The Republican journal., 1886-08-19


the United States using his veto power in
many cases to deprive worthy soldiers who
are in want of bread of the small bounty con-
ferred upon them by Congress- While con-
ceding to the President sincere and proper
motives for his action | think the general
feeling Of the people is that it is better for an
irregular case to escape the scrutiny of our
law makers than that the risk be incurred of
throwing honorable soldiers as paupers upon
the charity of the world
We hear from the Democratic party too
much complaint of pensions granted to de-
serving soldiers. But for the efforts and sac
rfces Of the soldiers of the Union there
would be no national treasury in existence
and hold that their claim should be regard
ed a first mortgage on the resources of the
nation. President Lincoln gave to the Union
army the generous assurance that +" the coun-
try would care for the soldier and his widow
and his orphans" | rejoice that in 50 far as
the Republican party could act this pledge
has been honorably redeemed in the past and
that the future will see no abatement of Jus
tice and lberalitv
| congratulate the members Of the Conven-
ton upon the unmistakable terms in which
they endorsed the Prohibitory liquor law
The history of prohibition in Maine may at
this time be prohtably recounted. The orig
inal law in 1851 was enacted by the votes Of
both Democrats and Wings and was approved
by Democratic governor. The next year
by coalition Of all its opponents the Demo
cratic party lost control of the State, and
when they resained it in 1855 one Of the first
acts was to repeal the prohibitory law and
enact license law instead.
The Republican party, composed of the
Free Sellers and of the anti-slavery sections
Of the Democratic and Wing parties gained
control of the State in 1886 under the lead of
Hannibal Hamn. and the Democratic party
has never since exercised legislative power in
Maine. Among the early and prominent
measures Of the Republican party completed
in 1873 was the re-enacunent of the pro
hibitory law, which was approved by the di-
rect vote of the people. Since then the Re
years has re affirmed the doctrine Of prohibit
ton in lis platforms as one element in its po-
litical creed, and Republican legislatures have
in thirty different instances enacted addition
al provisions to the law As experience sug-
gested the best mode Of perlecting it. Final
y, in 1855, the Republicans, having more
than two-thirds in each branch Of the Iessla-
tue, submitted constitutional amendment
providing that:
"The manufacture Of intoxicating liquors, not in
Gliding cider, and the sale and keeping fir sale Of
intoxicating liquors and Shall be forever prohib
ited-eXcept, however, that the sale and keeping for
sale of such iquDr, for medicinal and mechanical
~. ~
sale IF cider, may BE permitted under such rcgua-
lions the legislature may provide. The legislature
shall enact laws With suitable penalties for the sup
preston Of the manufacture, sale and keeping for
sale o Intoxicating liquors, with the exceptions here
in specified"
This amendment vas adopted by the pop
ular vote. The prohibition Of the liquor trat-
fic in all its forms is therefore incorporated in
the organic law Of Maine These various
enactments have been secured by the Repub-
lican party-its members sustaining them in
the legislature by substantially unanimous
vote, while on all occasions they were resisted
by a substantially unanimous vote of the
Democratic party in the legislature and at the
polls. The results Of the prohibitory law and
its enforcement under Republican rule for
nearly thirty years have undoubtedly been in
high degree beneficial to all the interests Of
the State, moral, material and social
A convention of prohibitionists lately in
session in Portland truthfully declare that
% the record Of the Maine courts, the deposits
in the savings banks Of Maine as compared
with other States, the small proportion Of
taxes collected by the United States authori-
ties for the sale of liquors in Maine, the total
destruction of the manufacture Of alcoholic
drinks throughout the State, and the vast in
crease of sentiment in favor Of total absti-
hence among generation growing up unde-
bauched by eSalized saloons all show that
Maine may proudly claim to lead in this re
form, and that she is a quarter of century
ahead Of States which license this gigantic
crime"