The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-03-08
What Is Said of the Belfast p. L. 4.

Belfast has a "Persoual Liberty" Society," having
for its object the repeal Of the prohibltory laws
It's peculiar name. Such a society would find
very many enthusiastic followers within the granite
walls of the state asy um for law breakers, at
Thomaston. Rockland Courier-Gazctte.
The Belfast Age thinks that one breath of public
disfavor would blow prohibition over. Tie a ge is
i'll error. Prohibition cant he killed by blowing.
1t needs votes 10000 of them AT last ac-
counts the Belfast Personal Liberty Club has Sc
cured about 300, leaving d9,100 to he obtaine'i.
Portland Press.
Belfast has the undesirable distinction of being
the head-q quarters for the personal liberty move
mcnt--whoSe movers hope to make high license
snppiant the prohibitory laws Let's see, Belfast
is the town where Constable Mitchell has done
some efficient work, and the ''personaI liberty
| movement would do away with all similar 'pcl-
sccution." The people of Maine are not quite
ready for this "p. l." enterprise. [laliowell Reg
istcr
The Portland Press denies the statement of the
Belfast "Pcrsonal Liberty" people that the law
has changed the presumption Of innocence into the
presumption of guilt "The supreme Court it
adds 'has expressly decided that the priaa tttrie
clause does no such thing. and that no such thing
can be done by the legis!atne," Tn Press j.
right. but we presume these Belfast gentleman get
their authority for their statement from the Lew
iston Journal, which gave the supreme Court
decision Il meaning exactly opposite to that given
it in the plainest English by the Supreme Court.
Lewiston Gazette, Dem.
Personal LIBERTY. 50 called ..Personal
Lii erty' party has been organized in Belfast, the
object of the existence of which is TO break down
the Maine Prohibitory Liquor law and enact a H.
cence law instead
1t may he well for these gentlemen to remember
that they have something more than an ordinary
job on hand before this can be brought about 1t
will he necessary first to get prohibition of the
constitution of the State, and to 10 this it will be
requisite to get both branches of the legislature to
submit this to the people. This must be done by
two thirds vote in each branch. II by any posi-
biiiy this should be accomplished the proposed
amendment must be adopted by majority Of the
lega! voters of the state.
1t is useless for 100 men in Belfast to organize a
league, label it a Personal Liberty League call
it lv amy other name to accomplish this. 1t can
not be done The people Of Maine not going
III that direction. somerset Reporter.
WHAT \ GOOD TEMrLAK SAYS. At the recent
meeting of Hancock District Lodges II D. c. Gail
colt, editor OF the Ellsworth American, was called
upon and spoke as follows Whoever thinks the
battle for temperance and prohibition has been
completely fought and won has made great mis-
take. The iicrcest OF the fight is vet to Re
forms, though, never 60 backward. but always for
ward to victory. SO far the temperance folk, have
succeeded i'll thoroughly ar3uSing the opposition,
and that fact is the best evidence OF success.
Brewers, distillers, importers, vendcrs and drink,
ers are organizing against the onward march OF
temperance and prohibition, the last and most ii
dirulous phase of their work being the orglniz;t
ton of the "Personal Liberty League" at Belfast.
1t is the laughing stock of the whole State. This
League has announced that il is going to over
throw prohibition in Maine and that nine -tenths
of the people of the state are in favor Of such an
question Of prohibition has been submitted three
| times to the voters Of Maine. Twice they voted in
favor of prohibition by vote of more Hun tire 10
one: and the third time they voted to cngratt pro
hibiton the state constitution, by vot, of
three to one. From 1900 to 100 900 Voters of Maine
will defend prohibition by their ballots at any and
all hazards, against any force which may be
brought against it. We congratulate the Personal
Liberty League Of Belfast on the good time they
will have repeating the prohibitory laws of Maine
Whatever else You may doubt, Of one thing You
may be absolutely certain: Prohibition in Maine
will never be overthrown in Your day nor mine.
\ STRIKE FOR FREEDOM. Certain persons in
Belfast are amusing themselves this winter with
the organization Of a club which they call 'Pcr-
sonal Liberty Club" The avowed object of this
association is to eNpungc from the statutes of the
state all laws which interfere "with our freedom
to regulate our social habits as we judge proper
and especially the present rrohihitury liquor law
and to substitute Il Judicioue license law And
they aim to remove all laws which regulate "uul
diet and regimen The design Of this club is suf.
1riently ambitious When they shall have got all
the laws of the state which interfere with per-
sons freedom to regulate his social habit eNpung
cd when every statute that infrin@e> upon man 5
right to do socially as he pleaScs is repealed, we
shall not have very large statute book left. In
the first place all the fish and game laws must 20.
And it may be that restrictions upon the freedom
| OF the Belfast citizens to draw at will upon the
clam bank or have his wontcd sway amongst the
Holsters has led to this strike for liberty, for it
would be ibeous to suppose that rum is the l,rin-
| cipal 'diet and regimen which they desire to
have free and subject to no close time.
| But why suggest Il license law: How will your
personal liberties be aided by that? What is license
but more Objectionable form Of prohbtion-a
law to deprive you of the liberty to buy your Ii
quor of any but favored few who able to pur-
chase the right to sell it. and to prohibit the sale
| by others: This would not be Very broad cNtcn-
sion of personal liberty. On the ground Of inter
ference with personal liberty prohibition law is
more objectionable than license law. If liber
| ty in the matter of buying and drinking noNcat-
ing liquors is aimed aI, the only logical and con-
si>tent course for this Belfast club is 90 in for
wiping out all restrictions-all laws that regulate
! the supply which may be demanded by the habits
of its members in matters of ''liot and regimen.
There is little evidence that the people of Maine
at large sensible of any huriul loss of person
al liberty by the operation of the law They look
| upon it, rather, as claw of lbertv"-ycliing
| them freedom from the untold evils of free rum
The trouble with prohibition is not that it nfringes
upon the liberty of the citizens, but that the people
trust too much to to do the work of the teacher
and reformer. In the cities it has never been and
| never will be successful III the eNtirpatun OF
drunkenness and is absurd to believe that license
would accomplish any more. The people of Maine
| have adopted this plan of dealing with the ques
ton and neither of the political parties desire to
| experiment with change. Wateryillc Sentinel