The Portland daily press., 1888-01-16
TEMPERANCE.
W.T. @NNFNtN - -
CONTINUED From FIRST PAGE.

would use the Holy Day for the relief Of a
dumb animal in distress Icannotdoubt his
approval of this appeal in behalfof souls for
whom lie gave His precious life. know OF
no higher use for the Sabbath, no nobler aim
for the pulpit, than the rescue of men inper-
Tiled, in every interest Of body ana soul. am
sure that Jesus would speak IN their Dehai
were He present in the ileSh lave put one
Master / speak as His servant; | plead in
His name for those He loves; whose saliva
ton He bids us seek, | will stand in no pull
pit where / may not thus plead. am aware,
also, that this utterance will be regarded by
some from political standpoint that it will
be judged in view of its supposed effect upon
the prospects of one or another political
party. | am no partisan. | wish from my
heart that party considerations were wholly
eliminated from municipal elections; that
good citizens, without regard to party ties,
would combine to secure the election of the
best men for the administration of our laws
and the management of our municipal bust
ness. But know of no interest so large and
important, entering into municipal contest
as that of the protection Of individuals, fam
lilies and the community from the untold evils
of the liquor traffic. ! am unable to see the
superior value of half per cent. in our tax
rate, or even Of the protection of our railroad
interests 1t is sad and q threatening fact
that this discourse will have its chief interest
to many men in the community solely pc
cause of its possible bearing upon party inter-
ests, party success and the getting or the
keeping of political Office by certain men.
protest against any such view or treat
ment of the case. These facts are moral
facts, except that they are awfully immoral.
They ought to be considered from moral
standpoint, and acted upon from moral prin-
ciples. They have political bearings,
know; but no man is justified in regarding
them from partisan standpoint. They
concern, legitimately. only the administra-
ton of our own local affairs, the government
of our city. If they bear hard upon any
party or persons, the fault is not mine; nor
will withhold them in cowardly silence on
that account. For one, / am weary of the
partisan treatment of this whole question of
the liquor traffic. 1t is constant factor in
local politics; but it is not regarded by either
of our great parties from moral standpoint
The vote controlled by the liquor interest,
which is always large vote, is make
weight in our elections. 1t is always for
sale, and is put solidly where it will best serve
the liquor interest The managers of both
to bid for it. Meanwhile, the best men of
the Getty practically ignore this significant
fact, and support their own party with but
slight and infrequent regard to its attitude
towards this INSCRIPTIONS and ever-vigilant
enemy. For my part, 1 am tired of cropping
in the dark on election day, and finding after
election, that have unwittingly voted with
the liquor interest.
AS citizen and Christian, should like to
vote for a man, thoroughly competent and
tluobnOlbhg OblCt lCopCSbos plCOScO w ltlC
impartial, thorough and persistent enforce
ment of the prohibtory law; man for
whom the liquor interest would not vote. /
believe 1t is the duty of the good men of this
city. and especially, of the Christian.
such man. And l believe that such nomi-
nation, would be emphatieally endorsed at
the polls.
l am aware that difficulties hinder and
perplex the most dilgent officials; and that
law nrnVnnfpd pOfirplU fEa prip1p
against which it is aimed. But it is simply
absurd to say that a better state of things
than the presen tcannot be had. Think of
the facts that have been stated as to the
carelessness of offenders: the openness of
sale; the open bars In our leading hotels
selling to all coming, without the least indi-
cation of watchfulness, and continuing for
many months without any interference
whatsoever. Here is a state of affairs that
may well alarm and arouse all good citizens.
violation of law? / have no charges to
make against any individual. / do not pre-
tend to an exact location sof the fault. Nor
will | undertake to say what considerations
have Outweighed the tears ofswidows the
groans of childless mothers, the cries Of
orphaned children, the hunger OF homes left
unprovided for, the agony of men writing in
delirium, the purity of young men and the
eternal well-being of immortal souls. But L
do not hesitate to say that official delin-
quency is a palpabe fact The law which is
thus violated stands besides all other laws
against crime, having the equal authority of
the expressed will Of the people; and having,
moreover, this peculiar warrant,-that it
aims at crime which is prolific of all other
crimes, the very mother of crime. This
law, with all other laws, our officials have
sworn to execute. Yet for months and
months together its execution is so partial as
to make It laughing stock. l affirm that
such official delinquency is durable. Even
the officials of New York city have at times
been made to do their duty in the execution
of law. 1t is an historic fact that in Deem
Der, 1877, for nine consecutive days there
was not an open rum shop in that city. And
it was simply because every captain of police
was ordered to close all such in his precinct
upon pain of instant dismissal. 1t would be
strange if Portland policemen could not
achieve equal results under similar,pressure
In 1880 the people of Philadelphia were
aroused to the open sale of liquors on the
Sabbath, in violation of law. Certain nat
ural conclusions were reached as to the
cause and the cure of official blindness. A
committee of 100 citizens from the dominant
political party was appointed to bring in
nominations, Independently of the action of
the 'smachine;" and this committee made the
enforcement of the law on this subject
condition of their support of any candidate.
The mayor, who desired reelection, made
haste to comply with this demand Of the
best sentiment of the city, and it became inn
mediately easy to secure the enforcement of
the law.
And this bit of history leads me to what
wish to say in conclusion. The good peo-
pie of this city can have thorough and i'm
partial enforcement of the law when they
want If and will demand it; enforcing the
demand, If necessary, with the only argu-
ment which most politicians can appreciate,
defeat at the caucus or the polls. Public
sentiment stands behind and above the
whole machinery of the government. The
crown is on the head of the people; the
sceptre and the sword are in their hands;
public sentiment in the long run makes the
laws, elects and controls the whole body of
officials, legislative, judicial and executive
unfaithful, the people have only to
rebuke them or to discharge tn EN-.
Therefore, in this inquiry after the fault and
the responsibility for the open dram shop in
our city. | lay it, at last, where it finally be-
longs, at the door of the people themselves.
Because they have been Indifferent; because
they have devoted themselves every man to
his own affairs, leaving the trust of citizen
ship to the blind discharge of merely voting
the party ticket; because they have taken
lawbreaking as matter of course, and have
winked at its prevalence; because, in word
to pass, for long time continued, that the liq-
uor traffic has had free course in its diaboli-
cal work. st is BETTING" to use the words
Of another that without distinction of
creed, religion or politics, we strike hands in
an earnest effort to enforce the laws and ar
rest the progress Of this giant and prolific
evil" And for our performance of this duty
He will hold us responsible, who said of old,
where is thy brother?" 1.-THE voice of thy
brothers blood crieth unto me from the
ground" Deliver them that are carried
away unto DEATH and those that are ready
to be slain, see that thou hold back. If thou
sayest, behold, we knew not this; doth not
He that weigheth the hearts consider it? And