Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-30
TO AID raE OFFICERS
congre ssnan DiDglsy speaks for the
Temperance Cause Before an IntsE-
esting Meeting at lewiston.

LEWISTON. Oct 20.
There was sn interesting meeting ss the
Park street Methods, vestry Monday even
ing The meeting vas called by the pastors
in the city to arouse public sentimen, in sup
port of the officers in enforcing the prohib-
ito-y Law.
Constables Phillips and Stubhs were both
in attendance, as were also many pfominent
citizens who showed by their presence their
deep inferes, in the subject matter of the
meeting.
Rev. ". 5. McIntire presided and prayer
was offered by Rev C.. G. Tilley Of the First
op-niag address of the evening. Remarks
we're also made BY several pastors.
The chairman called on Hon. n. Dingiey,
jr, who remarked tha, he had listened with
pleasure to all that had been said in refer
ence to securing better enforcement of the
laws against dram shops in the cities of this
state. The prohibitofy iaw for the most
part enforced so we'll in the rural portions of
state as to thoroughly close even the secret
traffic. 1t is in our cities that the enforce
ment is lax. But even here, loose as is the
enforcement, the situation is immensely bet
ter than 10 license cities.
In the cities the enforcement OF the Law 10
difficult for three reasons. First, ali laws
against pandereis TO vice are enforced with
more dIdiealty than other laws against crime,
because in the case of the violation of laws
prohibiting robbery, for example, the suffer
er IS the tirst to go out and seek TO punish
the roober: bat the victim Of the rumselier
and gambler seeks to protect his greatest
enemies. and evea commits perjury TO save
tbs m from punishment. Second, in most of
our cities are found 4 larger proportion
of those who have come frt m foreign
countries where temperance ideas are not so
tar advanced as here, and rho very naturally
do Dot look upon the use and sale of liquor
do those who have had the benefit of the
advanced temperance instruction Of our own
country. although many of them have al
ready accepted this advanced position, and
others will in due time be heart and hand
with prohibilory sentiment lndee /, TO our
shame be it said, some of the worst men we
have to deal with are persons who have been
educated among us. And third, where there
is crowded population persons viciously in
clined always find that they can better con-
eeai their wicked practices, and therefore
gather there ia larger proportion than in the
country.
Hence the problem for US to solve is how
to better enforce the laws against dram shops
and gembling places in Lewiston and other
cities. There is, of course, much enforce
ment now. We undoubtedly have some
faithful officers who do much work. The
records of the courts show this. The sale is
not open here IN the sense in which it 10 open
in license cities. The secret places are not
50 many, proportionsliy the open places
in license cities like Lowell. nor the sales in
any place near so large RS there.
But fifty or sixty secret places here-if
that be the number-are fifty or sixty too
many, although of course no one expects that
the most faithful enforcement of the law can
absolutely extinguish the secret sale. any
more than theft can be absolutely stopped.
We have right, however, to expect that it
will be enforced as we'll as it can be-better
than il is.
The object of this meeting is to devise
means to strengthen the hands of such Off
GERS as are ready to do their duty, and of the
newly appointed officers. We can do much
to help them, and they need all the help they
can get, We cannot help them by indis-
criminate criticism, or by catching up every
evil report, started too often by liquor men,
and repeating it without ascertaining whether
or not it is true But we can help them by
encouraging them, and by furnishing them
such evidence relating to illegal sale as may
come to our notice. We can help them in
our organized capacity by appointing an ex
ecutive committee of citizens to advise with
them, and to look into all cases of apparent
dereliclion of duty.
We have right to expect that these Off
GERS viii endeavor to do their full duty ard
enforce the law impartially and faithfully.
A dram-shop. anywhere. no matter by whom
kept, is an enemy of social order.
After all tbis has been done, we shall find
that our beE work for the enforcemer. of
the law, and for the promotion of temper
ance, is done through those moral agencies
which build up total abstinence habits, and
educate the people in total abstinence princi-
pies With a community of men and wom-
en- who practice total abstinence the enforce
ment of the law is easy. 1t is in our families
that temperance instruction should begin.
Let parents do their work of instruction
faithfully and the glorious day of triumph
for temperance laws and temperance princi-
Piles will be ushered in.