The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-05-15

zen engaged in ordinary pursuits from his
fair share in promoting the political interests
Of his country because this is too apparent
TO every one who has observed at all the
operation of practical politics."
Assuming then that the question relates 10
the political side OF reform, should answer,
that at present the most important thing Is
to resist the tendencies TO segregation Of the
mass of people from direct Intervention In
the affairs OF government
/ speak OF this as the most important; be-
cause, notwithstanding the tendencies TO
which have referred, II must be admitted
that as yet our federal, state and local af-
fairs taken by and large are well admins
tered; but, as before suggested. this does not
disprove my proposition for the reasons TO
which | have already called your atten-
tiOn.
If the question for discussion has relation
to the moral side Of reform, take the liber-
ty Of adding the following; Through what
been unable to perceive the great value Of
special systems of political economy, and am
more and more impressed with the belief,
that the same simple, economical rules which
govern, or ought to govern the life OF citi-
zen, govern, or ought to govern the life OF
nation; and that when one has carefully CON
sidered and ascertained what should be the
principles Of action for himself, he has sub
stantially aseertained those which the whole
people as a community should accept. Not
though we all hope not In all respects with
reference TO this great Republic-that the ca
reer Of race follows very closely that OF the
individual.
Certain 1t is that we as people have gone
through those early stages OF human expert
ence, which lead TO riches and comfort, as
well as to consequent great good nature, at
the mans middle age. BY careful economy,
by a regard for the ordinary rules oi COM
mon honesty, by a simple life which pre-
serves health and strength, this nation has
reached its present period, when as yet
with great Overplus Of inert wealth, with
out any decrepitude coming from extraya-
ganeies, with that kindly disposition and
temperament which go hand In hand with
prosperity in the individual, 1t has secured
marvellous growth and development OF its
But the tendency Of this result Is an undue
love of wealth. The reasons are too obvious
to need explanation. / call attention only
TO the fact. think our great moral defect
today isl will not say the love of wealth
merely-but the dsfying Of It,
IL cannot be denied, wealth now gilds
everything. Men by the mere exhibition OF
money or its lavish expenditure reach high
positions and are accepted in all ranks, with
too much disregard Of the sources and
methods Of its acquisition. Money makes
the mare CO." was never tTuer than In this
country today. The man without money, no
matter how eminent his abilities. how great
his virtues, Is with too many the man WIFI
out success.
Even within my own generation 1t seems
to me there has been a remarkable change
In this regard. l seem to recollect when
authors, college professors, pious elergymen,
devoted missionaries and other persons in
tellectually and morally distinguished, held
largely the places In the community which
result? The people-and when l say the
people, mean not only those whom we
daily meet, but all classes and ages-regard
the possession Of money, If not Of wealth, as
the necessary good without which all other
good is failure.
So long as this exists, just so long we shall
have breaches Of trust, embeZzlements,
frauds, vile bankruptcies and insolyeneies,
and all those misfortunes and crimes which
attend and follow in the path Of covetous-
ness. No mass Of statutes, no certainty Of
punishment can stem the current.
will not attempt to picture by e0mpari-
son with the history Of nations, who have
heen led by this despieable lust for wealth
and glitter to decrepltude and destruction; l
have; that ultimate faith in ourselves
which prevents my prophecying evil. 1 deal
only with the present and with what Is now
about US. The remedy and the. most i'm
portant" reform Is to trample out that spirit,
which substitutes the admiration Of wealth
for the admiration belonging only to the
good things which a man. who has honestly
acquired wealth and rightfully uses it, Is ca
pable Of doing.
But as have already suggested, think
the question as literally put includes an inn
possibility. II Is, Were you dictator?" A
dictator could push to success no important
reform. All such must come from the pe0-
pie to those who govern, and not from those
who govern TO the people; and moreover no
reform in any one particular, however i'm
portant 1t may be, can be secured and main
taiped except hand in hand with a general
ala IN oil fbn Ifoh
Of which rests more with those who have
taken on tn hemselves the duty Of guarding
the morals and the c0nsciences Of individ-
uals than with any other class.
Mr.. Putnam's letter was received with ap-
plause.
REV. MR.. SHIRLEY.
The next dictator was the Rev Mr. Shir-
ley, Of New Gloucester, who spoke on the
temperance question. IL Is the duty Of the
government to make 1t easy for the people to
do right. Mr.. Shirley argued with Mr.. Put
nam that reform must come from the people,
but dictator could do much 10 overthrow
the evil of the rum traffic. The tariff reform
was important Other reform was import
ant, but MIR. Shirley said that II he was die
tat0r he would abolish the saloon. The
speaker gave several Illustrations Of his sub
ject. The Irish people, he said, have suf-
fered from excessive rents, but the drink bill
of Ireland was 5,0e0, 10000 pounds more than
all their rent. dictator with absolute
power would have great advantage In deal
ing with this question. There are many
things he could not do but this a dictator
could do.
At the close of the applause following Mr..
Shirley's remarks Mr.. Abbott, secretary Of
the club, read a letter from Senator Frye.
SENATOR FRYE.
II hardly understand the question;
does It refer TO political reforms alone? Civil
service reform betrayed In the house OF It's
friends Is hardly the most important. The
ballot more strongly appeals for publication
cannot read 1t; thousands sell IL for money;
in sections Of the country false counting and
suppression pervert It's purpose. Were /
dictator / would make the ballot what the
Constitution intended II to be. III reference
is to moral reforms only, polygamy would
not be first, for it is dying; but there Is an
evil, fearful in its strength, terrible In It's
power TO acknowledgements. Its allies
were never so powerful, aggressive, organ
lied, as now; they have banded themselves
together in associations Of immense wealth
and numbers; they purpose to control legis-
latiOn by fair means or by foul. Their an
n0unced purpose Is to manufacture liquors
and sell them without limitation of law. 1t
Is the most gigantic, threatening and perilous
evil Of our land, and were dictator | would
first Of all strangle to the death this monster"
Senator Frye's letter was applauded with
spirit.
MIR. VIM. III. Shaylor next read letter
from Congressman Dingley.
CONGRESSMAN DINGLEY.
Congressman Dingley writes II know Of
no national reform which would promote the
neral and material interests OF our people
more than the abolition OF the dram-shOp,
and the general abandonment OF drinking
habits by our people, the most prolific cause
of vice, misery, pauperism and crime. III /
were a dictator | would enact laws In the
several States and the nation prohibiting the
manufacture, Importation and sale Of intOx-
icating liquors as beverage, with all posi-
BILE efficiency. Laws are useful, yes, indis-
pensable adjuncts Of moral agencies, nothing
more. III were dictator / should be obliged
to rely mainly on those moral and educa-
tional Influences which create healthy pub
lie sentiment, form correct principles and
establish right habits"
Mr.. Dingley's letter was applauded, after
which Judge Goddard was introduced as the
guest Of the club.
JUDGE GODDARD.
Judge Goddard said that the answer he
had to give would not be an agreeable one.
/ would issue warning. he said, to all re-
form societies 10 show reason for their ex-
istence, or forever hold their peace. The
reform would promote, he said, were die
tator. is something that would secure the
safety Of the life and limb Of the Individual