Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-14

TO contend. and have leaders too familiar
with the object and function of constitutional
Law. to be called down from their noble work
BY letters ~ritten BY men, Gndges. bishops
presidents of colleges though they may be-
who have never been seen actively al work
for the suppression of this gigantic crime of
crimes" a. Senator Morrill, 50 aptly termed
the liquor traffic
We claim the same propriesy and right Of
this State to prohibit BY constitutional amend
ment the manufacture and sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors fha: the United States claimed
and exercised for the prohibition of slavery
snd involuntary servitude. Section of our
Declaration Of Rights has tbese significant
words: "All power is inherent in the people
and they have the unalienable right 70 insti-
tute government or change the same when
their safety and hsppiness require it" The
{ importance people of this State, numbering
two 20 one Of the voting population, believe
that the safety and happiness" OF the State
require that this on-movine tide OF pubic
sentiment should be taken at its food" and
crystallized into an amendment of the con-
stitution to stand forever - . bulvark against
the Licensing Of the liquor traffic Slavery out
lsved BY the adoption Of the Thirteenth Con-
stieutional Amendment, cannot be revived or
legalized in this country except by the con-
sent of the people in their sovereign capacity.
The amendment was practically the death Of
slavery. for no partizsn majority in Congress
could reestablish il. The adoption by the
requisite majority vote next September OF
the proposed constitutional amendment Will
outlaw the liquor traffic in the State OF Maine
90 that no partizan majority in the le2ls Ia
ture can license or legaiize it till the voice OF
the people shall reverse the fundamental law.
D. =
legislature and q new Wind OF political
doctrine may sweep license in upon US.
The talk" that has been made that the
adoption Of tine proposed constitutional
amendment would sweep from our sta
tute books our present prohibitory Law Is too
puerile to need answer. The adoption OF
the constitutional amendment. instead OF un-
doing present legislation not inconsistent with
it, fixes it where it cannot be undone except
in accordance with the requirements OF the
amended constitution. This is . great gain.
1t makes the past sure. 1t does in temper
ance THAT we used TO do when hauling
heavy load up the hill it triggs the wheels
and prevents the load running down hill
Temperance legislation 10 Maine must never
60 back. 1t must aud will 60 forward and
the gates Of bell shall not prevail against
it. The real friends Of prohibition
must rally for the amendment and drive the
enemies and "professed friends" Of prohibi-
ton to the vail. by adopting the amendment
By Q more magnificent majority, II possible,
than that BY which It was submitted to the
people BY the last legislature. II African
slavery. which robbed . few wives of their
husbands; q few pasents Of their children; =
few children Of their parents; went down un-
der the hot condemnation Of . christian peo-
pie then let this evil, worse every. way than
slavery. for it enslaves more cruelty, pro-
dsccs more sorrow. separates more Thousands
Of Husbands from wives. psrsnts from chill
drss and children from parents. than slavery
ever did hundreds. 60 down under m equally
emphatic condemnation.