The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-12-10
That Settles it,

The veXed question whether prohibition pro-
hibits in Portland, would seem to be definitely
settled at last. DIR. Warren, editor of the
Christian Mirror, having been questioned about
the success of the liquor law, replies in his
paper this week categorcally, as follows:
l. OF saloons where intoxicating drinks are
kept for sale and sold openly and in public
view without molestation from the authorities,
in the city of Portland, there is not oae
:. Of hotels, which have public or private
bar where liquors are dispensed, there is nat
one.
8. OF secret places where liquors are kept
and sold with the knowledge and permission,
taclt or otherwise, of the police authorities
there is not oae.
4. OF such secret places, where violations
of the law are practiced and where legal eyi-
dence thereof exists, but prosecutions are not
Instituted through political or personal favor.
there j. net one.
Mayor Deering and city marshal Andrews
fully endorse his statement to be strictly true.
1t proves two things: first, that the liquor law
i fully and lmpartlay enforced in Portland,
ana second. that ii does not prohibit in the
sense that its aut hors have always claimed that
1t would do. Undoubtedly the law has largely
restricted the sale Of liquor in Portland. but
what is more certain, it has entirely revolution
lzed the business of liquor selling. 1t is this
revolution that enables DR.. Warren to make
that there is not still great deal of iiqror dis
posed of III Portland The almost daily occur
renee in Its municipal court of sending men to
Jail for drunkenness is evidence that rum is
sold somewhere in liberal quantities. The
statement that it is driven into cellars and
attics and out houses and is only to be found in
tin-spruklers and coffee pots and under wash
tubs, Is but partially true. We are confidently
Informed that a goodly number of United
States licenses TO sell rum are still held by
Portland parties, we do not know how many :;
probably good many Of the druggists and
dealers in "orgnal packages" could tell about
1t. Again: Portland runs first class liquor
agency, open day and evening. fully stocked
with intoxicating drinks of every name and
nature put up in handsome bottles with orna-
mental labels. Thus, while it is undoubtedly
true, as we have before Stated, that liquor sell
ing is largely restricted by the law, it is equally
true that residents or visitors in Portland who
want liquor can get what they want.
The lesson of ali this is that IA DrohbitOry
law against rum selling alone is not sufficient
to make a temperance community So long a.
drinkers are found to make maj ket for the
goods, they will be Forthcoming in spite of law
The Journal believes in law for all it is worth :;
il also believes in gospel as superior to Jaw
the gospel of education. The Inbred craving
for stimulants which possesses nne-tcnths of
our people needs to be educated out of them.
The Journal believes there is more virtue in
the system of temperance education in the
schools. II fully carried out, to save the nation
from the curse of drink. than in any and all
legal liquor laws a state can make. BiddetOrd
journal.