Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-15

Mr. Butler Aaid he had been cnAmPio" -
hat cause, and he would be very sorry 70 ses
lnything that would injure IT, But ne elu
Ihink that legislation upon it might oe -
Or unwise. - in other matters Inc 49,.
TIE sale Of less than nve esIons
q cider iiii not commend itsef to his good
Judgment. He thought action in the matter
II Temperance. legislative private and social.
phould be founded upon rock or ii would nave
10 be abandoned sooner or later. As genera
principle il is assumed by temperance people
that il is morally wrong to drink glass OF
LIQUOR. That is wrong primer
ple. II is no more morally wrong than II Is
to take dose Of strychnine or arsenic ior
medicinal purposes If we have taken tnat
position as q principle, we have got 10 re-
treat from il. IT this false principle were
applied to section and run OUT
to its legitimate results. it would END In
the enactment of law to cut down every APP
pie tree in the State of Maine, and prevent
the raising Of apples. In all great moral re-
forms which are based upon moral princlpie,
there must be a just principle on when 10
put the foundation stones: if not, they are on
the sand, and sooner or later must give way.
He was prepared to go to any length for the
advancement of the cause Of temperance, vet,
as one of its best and oldest friends, he pro-
tested against any legislation that is not
founded upon the principle Of moral Jusuce
and truth.
Mr. CRANE of Winthrop argued IN favor OF
the constitutionality of the section for re-
moyal of County Attorneys and Sherl1s oy
the Governor and Council for non-enforce-
ment of the law, and cited case IN the 90
Maine, where he claimed the same principle
was involved. In regard to the objections
against the cider clause he said stronger OBJ
iections could be brought against almost
every law for the regulation OF civil society.
Instances can be shown where laws infringe
upon personal rights and mems homes, as IN
the case of the right to search. 1t is great
underlying principle of the law that we are
to yield up certain natural, unalienable
rights tor the purpose Of receiving greater
advantages. This bill came under the same
grand principle. He believed that all law
was based upon this principle and he was
willing to subject himself to some little in
convenience for the sake of the general
good Multitudes of young men are strug-
Cling against their appetite for strong drink
and he was willing to help them in what way
he could.
Mr.. PERRY of Camden said if the commit
tee was satisfied to leave this section in re-
gard to removal of officers as it was, he was
not particular about it. He Withdrew his
motion to strike out.
Mr. CRANE said there was some doubt in
regard to the law applying to sheriffs, and
thought it might be unconstitutional.
On motion of Mr.. PERRY of Camden the
vote including sherifs with county attorneys
liable to removal, was recOnsidered, and by
consent he withdrew the amendment.
Mr.. DIcKEr of Ft Kent moved to amend
by inserting the word ''bad," so that bad liq-
,,nr, sboll MT bo SnI1. also n strike cider
from the bill.
Mr.. RowELL of Hallowell spoke of the
large number of petitions this year, for sup
preston of the manufacture and sale of cider,
and was willing to yield up his personal pref
erences or desires, whatever they might be,
to stop its sale. So far as he was personally
concerned he had no objection to the severest
penalty that may be required in order to
Danish the curse of rum! from our commune
ty. Cider is an innocent affair to those hav-
ing no appetite for it; but the experiences of
our Reform Clubs with it the past year have
been OF fearful magnitude, and they ask that
this great scourge may be banished. The
law might infringe upon his personal rights,
but he wanted to see it enacted for the good
of his fellowmen. If there was a constitu-
tional objection to Sec 5, then he would have
an amendment to the Constitution so that Of
He wanted to see the law enforced in all Sec
tons of the State.
Mr. HILL of Exeter, advocated the bill. He
found two kinds of temperance men, those of
the head and those of the heart. Some men
claim to be good temperance men. but are
unwilling to make the slightest sacrifice. He
was willing to sacrifice cider or anything else
to help those men who are descendingtO ruin
The provision touching the sale of cider did
not strike at the farmer. In his town one far
mer made one hundred barrels of vinegar
every year. He had no respect for the far
mers who desire to deal out cider to their
neighbors, and keep them in the gutter and
make paupers Of them. The law will not
strike at the decent farmer who wants to
use it for its legitimate purposes. He hoped
the bill would pass without mutilation.
Mr.. HALE of Ellsworth said: am very
glad, Mr.. Speaker, of the motion to recon-
slider the vote passing the bill, so that there
may be an interchange of views on this SUBJ
ject. l take it that this Horse is honestly
and seriously, and almost unanimously, in
favor of maintaining such legislation on the
statute books as will promote the cause of
temperance and put down grog shops wher-
ever they may spring up in the State of
Maine. In fact, nothing is better settled in
thu history of this State for the last thirty
years than that the principle of pro-
hibition. a, found upon the statute
book, is to be kept up and maintained The
man who has lived among us for the
last thirty years and does not see the inn
measurable benefits that have resulted to this
State from the prohibitory liquor law and its
enforcement, is blind. And it has become
so well settled that the feeling has permeated
all political parties. The idea that many
held years ago that license law would an
swer in this State and would meet the de-
mands of the earnest friends of temperance,
has long since been exploded. know /. at
one time, almost had that view.
My observation and experience has cured me
Of that. Ibelievefu that the prohibitory law,
as it has operated in our State, has been of
great benefit. can express my belief no
better than by reading the resolution upon this
subject adopted unanimously by the last Re-
publican State Convention. If gentlemen
will pardon me will read it: Speaking of
the sense Of the convention, it recognizes tenn
perance as cause which has conferred the
greatest benefit on the State, and it sustains
the principles of prohibition which in its opin-
ion, has so largely suppressed liquor SELL
ing and added intellectually to the sum of
virtue and prosperity among the people.
1t believes that every interest of the State
and Of its people urges a thorough and Impair
tiai enforcement of all law
/ may that that rasolu&;nc -.