Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-23
The Liquor Dealers.

The liquor dealers have become so
greatly exercised about their traffic that
they have been holding national conven-
lion in Chicago this week to take meas
ures for mutual defence and protection.
Some OF the sentiments which they SUBJ
scribed to in the address issued by them
are remarkable for their absurdity. These
men whose business causes all the intern
perance and drunkenness in the country
declare that they "most earnestly favor
temperance and most strongly condemn
intemperance. How they could have the
hardwood to make such declaration with
the evidence all around them that their
business creates drunkards is astonishing.
Their heads must be as fuddled as those of
the patrons of grog shops after they have
drank themselves full They also declare
that they are ''in favor Of both private
and public morality" This is about as
great an enormity and perversion of facts
as the other declaration. Drunkenness
and vice are generally found hand in
hand. Men who are going to commit
great crimes usually nerve themselves
to the work and deaden their moral
sensbilties by Ibations of intoxicating
drinks. Said a Maine rum seller after he
had been convicted and fined for selling
liquor contrary to law: at is hard that a
man cannot be allowed to get an honest
living in this State. have tried to get
an honest living at my busineas. but the
temperance men will not allow me to do
it." His honest business was a business
eutlawed in this State. He was law
breaker. knowingly. willtully, and yet by
some strange perversity of reasoning
caused bv his education, he assumed that
his business was honest and Legitimate
These Chicago rumsellers in their conven-
ton and address appear to labor under a
similar misapprehension about what is
moral and temperate.
In one respect however, these liquor
dealers showed more wisdom than the
third party prohibitonists Their brains
were not muddled when they came solidly
down to the consideration of the best
means to promote the success of their
business. They did not attempt to form
new political party to aid them in their
work, but depending upon the unwav-
ering support which they have re-
ceived from the democratic party
announced their freedom from political
combinations and will go homo to pour
large eontri buttons into the democratic
treasury Tor the help of that party II
the future as in the past, They were
shrewd enough TO seek the union of al
those who are interested in the continu
anee of this business rather than to seel
division of their strength, thus setting al
example which the friends of the temper
ance cause may prolitably follow.
In Maine liquor selling except tor med
icinal and mechanical purposes is outlaw.
ed. Ii has no claim to be even legiti.
mate business, and every person who goes
into il knows it. He sins with his eyes
wide open. and should not complain il
the law overtakes him aud infiicts upor
him its severest penalties. In State:
where liquor saloons are allowed to carry
on their business under the laws there il
some excuse for engaging ia the sale o
intoxicating liquors, but there is not $
scintilla of excuse where the laws pro
hibit it and make it crime to be punished
with heavy penalties.