The Republican journal., 1884-08-28
An Open Letter.

TO TIE YOUNG MEN OF WALDO COUNTY.
My Young FRIENDS II take the liberty of
addressing to you this open letter to lay before
you my reasons why think that every young
man in this county and in this State who is Il legal
voter, should vote ''yes" for the Constitutional
Prohibitory Amendment, which reads as fol-
lows:
That the manufacture of Intoxicating liquors,
not including cider, and the sale and keeping
for sale of Intoxicating liquors, are and shall
be forever prohibited. Except, however, that
the sale and keeping for sale of such liquors for
medicinal and mechanical purposes and the arts.
and the sale and keeping for sale of cider may
be permitted under such regulations the
Legislature may provide. The Legislature shall
enact laws with suitable penalties for the sup
preston of the manufacture, sale and keeping
for sale of intoxicating liquors. with the eXcep-
tons herein specified.
This amendment is to be voted upon by the
people on election day next September. Let
me explain to you why we who believe in con-
stitutiona prohibition wish to incorporate the
amendment in the constitution of the State.
There were 1870 petitions sent TO the 6lst Legis-
lature, with some 10000 signatures, requesting
that Legislature to submit this amendment to
the people of Maine The Legislature did so
by good majority; and the temperance people
have endeavored by their voice, and by their
pen to show to the men of the Pine Tree State
that the proposed constitutional amendment
does not deprive persons of their property with
out due process of law, but it simply SAYS that
the sale and keeping for sale of intoxicating
liquors" which endanger the public peace and
promote pauperism and crime, "shal be for
ever prohibited" And while l sit at my desk
addressing you this open letter. Young friends,
realize that this great question will have to be
met in few more days. Have you thought
very much about it: Have YOU Thought how
you should vote upon it? Oh pray God to-day,
that when election day Shall come, that duy
when politics will run high, and our cause may
be Sneered and ieercd at by unprnciped men,
that YOU will be found at the polls standing
shoulder to shoulder and ready to cast Il vote
which declares for God, and Home, aud Ma
tive Land Remember that this great question
will have to be settled in this country. 1t can
not be laughed down or hooted down, but will
have to be met for the liquor traffic is the crime
of crimes. We have had statutory prohibition
in this State for over 30 years, and prohibition
has done good in Maine, but as the law stand,
it can be repealed at any time for it is in the
hands of politicians. "A statutory enactment. !"
says John b. Finch, ''has nobody behind it. eX-
cept the court" Now we want constitutional
enactment with the people of the whole State
behind IT.
The only great issue of the time is: shall our
civilized country longer submit this gigantic
evil, the Whi>key power, 10 90 en-. which H. Miss
Frances Willard, who is the peer Of any laCjy
temperance orator now before The people. HAS
we'll said, ''I> backed by Satan and his imps. -
And my young friends, it is for You to say what
shall be the future history of this question of
the age. 1t is for YOU to say how far this burn
ing wave of intcmperahce Shall sweep; and |
call upon You in the name of all that Is good.
to arise IN the morning of YOUR days. in The
NlSor Of youth. and enlist in this war and help
u fight on tho battle-lieldS for Il cause which /,
daily gaining ground and is sure to win. For
the time is not far distant when constitutional
prohibition Will be made effective in the Nation
al and state constitutions.
Tine crisis is upon u face to face With Us it
stands,
With solemn lips Of uurstioning Ike the ~nilvnN
in Egypt sands.
This iay we fashion destiny, The web Of life we
spin
This ity for all hereafter choose we holiness or sin
Even now from misty Gerllim, ur Ebal'+ cloua5
roWn,
Call We hedew- Of blessing or the bol- Of rut,ju4
town."
am truly yours, +. W. GoWrN.
Freedom. pli l6, l>Ni.