Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-31

! Your obedient servant,
JAMES B. DAscoNB
AUGUSTA, Aug. 81, 1886.
Dear Sr-Your favor of the 23d inst, in
" hich you kindly ask my views on political
topics now agitating the public mind. is re-
ceived. Although somewhat retired from
active political work, can but witness with
deep concern the effort that is being made to
organize third party in this State, ostensi-
bly, in the interest of the great cause of Pro-
hibition, but which must inevitably injure
that cause whether so intended or not, &C.
| cording to the extent that that movement
acquires prominence and strength, by weak
ening the republican organization. How an
intelligent temperance man, member of the
republican party, can hope to advance the
cause of Prohibition by throwing the State
into the hands of the democratic party, Ito
which the movement obviously tends), that
constant, inveterate enemy of Prohibition, is
party OF Maine is, and has been for more than
a quarter of a century, the true and I'M
failing friend of Prohibition. Every line
of prohibitory law now on the stat
by the republican party, usually against the
fierce opposition of the democratic party
The early motto of the republican party was
Temperance and Freedom" and the record
hat bon
greater fidelity and unselfsh loyalty
the pledges it made in the interest of
those paramount issues. Prohibition was
adopted in its infancy by the republican
matured, protected from the democratic
tomahawk to which it was exposed for many
years. Thus succored and protected. Pro-
hibition grew with the growth and
strengthened with the strength of the re-
publican party. To-day republican party
and Prohibition party are synonymous terms.
Nine-tenths of all the Prohibitonists in the
State vote the republican ticket.
The success of Prohibition under the re-
publican party rule has been wonderful, not
to say marvellous. Only those who can re-
member the extent of intemperance when
Prohibition was introduced in this State by
the enactment of the Maine law can have
any idea of the vastness of the work that has
been done and the good that has been effected.
The following letter from Gen. Neal Dow,
which was published in the Boston Post, Apr.
60 1884, gives some very valuable statistics
which are interesting and suggestive:
"The Maine law in Maine has been great success
from the day of its enactment The wholesale liquor
trade, which was very large in the State ceased
tirely from that time and has never been revived.
There is not distiery or brewery in the State, and
has not been for many years. the manufacture as
well as the sale of liquors being forbidden by the
law. At the time of is enactment the trade was
spread all over the State as ii now is in Massachu
setts There was no spot In the State so remote or
obscure that the trade did not find it and establish
grogshep there.
The retail trade was greatly reduced in volume un
mistakenly on the enactment of the law. and has,
for many years. disappeared entirely from our rural
districts and tom our smaller towns and villages
and even from many of our larger villages. In more
than three fourths of cur territory, containing more
than three fourths of orr population, the liquor traf
c is nearly quite unknown that in those parts
of our State an entire generation has grown up,
practically ignorant of that traffic and Of its effects
upon the community. The quantity of liquor now
sold in Maine in violation of law cannot be one
twentieth as much as it would be but for Prohibition
Our share of the national drink bill would be about
$l3 ,00C, and We confident that half million
will pay for all the liquors struggled into the State
and sold in violation of law, but call 1t q round
million. So we save by Prohibition Z IL 900 600 an
naally in direct cost OF liquor and indirectly much
more. The New York Tribune, in carefully pre-.
pared article. puts the amount of the annual drink
bill of the nation at $500, 00C, 000 and the indirect
cost at 800 900 more, being more than half our
national debt"
Mr.. BOWS letter does by no means over
state the success of Prohibition in Maine.
In the light of this letter we get a slight view
of what the republican party has done for the
temperance cause in our beloved State.
Twelve million dollars, the General says,
we save in direct cost of liquor, and indirectly
as much more. Twentyfour millions of
dollars annually saved by Prohibition in the
hands of the republican party. A grand
showing, magnificent success
To your first question | answer with en-
phasis. no gain substantial or temporary can
reasonably be expected from the organization
of an independent Prohibition party. But on
the contrary such movement promises evil
and that only to the temperance cause
To your second inquiry l remark that, as
greatest pleasure to stand by the republican
party because it has stood by Prohibition for
thirty years in the most praiseworthy manner,
and brought to our people the blessings so
well described by Gen. Dow above. We
must stand by the republican party. II is
! oar party. We organized it. For thirty
years We have been heard in its councils, have
directed its action and measures Many of
Us have sp mt the best years of our lives in
building up this party, and dedicat;ng it to
Temperance and Freedom and other good
works. The proposition to abandon this
party and organize an ''independent Prohibit
ton party" appears to me scheme of mad
ness and folly to be deplored by every friend
of Prohibition 10 the land.
Very truly yours,
ANsoS P. MORRILL,.
Hon. JAMES B. DAscoMB. Skowhezan.