Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-11-06
Lewiston Journal.
PROSPECTS OF THE AMEND.
MENT.

MENT.
The submission OF the prohibitory
amendment 10 the people offers the first
opportunity vet presented for an express
sion of the popular voice upon the ques-
tion of prohibition in Maine. The point
is often raised by It's opponents that the
people do not want probihition-that they
favor license law. Now here Is an op-
portunity for the friends of temperance to
assert themselves. We wish the amend
ment might be ratified by an overwhelm-
ing majority, bat we confess our doubts
that it will DC. In fact, from what We ar
able 20 gather from observation, it looks
as II the democrats would as a party move
bodily against the amendment, while
enough republicans who are opposed u
prohibition will join them TO make its de-
feat certain. 1t is early in the cOmpaign,
ami perhaps our view is pesSimistic. Ac-
tive work on the part Of the campaign
committee may materially alter the com
pleXiou OF things for the better, nv the
time of voting. I'm can De kept out OF
plriissnship, however 1t will succeed
EocklGRd CoUrieT-GG-oiie, Independently
The Courier GGsette does not over
estimated the Importance Of strong ma
jOrity for the prohibitory amendment, for
the supreme reason-not 70 mention 9TH
ers-thst practically the vote will be
test Of public opinion on the question of
the prohibition or license Of dram-shops,
aud the result will have a great influence
on the future of prohibition in Maine.
There are some friends Of prohibition
who thought il unwise to submit the
amendment, and others who questioned
the propnety of putting the principal in
the fundamental law; but the more
these think of the matter, they will see
that all these minor objects are of little
consequence compared with the fact that
the vote will practically be almos, entire
ly poll of the people Of the State on
the question Of prohibition or license, and
that every vote cast against it is practi-
cally vote for license.
The vote on the amendment will be
all the more important because the friends
Of temperance intend that it shall be en-
tirely nOn-partisaa as the Courier Ga
ze'fe properly thinks it should be. The
appeal Of the State Temperance Commit
tee in behalf Of the amendment. is signed |
by members of all political parties, aud |
Is addressed 10 individual voters regard |
less of political associations. Il is IN
doubtedly true tina, large proportion of |
the republican and greenback voters will /
support the amendment, because a large
proportion Of the members Of those par
ties are temperance men and prohibi-
tionists. And 1t Is also true, as the
Courier Gd-ette intimates, that a large
proportion Of the democratic papers,
leaders and voters VIII oppose the amend
ment because they are in favor Of licens-
Ing dram-shops; but at the same time
there are many temperance democrats,
some Of whom are on the prohibitory
amendment State and county committees,
who will heartily support the amend
ment. The vote on the amendment will
De non-partisan, as it should be, in spite
Of the efforts of some license democratic
organs and leaders TO make it otherwise:
add for that reason if the friends Of tenn
peTance act wisely and do their full duty,
]; viii show decided majority for the
poh,y of prohibiting rather than hcens-
lng dram-shOps
Tha, the adoption Of the amendment
by a decided majority would greatly
strengthen our prOhibitory laws and i'm
prove their enforcement and that de-
feat Of the amendment would greatly
weaken them and their enforcement, and
open a strong agitation for their repeal,
cannot be doubted by any candid and
thoughtful friend of temperance.