Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-02-09

An ACT aCOltlOnal 20 cnap. OIL OF prlvate
and special laws of 1874, Incorporating the
Sandy River Telegraph Co. an act providing
for a change of time for holding the April
for the county of Waldo; an act
diers' and Sailors Monument Association I;
an act to incorporate the Portland
Trust Co.. an act to amend sec. l, chap. l26
of the revised statutes in relation to
mortgaged property; an act to vest the
franchise and property of the proprietors OF
the upper bridge. so called. on Eastern river,
in the town of Dresden an act to incorporate
the Rangeley Telephone and Telegraph Co
an act to prevent the discharge of coal tai, gas
water or other residuum or waste matter aris-
ing from the manufacture of gas, into the
Saco river.
FINALLY PASSED.
Resolve in favor of an appropriation on
roads in Indian Township, county of WASH
ington.
Mr.. Meader Of Waterville, called for the
special assignment which was "resolves pro-
viding for an amendment of the Constitution.
forever prohibiting the manufacture of intoxi
eating liquors, and prohibiting their sale. ex-
cept for medicinal and mechanical purposes
and the arts The question was upon the
amendment of Mr.. Meader to strike from the
fourth and fifth lines of the first section the
words mot including cider" so that the
clause would read, "The manufacture of
intoxicating liquors and the sale and keeping
for sale of intoxicating liquors, are and shall
be forever prohibited.
Mr.. Meader briefly spoke - favor of his
amendment. He did not question the right
prOpriety or the expediency of the legislature
to present to the people the proposition that
the manufacture and sale of intoxicating
liquors shall be forever prohibited, nor did
he believe such an amendment would shut
out any man from the legislature; but if the
amendment was to be proposed to the people
he thought it should not be presented in the
shape of bad law. He regarded the resolve
in its present form as class legislation, wOrse
than statute class legislation, because it would
have the force of constitutional law. The
question should be submitted to the people in
a plain, direct and unequivOcal manner, and
in such way that it would not be bad law
Mr.. Robinson of Readfield opposed the
amendment. because he thought it would mis-
lead the people, and because it was something
they hadn't asked for. In reference to
bad law he had only to say that
the resolve had been prepared by the
judiciary committee, and he was inclined to
think they would not present anything that
would not stand the test. To correct mis-
apprehension of the gentleman from Deer Isle
MIR. SpofOrd as to what the people ask for,
he read one Of the petitions wherein they ask
that the manufacture for sale of intoxicating
liquors Of whatever kind, except the manu-
facture of cider, shall be forever prohibited.
Mr.. Rogers of Bath had made an examina-
tion and found that 1874 petitions, all told, con-
tanning 1924 names had been presented for the
prohibitory amendment. Fifteen of the peti-
tions contained 1876 names, which were like
the petition from which the gentleman from
Readfeld Mr.. Robinson had just quoted.
The remaining 70 petitions, containing 67SS
names read very differently. They ask for
the submission of an amendment to the con-
stitution ''forever prohibiting the manufac-
ture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a
beverage" In addition to this number of
1924 were the petitions of the different tenn
perance meetings and templar organizations.
and, to put it in the strongest light possible,
the total number might reach 1880. about
six per cent of the people of the State, the
population being about GAS, 900. Although
there were in the State some l50, 900 voters,
there never had been but one amendment to
the constitution adopted by vote exceeding
one-half of the voting population, and amend
ments had been adopted by votes of less than
one-fifth. Therefore he thought it incumbent
upon the legislature to guard carefully, as
the provision for two-thirds vote intended it
should, the question of submitting to the
people proposed amendments to the constitu-
ton.
Mr.. Wilson of Paris, said the debate had
taken wide range. Politics and party had
been dragged into the discussion. The gen.
tleman from Brunswick had dragged out from
among his dirty linen the soiled, ill-itting
and ill-shaped garment of hypocrisy and en-
deavored to clothe Herewith the clean and
shapely limbs of the republican party, and
to wrap about himself the spotless, pure
garment of political virtue. The rem
nant he had was not large enough
to cover all the ear marks. 1t reminds US of
the old fable of the ass in the lions skin.
Now have no controversy with the gentle
man from Brunswick. Had he seen fit simply
God he was not Ike other men. should have
remained silent. but when he goes beyond
that, and impeaches the members of the re-
publican party in this State who do not agree
with him, as hypocrites, hurl back the
imputation. 1 do not arrogate to myself a
position among the leaders of the republican
party. | am content to serve in the ranks,
and should not have noticed the vituperation
of the gentleman from Brunswick were it not
that have been alluded to by gentlemen on
this floor as member of the Committee in
the Republican Convention, last summer
which reported a resolution favoring the
submission of this constitutional amendment.
acknowledge it. l am proud of it. Does
that fact constitute me and the honorable
gentlemen, my associates on that committee,
hypocrtes? Who is to sit in judgment?
Shall it be members of the republican party?
answer let them accord to us the same
honest conviction and sincerity Of purpose
which we are willing to accord to them. ut
is foul bird which defiles its own nest"
Shall it be the members of the democratic
party? If so, offer. in evidence, the record
of the republican party, duly certified under
the great seal of this State, as contained in
the numerous prohibition laws now on our
statute books, rendered possible and enacted
by republicans. mighty to prove the consisten-
ey of the republican party as emphatically =
temperance party. Day before yesterday the
gentleman from East Machias, in soft and
dulcet tones described the ceremonies attend
ant upon what he was pleased to term the
marriage of the republican party with the
temperance party. He was right. On that
bright summer day was consummated the
true union Of the republican party with the
great temperance element of the State. Gen.
tlemen have sneeringly alluded to it as q
holy alliance, repeat the words in all sim
nxI yt l,1.x