are indispensable as a
medicinal agent. Mr.. Dingley thought that the
friends of temperance ought to set themselves
to work to correct this mschievous view, and
| and cited the experiments in London hospitals
| tending to show that alcoholic liquors can be
| dispensed with as medicinal agents. Until
| public opinion is greatly improved in this di-
| rection, it will be necessary to continue oul
| Agency system, but he hoped that before many
| years there would be a change for the better.
3. Mr.. Dingley regarded the movement
| going on to except fermented liquors from the
| operation of our prohibitory laws, as fraught
| with danger; and cited his observations in
| Europe, and particularly England, as to the
| injurious effects of the free sale and use Of
| beer.
In conclusion Mr.. Dingley urged the friends
| of temperance to continue to stand on the rock
| of total abstinence, as the only platform OF
which permanent temperance triumphs can be