The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-12-29
Another spasm.

The sheriffs and police officers of Bddeford are
IN the midst of another liquor Selling spasm. We
use the word 'spasm advisedy. Pals of whis
key and barrels of ale confscated almost hour
ly, and the Times Hopes this may bo but the be
ginning by our local officers, of war on the rum
sellers which shall be waged without partality
until every dealer is obliged to give up the bust
ness"
Hope tells a fatterng tale, Bro Times Ever
since the Maine law put statute books
these same periodical spurts have been occurring
and good people, like our nelghbor, have been
hoping. In the meantime the business of drunk
ard making has gone on, steadily, until to day
there more rumsellers in the State than at any
period within the past twenty years This is a
sad admission, bat it is undoubtedly true And
the miserable trade will continue to 90 on and on
never ceasing-so long as the laws against it de
pend for their enforcement upon the whlms and
caprces OF any political party We doubt not
that a round majority of our Maine people are hon
eslly in favor of the abolition of rumseing but
the trouble is they are not all in one political or
gsnization-and they never will be Then, only
when the whole temperance people of the State
step out from party lines and unite heartily for
the common cause will permanent triumph be
gained
Political parties moral law makers must
from the nature of things be failures always, and
so long as we continue to pin morality to their
parti-c ored coat sleeves shall continue to see
fondest hopes decay. The worm of the still
dieth not, and the fire OF appetite is not quenched
lOs-ipee Valley News
We do not know the political belief of
the writer in the News, but that is not at
all material. We only wish that his
method for suppressing rum selling had
been more explicitly stated. What '.the
whole temperance people of the State
are to do to gain a ''permanent triumph"
when they "step ont from party lines
and how they are going to do it, we
should very much like to know.
1t is true that the temperance men of
this State are not all in one political
organization but while they comprise a
large majority of the Republican party
they are only minority of the Demo
cratic party. The former has proved it.
self to be a temperance party by its
works, by the prohibitory laws now on our
statute books-laws which it is the duty
of all good citizens to obey. If the Re
publican party has erred, it has been in
yielding to the demands of such imprac-
tlCable temperance men as those who set
up a candidate for Congress, in the sec
ond district, in opposition to Mr.. Ding
ley, and those who meet on the eve Of
every election to nominate each other for
office. To the opportunities Of these men
is due the unwise legislation of two years
ago. The cider clause, which could not
be enforced, and which only tended to
bring existing laws into contempt, was
practically repealed last winter; while
the special constable clause has added to
the list of Office holders and to the county
expenses, without accomplishing the least
good. We had officers enough before
duly sworn to execute the laws, and if
those who are cognizant of violations Of
the law would make complaint, these
officers whatever their party affiliations,
would unquestiOnably do their whole
duty. This would certainly be more
credtable and more effective temperance
work than getting up in convention and
telling how many rum shops there are in
This OF thar city or town. In convention
recently held in Lewiston a Bangor dele
gate is reported to have said that there
are PIP rum shops in Bangor. Of course 50
serious charge would not be made with
out positive information on the subject
and having this information, why did not
this delegate enter complaint before the
proper authorities and have the law en-
forced. Fancy Gen. Grant when at the
head Of the army and confronted by the
legions Of Lee, going to Washington and
making a speech, and telling how many
blood thirsty rebels there were confront
ing him over in Virginia. 1t would have
taken a good while to suppress the rebel
lion at that rate but that is the way a
good many temperance men are fighting
the evil OF intemperance. They mean
we'll, bat they don't know how.
We have another illustration of mis-
taken and instructed effort in the case
Of the Portland petitioners, who preferred
charges against the sheriff and his depu
ties, and asked for the appointment of
special cOnstables to enforce the liquor
law, and then failed to appear, either in
person or by proxy, before the Governor
and Council. Such trit1ing is well cacula-
ted to injure the temperance cause, and
is wholly ineXcusable. c. +. Libby, ESQ,
who appeared in behalf of the sheriff ard
his deputies latter being present to
meet their accusers- did not put it any
too strongly when he declared that the
course OF the petitioners in making charges
they had not the courage or interest tG
substantiate was ian outrage upon the
officers and an insult to the Governor
and Council, who were asked to adjudge
the officers untaithtul without evidence
Despite the glowing accounts furnished
the press concerning the success Of pro
hibition, the holding of conventions, and
the passage of resolutions, the rum sell
ers grow bolder and holder, and drunk
ards reel about the streets, until finally
the newspapers give voice to an indignant
public sentiment, and there is "anothel
spasm"-as our contemporary Of the News
expresses it and when that is over there
comes relapse. What is to be done
The New York Herald is undoubtedly
correct in saying that the sale of liquors
cannot be regulated suppressed
''unless the temperance people have
| enough of courage and real interest il
| their work to be intormers." SO far as
the sale of liquor in this city is concerned
| there is no secret about it. The place!
where ljOlOr is sold and the DnrSOnS " hf