Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-06-17
Augusta In the Fiitiss.
Y ours Truly,
IL. l.. Hr sroN.

An old native of Maine who has been
contributing a series Of very valuable
sketches TO the Boston Evening Traveller.
concerning men and events in Maine during
the Fifties, devotes his letter of last Satur.
day to some recollections Of this city. He
says
The seat of government is naturally, II
not nece ssarily, the focus of political in
huence. Here are yearly congregsted the
representatives of political opinion; and
certainly not less than other portions Of the
MON, Maine Is = representative State.
Her common schools, academies. colleges
| and seminaries, which are fostered by pull
pit, press and government, quite irrespect-
i've, at least so tar as schools and academies
are concerned, of psrfissnism or sectarisn-
ism. chiefly contribute to this result
The writer then takes mp the question Of
prohibition and the early work In behalf Of
temperance legislation in this State and
says II is perfectly manifest. however,
by what legislation has already accom-
plished in this rection. that the abstract
temperance sentiment Of Maine is right.
Everybody is in favor of the cause. in
Guiding many of those even who partske of
the intoxicating cup. But only 4 minority
of the present dlay insist upon more string
eut law or more prompt and faithful execu-
I ton of what statutes now exist. Here is
the root of the difficulty When the public
shall have learned to regard rumselling in
the ,ame ligh, with burglary, forgery.
highway robbery and murder, then praeti-
/ cal legislation will be the order and official
enforcement of prohibitory law compare
lively easy" He then gives this graphic
picture of Augusta in the days when the
Legislature was being importuned for the
I passage of the first Maine Laws"
| "tn the old days Augusta was to reform
era what Mecca or Jerusalem was to an
Glen, pilgrims and crusaders-one going to
Worship at the shrine of the temple, the
other TO wage war against foe. Here
large dele CATION, met annually As repre-
.entstives of various moral organizations.
/ They came not on one stage line TO return
| by the mex, conveyance; their sessions
lasted two or three days, and they we're en-
,ertained with q wealth Of hospitality which.
owing TO various causes. belongs only to
| the past. The latch-strin.s en- all d~ell-
I ing, were on the outside. or their doors
/ thrown vide open, aud neither political nor
religious distinction Of hosts or suests vas
thought of. Nor was this all. Hosts and
hos,esses With their families attended the
| meetings. and thus encouraged by their
I presence every moral enterprise. although
specitic measures adopted we're not always
/ in harmony with their viess IL may be
safely affirmed by those Who have seen
much of the world. chat in no location. any.
where. has there ever been more generous
/ aud uubouaded hospitality bestowed than
/ in Augusta a. that tine. And the same 10
I trus Of HsllowelI, an adjoining town. The
| memory of those days OF social intervies 50.
| in connection with the promotion Of causes
which underlie the welfare of society. 10
precious And the secret in part, Is tnis
! that there vas entire freedom from per
soual aim or partisan or secfafian ends'
To benefit society Of large was the high
purpose. and ii met ~ith the approval or
| Heaven. These we're indeed stirring umes.
occasions which occur not more than once
1 in q ceutur,. and whose actors vent to the
root Of matters Light vas thus sca'te red
abroad; and on all questions Of humanity
Maine vas educated up to the highest
yoint. one result Of which was that BY 4
nopular msiorty Of As 900 . "fundamen'
tsl- article was incorporated into the con-
ai.usion against the sale OF oxicaans
| ,lrinks.'