The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-05-12
Public Sentiment and the Liquor
Laws

1 IdWS.
The City Hall was crowded last evening
on the occasion of the repetition by Rev. DR..
Small of the able sermon on "Public Senti-
| ment' preached by him last Fast Day in the
Payson Memorial church. The duty and
responsibility of public sentiment regarding
the evil of intemperance was the point
chiefly considered. The speakers eogent
arguments and apt illustrations engaged the
earnest attention of the great audience
which frequently broke into applause. That
public sentiment, if it can be aroused and
concentrated, is powerful enough to practi
cally suppress the liquor traffic there can he
no question. 1t can do it by the instrument
tally of either prohibitory Law or local
| option law. Either of these laws is sufic-
lent, wherever they are constitutional. to put
an end TO the liquor traffic whenever public
sentiment wills it and is organized to exc
cute its will. Wherever public sentiment
does not will it, and does not organize to en-
force its will neither of these laws will ac-
complish the result, nor will constitutional
amendment.
There is already enough law; but public
sentiment here in Portland has been either
Indifferent or unorgani2ed. We suspect the
chief trouble has been the want of organiza-
ton, and this probably owing in great meas
ure to the fact that most organizations here
totore formed have been for other purposes
than the enforcement of the law and have
had nfbQr aiu0e aho1,t ,rybsa I,
ference OF opinion among those who could
have been united for This object. The Law
and Order League under whose auspices
last nights meeting was held has a simple
definite and reasonable purpose, the enforce
forcement OF existing laws. Upon this plat
form all who earnestly desire the suppress
sion of the liquor traffic. whatever opinion
they may hold, as theory, regarding the
most practical form of law, can unite and
cooperate, and we believe that there are
enough such persons in this city to secure an
enforcement of the law more vigorous and
more rigorous than has ever been known
| here
To this end the appeal must be made TO all
| friends of temperance, and on the broadest
| ground. 1t will be mistake to say that any
who are il favor of local prohibition shall
| not be welcome because they doubt the wis
dom of a general prohibitoIy law. 1t will be
equally mistake to let it be supposed that
those who are in favor of prohibitory law,
but who think it unnecessary and unwise to
amend the constitution, are not welcome
alias III fho al
leagues or parties may be formed for other
objects, let the Law and Order League stick
to its aim and call upon all who are willing
to give their aid to that. without questioning
their views concerning other movements by
which some think the temperance cause may
be advanced, and some do not.
1t is the mark and test of good citizenship
to respect the laws while they stand, and
upon that ground strong appeal may be
made TO all. There is no good reason to pre-
sumo that this duty is not recognized by a
large majority of the people of this city, and
they can by iudirious effort BIZ interested and
enlisted in the enforcement OF the liquor laws
because they are the laws. A public senti-
nent can be developed which will be not only
Influential but controlling. The rum interest
cannot muster majority OF the citizens TO
sanction the violation of law, OR the
connivance of administrative officers with
violation OF the law, If that issue is clearly
presented. The large audience present last
evening aud its manifest sympathy with
the eloquent pleading OF the orator for an eff
Gent manifestation of the public sentiment,
which he rightly assumed is in favor of law
and orders temperance and safely, is a most
encouraging sign.