The Portland daily press., 1880-08-25
Temperance Camp Meeting at Frveburg

4OilpC1 1uCO Sdlup M66UluS GG FTJ0Ourg.
The second days session of the Temperance
Camp Meeting at Fryeburg, Tuesday, was
largely attended. Capt Coyle of Deering
presided and the local band furnished excel
lent music. In the afternoon T. r. Simonton
Esq. of Camden delivered his lecture on
''Wine and its Enthusiastically reported in
our columns, which was very favorably re-
ceived
AT 1.30 p. m. Ger. Dow of Portland deliv-
cred an excellent address on prohibition, in
which he showed the great progress which had
been made in temperance in Maine during the
past twenty-five years. Referring to the en-
forcement of the Maine Law, he said it was
as well enforced in Portland and nearly all
the State as could be expected with such off
GERS as could be secured and with the present
penalties, and he thought the one thing need
full was an increase of penalties, and then the
secret sale of liquors would be stopped. This
increase of penalties had not been secured be-
cause many temperance men are constitution
ally slow, but eventually it would come. Gen.
dow made no allusion to the independent tenn
perance movement.
Ex-Gov. Dngley followed. Abiding to
0Ou' LOW lCtCICuC0 W lu6 STGdt DIOSF6SS
made in Maine, Mr.. Diugley said this victory
had been achieved by the united action of
the friends of temperance during the past
quarter of century. Up to the present time
every step which had been taken was such an
one as Commended itself to the great majority
of the temperance men, and received their
united support. Sometimes some of us have
personally desired to go faster, but we have al
ways subordinated our personal views to the
judgment of the majority, and in this way we
have acted tremendously and moved forward
step by step towards the goal which all desire
to reach. (Applause.) Had few of the more
advanced temperance men struck out alone
or taken steps disapproved by the great body
of temperance men, we could not have placed
Maine in the front rank of temperance States
He trusted this wise and conciliatory course
would be pursued to the end, for the moment
we divide, the moment few men separate
from the great body of temperance men, our
ranks would be weakened and the enemies of
temperance would rejoice. He thought that
the rejoicing now heard in the ranks of those
who had always fought our cause, ought to
cause every friend 81 temperance to examine
himself (Applause) Mr.. Dingley said that
it would always be the case that excellent tenn
perance men would differ as to methods For
forced as can be expected with present pc nal
ties, and that the great need-the one dem aid
which the temperance men should make-is
more law and severe penalties But Mr.. Nye
thinks we have law enough, and that the one
demand we should make is for better en-
forcement. Certainly we can hardly claim
that we have any serious grievance until we
first come to better agreement as to the wants.
When the great body of temperance men reach
the conclusion that definite legislation or def
mite action is needed, we shall most assuredly
asked in the past which has not been granted.
The very law, word for word, which the State
Temperance Convention asked for last winter
was passed. 1t is because we have stood
shoulder to shoulder that we have been pow
er In the past, and it is only by such unity in
the future that we can go ON conquering and
to conquer.
Mr.. Dingley said that the temperance men
should not expect too much of prohibition en-
forced with the utmost fidelity. 1t cannot
prevent the secret sale of liquor in our cities,
any more than the laws against larceny can
absolutely prevent theft. 1t can only stop the
open sale and restrict the secret sale to COM
paratively narrow limits And that is great
| victory. Men who argue that secret sale of
liquor is proof that officers are unfaithful, go
| too far. lie agreed with Gen. Dow that the
| law is reasonably enforced in more than three
fourths of the State, and that the enforcement
| is improving year by year. Let us be wise and
united in our action, and this improvement
will go on.
Mr.. Dingley concluded with an earnest APP
peal to all to aid in the employment OF those
moral agencies upon which we must largely
rely, and paid an earnest tribute to the tenn
perance retormers who have done so much in
this direction