The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-26
AN EMBELLISHMENTS VIEW OF MAINE.
Address of the Hon. Samuel Capper at
City Hall.

City Hail.
City Hall was we'll filled last evening to
listen to an address by the Hon. Samuel Can
per, of England.
The following well known gentlemen were
present:-Judge Kingsbury, A. Little ESQ.,,
Gen. Neal Dow, A. j. Chase, c. d. Starbird.
Capt. j. B. Coyle, Elliot King, Esq, G. L..
Parker, R. H. Murphy, C. II. Maxwell, and
others interested in the temperance cause.
- Hon. Benz. Kingsbury, Jr., called the meet
ing to order, and announced that note had
been received from His Honor, Mayor Senter,
stating that he could not attend and preside as
he had expected, and expressing his strong IN
terest in the temperance cause. Judge KINGS
bury then introduced A. Little, ESQ.,. as the
presiding officer, who made no remarks on TAX
ing the chair.
The distinguished speaker, Mr.. Capper. was
then introduced, and commenced by congratu-
lating the people of Maine on the fact that the
cause of temperance is so well established here
so that while the enemy fire now and then a
random shot, the fight is nearly over. In Eng
land the evil of intemperance exists, and
Maine is lighting the battle for the Union and
iol uos \Applduo0s/ LII AduSdS anu missouri
the temperance people are engaged in fighting
for the same deliverance that you have reached
here in Maine. 1t is with them they say sim
ply question of 'killing Or be killed. and
they propose out there to make sure work. We
of England are fighting the enemy a great Way
off. We move slow but terribly sure. When,
after that little tea transaction, you commenced
on your own account where we left off, and
were not bothered by the Anticipated notions
in regard to vested interest and the like The
linn pNyI,n &c
that beer was necessary to the maintaining of
human existence, but we are getting over that.
John Wesley did succeed it is trne, in con-
verting quite a portion of the English people
to the Methodist doctrine, but he did not sue
coed in convincing them that it was wrong to
sell liquor: To-day the liquor sellers cost the
peogle of England 14O,OOO,OO0 pounds sterling
year. The temperance people of England
have been standing in the position of Atlas and
his globe, and as in my school days L used to
pity the small man with the big load, so 1
pitied the temperance men of England who
had to hold the whole Liberal party up So
the Liberals have said, "Hold on to the party"
We didn't Naughter) In 1874 they said
nothing, what will you giye?'' And they said,
"God speed you" but we declined to rest salts
fed with that, and Gladstone's appeal to the
people fell through in 1874 and Lord Beacons
field came in with the truly national motto of
"The Bible and Beer" Naughter) We de-
step: In 1880, however, we found that despite
the brewers efforts, who adhered themselves
to the Bible party, the Conservatives went out
OF power and Gladstone came in. How was it
done? There was growing public sentiment
in favor OF local option One woman under
the household act promised a candidate vote,
and kept her word by marrying again. laugh
ter) The question that the elector of England
asked of his would-be member was, "Will you
vote for local option?" (The speaker here gave
a Of of ,rr1.c l
husting.) The application of party pressure
was strong, but truth crushed to earth will
rise again" and you can't suppress truth till
the God OF truth is crushed. (Applanse) We
are welcoming the coming of a be tier
day in England. We hail with pleasure
\ he existence of a law at least one seventh as
severe as in the State of Maine. AS nation,
as with an individual, the crop reaped will be
like the crop sowed. We have thousands of
people who cannot read. Why? Because the
school money became drink money We have
10000 people slaughtered in England eyery
year by rum. Sooner than see this would
prefer to see them crowding your Western
plains and helping to build up this great re-
public of yours. (Applause.)
We are trying to regulate the liquor traffic.
| fear that it will regulate us. Laughter.)
We are in the position of the true Irishmen
on board of ship with cannon and kettle to
get on shore Said one, "Pat, you hold the
kettle before the gun and I'll touch the prim
ing, and when 1 do it you let 60" Naughter.)
Pat didn't let go quick enough daughter
The kettle went and so did Pat. daughter
The liquor has gone in some cases and so have
we. (Laughter.) Make your laws in Maine
so strong that not man will dare in all the
State to break the law. Don't talk of moral
suasion. We did that in England, and all the
tavern keepers were moral suasionists. laugh
ter.) My solution, and the only one could ar
rive at, was this: Moral suasion for the
drunkard, but prohibition for the rumseller
(Applause.) He then gave some pathetic
Illustrations of his temperance mission work
in England. In Canada 1000 miles of territory
is covered by prohibitory confiscation act.
The influence of the State Of Maine is felt out
side of the limits of the Union. 1t has bene-
fitted Canada. 1t has crossed the swelling
water. 1t has benefited old Ireland. 1t has
benefited Scotland. Let the fight be made
here in Maine for the country and for the
world. Let bgles sound and drums beat
again for battle. (Appause.) In New Jersey
the fight is being taken up for prohibition
Pennsylvania, that State of Quakers, is moving
also to give the politicians lesson that they
will not forget. Stand firm, true, keep your
State in line and win victory.
Mr.. Capper is rapid speaker, who, like
John B. Cough, is inclined "to talk with his
coat tails He is worth hearing however.
His appointments for the coming week will be
Gorham, Monday night; Clark's Grove, Tues
day; Alfred, Wednesday; Steep Falls, Stan
dish, Thursday; Sebago Lake, Friday; Port.
land probably Friday night
at the close of the address Mr.. A. j. Chase
stated that lecture fund of $1,000 is to be
raised to keep speakers in the field.