The Portland daily press., 1881-02-10
"Pullinp Back -

MIR. EDIToR:-At the monthly temperance
meeting at the Chestnut Street NJ E. Church
Tuesday evening Gen. Dow made very ex-
cellent address, though, as usual, he took oc-
casion to assail those who are unable to fully
agree with him as to the necessity of additional
prohibitory legislation. Among other things
he said that the prohibitory law was we'll nigh
complete; that it had very nearly suppressed
the liquor traffic in Maine; that a few amend
ments were needed to perfect the law and
thus enable the friends of prohibition to en-
tirely suppress the grog shop; and that now,
Just at this supreme moment, cup jumps Ex-
Gov. Dingley, Maj. Shorey and few others
to insist that we have claw enough" and to
oppose the final accomplishment of the pur-
poses of the temperance men!
Now, Mr.. Editor, this is a very grave
charge, and for my part am not quite content
to rest under such an imputation. I therefore
claim your indulgence while I briefly answer
to the accusation.
The only foundation for the charge Gen
Dow can possibly have is that Gov. Dingley,
myself and very many others who are as sincere
and earnest in their advocacy of this reform
as Gen. Dow, believe, all things considered,
that the present exigencies of the temperance
cause in this State call for an enforcement of
existing laws rather than for the enactment of
additional ones; and, thus believing, we have
not deemed it wise to cooperate with Gen
Dow in securing the passage OF his proposed
amendments. But in so doing we are by no
means pulling back" unless the slightest
disagreement with Gen. Dow on minor ques
tons can justly convict us of this charge.
Last winter the Legislature. in response to
the solicitations of temperance men, enacted
the most complete and stringent prohibitory
law ever upon our statute books. The legis-
lative committee took especial pains to ascer-
tain the sentiment of the temperance people,
and cheerfully passed the provisions which
they had agreed upon. Some of these enact
ments were extreme, and by many regarded as
unconstitutional. Nevertheless, the Legisla-
ture, anxious to place within the means of the
temperance men every possible aid TO the en-
forcement of our prohibitory laws, brushed
aside all objections and placed the amend
ments upon the statute books. The defects in
the prohibitory system were not only correct
ed, but special constables were provided for
the enforcement of the law in localities where
the municipal officers and sheriffs neglect or
refuse to do So That law has not yet been
Lrleu. 06u. LOW anu Vur. Ny0 UOlQ us last
fall that the law was a dead letter because
Gov. Davis was unfriendly. They inaugural
ed bolt, and succeeded in electing Gen.
Plaisted, who, at the recent temaerance con-
vention, pledged himself to the faithful execu-
ton of the prohibitory laws so long as they re
main upon the statute books. And we submit
that every consideration of justice requires
that Gov. Plaist ed have the full advantage of
all the machinery which was placed in the
hands of Davis, and for the failure to use
which he was severely criticised and finally
slaughtered. He is entitled to nothing fur
ther than this.
We have too much respect for Gen. Dow to
throw back his charge of pulling back" and
yet we and others have not forgotten that even
while the law of last winter was pending in
the LIE gislature, and within a week of the
time when 1t became law, ne made the pill
grimage of the Portland temperance Organi-
cations and the church temperance meetings,
breathing out "threatenings and slaughter
upon the Republican party because it had
failed to accept his advice as to the amend
ments desired, rather than to seek that advice
from the representatives OF the temperance Or
ganizations in various parts of the State. Un-
fortunately Gen. Dow has conceived the idea
that it is possible, by attaching excessive PEN
alties to our prohibitory laws, to devise code
which, by reason of their own weight, will be
Self-eIecuting. He honestly believes that if
law providing for three months imprisonment
for the rumseler does not carry the Of
if the penalty is made one years imprison-
ment! The great body of earnest temperance
workers in this State do not agree with Gen.
Dow in this idea; hence he and they are not
in accord as to the remedy best calculated to
remove the obstacles which now impede the on
ward progress of the Temperance host
No, Mr.. Editor, there is no "pulling back.'
For myself-and am sure l am also justified
in speaking for Gov Dingley-I am ready in
the future, as in the past, to heartily cooperate
in all efforts calculated to advance the cause of
temperance. 1 believe that the principle of
total abstinence for the individual and prohibi-
ton for the State must be insisted upon as es-
sential doctrines in the temperance creed; and
while regard "moral effort" and the inculca-
tion of temperance principles among the young
as of vastly more importance than all the pro-
hibitory agitation of the last dozen years.
nevertheless am fully persuaded that prohib-
itory law. thoroughly and impartiaAy enforced.
is a valuable auxiliary to the efforts of the
churches and the temperance organizations.
I'll. A. S.