Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-02-13
FOUR PAGES.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITION

During the past TWO weeks there nave
been several heated debates in the Legisla-
ture. over the question Of submitting 4
prohibitorv Constitutional Amendment 20
the people. IL was iually voted 20 submit.
the amendment Mr.. Wilson OF Paris,
made splendid speech on the question
We copv below an abstract OF his remarks
as published in the Kenue5ec Journal
Mr.. Wilson's remarks were well received,
and he was heartily congratulated by many
after the debate was closed. IL was pro-
uouncsd the best speech made during the
extended debate.
Mr.. Wilson of Paris said the debate had
taken wide range Politics and party
had been dragged into the discussion.
The gentleman from Brunswick had drag
,.sd ont from among his dirty linen the
soiIed. ul-fttiug and ii,-shsped garment OF
hyrocricv sud eudeavored % clothe there
with The clean and shsPeiy limbs Of The
Republican party, snd % wrap shout him
selfthc Sp1tls~s. pure garment OF political
virtue. The remnant he had was not large
enough % cover al tle ear marks TO re-
minds Us OF the old fable o., The as Che
ION, skin Now I have TO controversy
witb-he gentleman from Brunswick Had
he seen III simply % announce in public
place> that De thanked God be was not
~ other meu, ! shOGll have remained
silent. but when Be goes beyond that, and
impeacheS the members or The Republican
marty iu this state who 10 not agree with
iirn. A. hypocritcS. I hurl back The imputa-
ZION. do not arrogate % myself posi-
ton anon. the leaders of tue Republican
marty. am content 20 serve Ia the ranks,
ami / should not have noticed the Viluper-
stion of the gentleman from Brunswick
were il not that have been alluded % oy
gentlemen Oh this floor = member OF the
Committee in the Republican Convention,
last summer. which reported q resolution
favoripc the suhmi SSion Of this Cou>titu-
,ionsl amendment. ] acknowledge It.
avn rroud Oft. Does that fact constitute
me and the honorable gentlemen. my $50
ciste> on that committee. hypocr.teS,
Who i 20 st in iud-meutt SaaH y Dc
members OF The Republican party: | ans
vyer let them accord 20 Us the SS-Re honest
conviction and sincerity OF purpose which
we are willing - aCcord 90 them. IL is
a foul bird which dyG,gs Us OWE ness
SHAH T. be the members Of thc democrat
ic p.rtvs II 50, Z Cf,r i1 evidence. tle
record OF the Republican party, duly o,r-i-
fed under the Eggit seal o' tt'S State, c~
contained in che uvDe-0C- prohibition
laws now on our statute books, rendered
possible and enacted rs Republicans.
mighty % prove tIe cons ~tru-F H. ,-e
Republican party - emp1at.-a-v ten
perance party. Day before yesterday
the gentleman from Eas- NlCl,as, Iu soft
and dulctt tones described Che Ctry2HuIe>
attendant upon what lie was pleased to
term the marriaSe OF The ktpu,liciu 2Srty
with the ten psrguCe party. ite was night.
ON that bright summer Jay WIS cOusUm-
mated the true union OF thg Republican
party with the gre2s temperance element
Of the State. Gentlemen bay, >uc.r.-'y
alluded % q - = holy alliance. / repeat
the words in 81 sincerity aud reverence
Il was holy a.isur-. whom COD oath
put together lct 10 wsL pl- a>-ruIs-.
From tnat MARI. a-e has sprung ta.- con-
S.itutional amendment. i, Is She .eg.tI-
mate offspring OF .awlCi WtulocA. Not
drop o.! spurious, OF bastard blood lows in
Us veins on thr ore side 3 llarr.-, sac
pure N.goy 4uu strength OF cody. %. a great
party. ever foremost ln Oh, cause 't .--e-
dom. Justice and humanity. ana Oh .-e
other a spirit lali1wyl ot ,Ie progress and
suppicatiOrS o. the .luo,-L, victims y.
this Infamous traffic.
The old proy--b Cha. people Who I've
ia glass houses should not throw stones
IS frequently quoted. bat 4 cannot help
calling 90 20 ;l- attention Of ly Democrat
&c friends and asking tAem { their recent
matrimonial experience with the Green
back party was Sctl4-eI by some high and
noble aspirations. such e desire On pro-
mote the public welfare, 1-l rs such an
earnest devotion 60 tie great cause OF free
dom aud humanity, as would Justify them
in making sreeriug illusions to tle humble
efforts O. The Republican party Oh advance
the cause % temperance jl this State: 50
much 1y way Of personal and political ex-
PLANTATION. Now. 70 SIS proposed - eu-r1.t
the principle OF prohibition -gon The or
gauic Jaw Of The state. To 90 that e Is
necessary 90 amend the constitution. Be
fore thar amendment can even Poe submit
tel 90 the people 20 must receive The Affirm
s.iye vote OF two thirds % eaCh branch O..
the legislature. present and v0.C-. Whist
reasons are there s1r such an amendment
OF the constitution forever prohibiting The
manufacture and sale o. intoxicating DE
0uorSs Z answer tina, question by The
simple statement -AAa llNNl..aLlfA l, L-f
well settled policy o. the state. Every
gentleman who has spoken on the door or
the House on this question has recognized
that as a subsisting fact. BY adding these
clauses 70 the constitution we make no
innovation. We simply make the cousti-
tuition conform - the wen settled policy
Of the State, and Il Is upon this ground
give Il my support. lie COutended that
the great majority OF the people demand
IL. Opposed % the vast number OF
petitions one single remonstrsnce rad
come up. Satisded OF this, Was not tLe
duty OF the legislature plain. The objec-
tiOns 20 the resolve might be grouped IN
der three heads. First. TIE objection OF
those who 10 not believe 80 prohibition.
No argument was necessary % COufBte
any argument based upon this ground.
second. The claim that Il would be en-
grating on the constitution the penal
code OF those who urged this objection
he would ask II they would not deem it
duty 20 provide all safeguards in their
power against the contingency of any fu-
ture legislature passing 4 law 90 license
men 20 commit murder, arson, and other
crimes: ANY law which would permit
the free sale Of intoxicating liquors would.
in the judgment of the friends Of the meas
uTe, be so dangerous 20 society that
they could not hesitate TO use any lawful
means to prevent the happening OF such an
event The same reasoning applied 10 the
third and last objection, that no necessity
existed for IT, IL had been said that future
legislatures could not be bound 70 enact
prohibitory laws. Bat they could be pre-
vented from enscting laws opposed 20 this
principle, and however the other point
might be decided, members would have
the satisfaction OF knowing thai they had
done their duty Such were his views on
the subject. They were not the views OF
an extreme radical temperance man, but
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