The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-02-02
The Temperance Convention.

were held. We give synopsis of tho more i'm
portant speeches in Wednesdays session Gen
Neal claimed that the prohibitory law in Maine is
great success, although it may not be fully exc
cuted in every city. He said: "The great obstacle
to the progress of prohibition in the world is the
fact that the Maine law has not completely extir-
pated the traffic in the State In Portland there
are a hundred grog shops What is the trouble
1t is owing to the fact that there are rat holes in
the prohibitory law through which the rascas can
escape The friends CT temperance ought to agree
among themselves upon what enactments are
necessary to put down rum selling in this State,
and then demand them OF the Legislature Mr.. Z
r. Slmonton, of Camden, painted the progress
made in Maine during the past forty years and ad-
vocated united work in the future, until the rum
traffic be entirely abolished S. F. Pierson, of
Portland, in ringing words, told the story of his
rescue from the gutter through the power Of
Christ He thought the churches should be bul-
warks for prohibition. Vote as you pray Rev
s. p. Merrill, of Biddeford thought that the call
for the meeting took too rosy view of the stu
alton; that prohibition i'll Maine is in bad way
He gave names and figures in regard to the non
enforcement of the liquor law in Maine, especially
IN York county, and rehearsed the difficulties
which beset the prohibitioDists His remedy for
the present state Of affairs was for temperance
men to band together and vote only for candidates
who are avowed enemies to the liquor traffic
President Dunn paid tribute to the County At
torney and sheriff Of KenIebec county, asserting
that the prohibitory law in Androscosgin, Oxford
and kelnebec counties, was as well if not better
enforced than the laws against adultery, theft and
perjury. Gen. Neal Dow said there were two wavs
OF looking at a subject-you could see the bright
side or the dark side, as you wish. The General
powerfully presented the infinite good which has
resulted to Maine from prohibition banishDg liquor
from the country towns and driving it into dens
in the cities If we spread all over the world the
weakness OF the law, we discourage our friends
everywhere, That is all
Thursday morning the committee on resolu-
tons reported, through its chairman Ion Neal
Dow, and the following resolutions were adopted
L. The policy Of prohibition Of the manutac.
ture and sale OF Intoxicating liquors cannot be re
garded as the fixed and irrevocabe policy of the
State until 1t be incorporated into the constitution
latufe to adopt such measures as are necessary to
that end
? We urge our friends throughout the State
TO take whatever measures may be necessary to
show the Legislature that it is the undoubtcd
night of the people to have an opportunity to ex
press their viii BY ballot upon this most import
ant question
3 The pardonng power is one of very great i'm
portancc; it has been contded to the Governor
and Council as sacred trust, to be exercised only
tor the public good turthering the ends of jus-
tee and the uniform and efficient execution ot law.
IL is prostitution Of that power to employ 1t in
such manner as to shelter criminals who have
been Justly convicted, from the consequences of
their evil doing The pardon of rumsecrs tx
cept under extraordinary circumstances, who have
been convicted after able and fair hearing has the
inevitable effect to encourage men i'll violation OF
law, and TO bring law courts and juIeS into con
tempt
4. We have to notice with great concern the
tact that III our State as well as in others there
are many officers Of high as well as low position
who are althless to their duty and oath Of office
There are may officers charged with the protrc-
ton OF the public interests by the faithful admin
lstratlon OF law, and who are solemuIy sworn to
perform that duty to the best of their ability who
habltuailr and openly violate the trust imposed
on item Such men seem not to consider that
their conduct involves breach Of trust and perjury
III the most aggravated form
} Prohibition III Name was enacted more than
thirty years ago and has accomplished great
work fer good in the State But the Gquor traffic
has not been entirely eXtnguished hero ii fingers
III some places, especially in cities and larger
towns, and Will continue 10 do 50 until such ad-
dtionaI re aties and provisions Of law shall be
adopted as viii etfectually prevent the bad men
now engaged IN that gigantic crime Of crimes"
from continuing 10 defy the will of the people
% The complete suppression Of the liquor traf-
he and the honest administration of the law
against II can never be accomplished while tenn
perance men continue to vote for candidates for
pnbHc office who are opposed to prohibitions or
are not IL sympathy with it The friends OF TEN
perance are therefore urged sacred duty lu
the highest interest of the community to vote for
no one under any circumstances vino Will not re
spond to our demand for protection from the
liquor traffic.
The third resolution results from condensation
of four as originally presented. Considerable dis
cusslon was held, some regarding the originals as
too prolix. others doubling if they were definite
enough The four resolutions were recommtted.
condensed, and finally adopted III the shape printed
While the resolutions were being discussed,
earnest Feeches were made by numbers Of the
members present The text seemed to be work
the need of earnest work in building up an in
tcrest IN the temperance cause, trmness in prose
~
alton to support only temperance candidates for
public offices, An enthusiastic tribute was paid
to Mrs. Hayes for refusing to allow wines upon the
White House tables Rev D. B. Randall spoke at
some length, affirming that there was no need Of
a Prohibition Party in politics. If every man would
say that he would vote for no candidate who was
not temperance man that thus the cause would
a ,,,,I, Ill i l.
political issue. He thought the temperance cause
should be above politics
Additional resolutions, as follows, were also pre-
sented and adopted;
/. Resolved, That temperance work in Maine
aims at two results prohibition for the State total
abstinence for the individual
: Resolved, That prohibition for the State is
that We have 1t so far as statute laws can give It,
ana IN TINS direction we only ask that prohibition
may be incorporated into the constitution of the
State, and that such amendments be made to the
Law from time to time as the light of experiences
may suggest
3 Resolved, That law for the suppression of
any evil without public sentiment to sustain il il
dead and without effect
!. Resolved, That to make the law effective
and to induce individuals to become total abstain
crs an earnest, active public sentim ent in behalf
OF temperance is essential
p hcSolNcu, mat the immediate and urgent
need OF the temperance cause in Maine to-day is a
hearty co operation of all friends of the cause in
grand temperance revival, and that organized
efforts to this end should be instituted in all parts
of the State.
q Resolved, That the true policy of the friends
OF temperance IN Maine now as in the past is to
exclude partisan strife from temperance work
!. Resolved, That we heartily approve the bills
introduced into the National Congress looking 10
Prohibition for the nation, and we urge our Rep-
resentatves and Senators to aid BY voice and votes
IN the success Of that measure
ID. Randall of the committee on nominations
reported, and their report being adopted the fol
lowing were declared elected for the ensuing wear.
President, r W. Dunn, Waterrille Secretary
b Torsey, Winthrop Treasurer, Elisha Atkins
Augusta Vice Presidents, one from each county
Jordan Rand Aroostook, Geo Nj
Parks Cumberland Jno Sanford Franklin. Chas
Dyer; Hancock, C. Chlcott kennebec. d &
' ose Knox, I. II. Simonton Lincoln. + W
Stetson; Oxford, G +. Brigham Penobscot Geo
B. Illsley; Piscataquis, c. c. Lee; Sagadahoc
Henry Tallman; Somerset, Chandler Baker; Waldo.
}: W. knowlton Washington John Campbell.
ork, S. c. Hamilton.
The committee nominations also presented
the names of the following gentlemen for the ex
ecutive committed one heinz choSan from, ooak