Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-02-02

cider or any other liquor is Intoxicating
is for the jury TO decide when the liquor i
not specified by the statute as intoxicating
He did not appear as the champion of tn
resolve but only as the champion
of fair play. If it was to pass at all he hope,
that it might not be emaseulated and eviscer
ated, and the bones taken out of it.
Mr.. Robinson of Readfield called for the
yeas and nays on the adoption of the amend
ment. but subsequently withdrew his motion
Mr.. Rogers of Bath renewed the. motion.
MIR. Talbot of East Machias regarded tn,
amendment as a square temperance move
ment.
The yeas and nays were then taken on tn,
amendment, resulting in its rejection, as fol
lows;
YEA-Messrs. Allen of Dresden, Blossom, Briggs
Brown, Bucklin. Burland, Carleton, Case, Chandler
Crimmin, pinsmore, Donovan, Eocg, Foster, Fox
Goodnow, Hamlin, Harmon. Hathorn, Houston o
Bradford, Lane, Latham, Leavitt OF Dcering, Mat
thews, Mcln.Ire. Meader. Moore, Perkins. Phillips
Pierce Piper. Rogers Sanoorn, smith Of Ninalhav
smith OF Jonesboro, Simpson Of Hampden, Spoffor,
of Deer Isle, Stevens, Talbot of East MachsS, rsl
bot OF Falmouth, TaSker, rruiant, Wentworth o
Gardiner As.
NAY-Messrs. Allen of Chesterville, Ambrose
Aver, Barrows. Bearoe, Bolton, Bracket, Chapman
Chase OF Litchteld, Chase of Sebec. Chick, Cope
land. Cyr, bearing. Donnell, Doyen, Drew. Dgnuell
Eaton. Eldridge. Fall, Files. Fisher Freeman, Ger
rish, Gilmor Goodwin of It. Adams Hall of Rock
land, Hail OF Alfred Ham. Hatch, Heath. Hill o
Auburn, Hill of Newburg, Hinkl y, Hiscock, Hobart
Hobrook, Horr, Houston of Belfast Ives, Jameson
Jepson, JOHNSON, Kendall, kilby, kmball, LeaNtt
OF Phillips, Leighton. Msttocks, Moves Nye, OAK
Phair, fhilbrook, Rand, Robinson, Rodick, shap
leigh, Small, smith OF stockton, smith OF Robbins
ton, simpson of Milford, spear of Halloweu Speal
of Bowdoinham Spoford of Bucksport, Stetson
Stone, Straton, StrouI, Ia, or. Thatcher. Thorn sou
Tracy, Wentworth Of \. Berwi K, White of Lewis
ton, White of Windham, White OF Richmond
Wilson, loung.-S0.
Mr. Moore of Thomaston then spoke in
opposition to the passage of the resolve. He
dwelt upon the sacredness of the constitution
and argued that il should not be tempered
with or amended unlcss there was something
required tina: could not be obtained by legisla-
ton that would be constitutional. The liquor
law had been declared constitutional. He did
Not think il possible 10 pass law on the liquor
question that would not be held, under tn,
constitution rs il is, TO be perfectly constitu-
tional When such power existed why the
necessity for extending it? Why incorporate
into the charter of the government every
little phase of the criminal law that might be-
desired. The proposed amendment could dc
no good and might do harm But where was
the penalty against member of the legisla
:ure for failure to vote to pass prohibition
laws? He knew of no remedy for such fail
ure The amendment would allow no Law IL
be passed upon the subject except one of pro-
hibition. Not even local option law could
be passed, not even a license law could be-
passed, putting sellers under the heaviest
bonds for the proper conduct of their bust
ness and making them liable for injury, which
might result. There was class of peopl,
who said the liquor question should be taker
out of politics. But the moment this wa.
done prohibition would be poor orphan
child without even an asy lum
No public charity will take care of it. Let
the temperance people say to the political
parties, nominate men temperate in Their
habits and you will get our votes, otherwise
YOU will not. And it would be all the weap
ons they would need to secure hat temper
ance law. they desire. He did MT advocate
that they should run ticket by themselves h,
was inclined to think they would be worse of
to do il he had voted for the amendment of
the gentleman from Bath because he believed
in one thing or another. II intoxicating liquors
were to be abolished. then cider, if intoXicat-
ing. should be included. The amendment
should mean prohibition II 1t was to be
adopted by the people.
Mr. Eaton of Camden admitted that there
were two sides to the question, and also that
to bear here such an influence that he might
say of them that none
Ger felt the halter draw
With good opinion of the law"
The corruption of political parties had been
referred to. He was aware that political
parties talk temperance and drink all along
the line. But here are 10000 citizens OF
Maine who ask for prohbitory amendment.
They did not base their request on the
sophistries of law but upon the constitution
which gave them the right of petition, and
prescribed the manner in which the funda-
mental law might be amended. Mr.. Eaton
read from the constitution and commented
in support of his position. Society demand
ed protection from the curse of the ram
traffic Should it be granted? He maintain
ed that it should. Petitions from all over
the State had come in, not only asking for it,
but representing the tricks of the law by
which the rumseler goes free. The interests
of society demanded that hypocrites and false
pretenders should be driven out, and the real
friends of temperance held the ballots that
would be given for the cause of prohibition
Mr.. Robinson of Readfeld said our consti
tuition wisely made provision for its amend
ment as the needs of the people required.
The late Senator Morrill, had termed intern
perance the gigantic crime of crimes. He
accepted that definition, and thought the
crisis. upon us, as a people, when 1t became
wise AMI requisite to adopt into our constltu-
ton that which should forever prohibit the
manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors
just as it was in the DAYS of the Rebellion tC
adopt constitutional amendment forever
prohibiting slavery, the 'sum of all villain
les" In reference to the argument tha
there was no penalty for legislature tina,
refused to enact prohibitory laws, he said tina
had nothing to do with the question here
There was no penalty; but there was mora
obligation resting upon legislatures t.
perform the duties they were sworn to do
He called attention to the large number Of
petitions and said there was not single re
mOnstrance. Thirty thousand people ask
that they may have the privilege of votin!
upon the amendment, and he thought it SHOULD
be granted to them, and that they should no
be given a stone when they ask for bread, o
a scorpion when they ask for fish If the,
asked for a constitutional amendment prohibit