The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-04
w. G. T. U.
Conducted by Members of the Portland Union
"For God, and Home, and Native Land"

'HOF dous uWW isOUe, una Nuttte Lana
Blackstone says, "Let man be ever so aban.
doned in principles or vicious in his practice,
provided he keeps his wickedness to himself
and does not offend against the rules Of public
decency, he s out Of reach of human laws.
But il he makes his vices public, though they
be such as seem principally to affect himself
(as drunkenness or the like) then they become
by the bad example they set, Of pernicious
effect to society; and, therefore, it is then the
business of human laws to correct them Q.
124)" 1t is in conformity with this judicial
authority and in answer to the demands OF so
ciety, which is loaded with evils growing out
of the manufacture and sale of alcholic liquors
that States Lave passed restrictive and probib-
itory laws.
Justice Grier says:
1T is not necessary 10 array the appalling
statistics OF misery, pauperism and crime
which have their origin in the use and abuse Of
ardent spirits. The police power which is ex-
clusively in the State, is competent to the cor
rection OF these great evils and all measures of
restraint or prohibition necessary to effect
that purpose, are within the scope Of that au-
thority, and II a loss of revenue should occur
u
sumption Of ardent spirits she will be gamer
Thousand fold in the health, wealth and hap
piness of her people,"
And this from Chief Justice Taney:
"And II any States decree the retail and in
ternal traffic in ardent spirits Injurious to its
citizens and calculated to produce idleness,
vice OF debauchery. see nothing in the Con-
stltution OF the United States to prevent it
from regulating and restraining the traffic, or
from prohibiting it altogether, IL IL thinks
proper. Of the wisdom Of this policy 1t is not
my purpose or province to speak. Upon that
subject each State must decide for itself. |
speak only of the restrictions which the Con-
stitution and laws Of the United States have
imposed upon the States"
1t seems like folly, after such legal authority
and grave judicial opinions to attack prohibi-
tory legislation from legal standpoint, a.
though, no doubt, there are those in the tate
oil Maine who do not believe prohibition prop
or subject for constitutional law. We contend
that ii is, bee anne "this is government of the
people by the people and for the people, and
the constitution is the expression of their will
IN government" and that question so heavily
freighted with the interests of the people
should be guarded by the direct the most dig
nified andianthoritative voice of the people
themselves. even in their constitutional law
Some fall TO see the benefit Of constitutional
over statutory law. There are no doubt those
who do not believe prohibitory statutes are
demanded in the spirit of the constitution
Make the law constitutional ii becomes more
partisan and compels enforcing legislation.
Whoever heard of any one being petitioned
to enforce the provisions of the constitution?
1t seems to US the adoption of the proposed
constitutional amendment will be an immense
gain, although we know that even then the
battle will not be fought for we shall have 10
look 'to the legislature for statutes to the
courts OF law for. application of them to
specific instances, and TO the executive for
carrying out the same upon the person or
thing that transgresses."
BY decision OF the legislature this ques-
tion Is TO be answered by the voters of Maine
one year from next September. To some OF
them it means the difference between con-
stitutional and statutory law, but to those IN
other states, especially to those not in SYM
pathy with the temperance reform it means,
IS prohibition failure in Maine, do the people
want II. Hence 1t behooves all lovers OF
humanity, at least all those who admit that
strong drink causes crime, Daupersm, insanity,
pestilence and death to give this matter care
ful, prayerful attention, SO that the declara-
tion which shall go out to the world shall have
no uncertain sound but shall be loud and
strong, on the side which "makes for righteous
uess.D