New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-19
Netc- York, Nov. 10, /
THE MAINE LAW NON-PARTIsAN.

| To the Editor OF The Trtbune.
SIR: Your recent reference to the part OF General
Appleton in securing the enactment OF the Maine Law
was very interesting fought 10 inspire rereading and
rewriting OF socaed temperance history. Several years
since. when pastor in Lewiston, Maine found four
bound volumes OF The Maine Wesleyan Journal published
I'm Portland Maine, 193i37 Your note sent me TO my
file Of old papers for information II Is strdngy signi
cant that the enactment OF the Maine Law like every
other successful In the aid Of temperance nonpar
tisan and non-sectarian We have local option.
law and order leagues" the Womans Christian Tenn
perance Union" the movement for scientific temperance
elucation originated and conducted with large success
upon non-pocal and non-sectaran lines Whenever we
have varied from the original plan in any Of these move
ments We have failed to command the sympathy and sup
port OF the great mass OF temperance workers Now
we learn for the enactment OF the Maine Law we
are not indebted TO the politicians or partsans OF any
party ought TO end forever the delusion OF all
honest thoughtful temperance workers that success
Is 10 be won upon political sectaran lines May De
permitted to quote few items from The Name Beseya"
Journal:
We are gratifed learn that efforts are making to have
lectures the subject OF temperance In nearly every
place worship Tuesday evening, the 2Sth instant
The temperance pledge will be offered, at the close OF
each lecture, for signatures aud perhaps there WIZ DO
presented also for the purpose, peton 10 our
Legislature for pTobitory law, TO prevent the manu-
the apothocary such alaw. We doubt not, would be
well received by most OF those who now trae In the
bion 10 be 80 universal-tFeb. Is, 1887.
The following week reference made to the circulation
OF the above mentioned petition and similar effort In
Bangor and Watervile The issue Of March contains
report of nine simultaneous meetings being held as pre-
yousy announced in Portland eight churches and ono
In a ward room. The paper contains the petition.
COPY of which had been circulated throughout the State
and had been largely signed Among the petitioners In
Portland was exChief Justice Mellen The same Issue
contains twocoumn report Of the meeting OF the Maine
Temperance Union at Augusta and very strong set OF
resolutions adopted the quarterly conference or the
Methodist Episcopal Church The issue for March IL con-
tains the following item:
The committee whom referred the memorials Tor
the suppression OF inemperan have made very va-
able report accompanied by bill to suppress the sale
of ardent spirits In quantities under twenye eight gallons
and TO prohibit for other purposes than the arts
and medicine The bi II 1t is TO take effect next
September. The committee worthy OF being hed IN
remembrance and therefore record their names Ihey
are David Magoun, Josiah Staples, James Appleton,
William d. Sewall, Moses Higgins Eben knowlton Luther
Severance Tristram Redman, Daniel Clark T. Holmes,
Josiah Eaton
These interesting facts sufficient to indicate the folly
Of calling any the fatherof the Maine Law. public
sentiment commanding the support and influence OF the
clergy the churches and majority OF the best citizens,
petoned the suppression OF the evil OF ntemperance
by Legislative enactment 10 not partisan but non.
writisan Has not the time about come for an Impartial
palting Of the history OF temperance legislatonf
Yours respectfully, j. BENSON HAMILTON
Nep York, Nov. II, 1885,