The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-08-24
the PRohIsIToRY LAW.
Governor BurIeish on Its Aims and
Successes.

Governor BurIeish on It's Aims and
Successes.
At the union picnic Of the Good Templars
and Sons Of Temperance, at vassalboro.
last week, Governor Burleigh made the fol-
lowing speech, upon being introduced as "an
example OF clean manhood in high office:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
/ have given public expression to my
views upon the temperance question on so
many occasions that do not feel as II
could add anything here 70 my profession OF
faith In prohibition or more strongly assert
my belief In Its benefits to our state.
1t has always seemed to me that the op-
ponents OF our temperance policy have
adopted arguments against it that are pecu-
llarly weak and fallacious, arguments that
they would never think Of urging against
any other OF our statutory laws. The burden
OF their song has been that liquor is sold
and drank In this state In spite Of our pro-
hibitory laws. therefore prohibition Is a
failure.
Now 1t has always seemed to me as If this
method OF assault might equally well be
directed against any other portion Of our
It might be said that as crime has not been
eradlcated In Maine, therefore all statutory
provisions for the protection of society
should be repealed, all crime be accorded
the sanction OF law. and every individual ee
given personal liberty to act as he pleases
without consideration for the welfare Of the
community In which he moves. Such con-
dttlon OF affairs might work well enough In
Utopia. but | am very sure 1t would not
prove beneficial to Maine. / believe that
any crime that menaces the welfare Of
society, the happiness and integrity Of the
home. and the manhood Of our citizens
should be under the restrictions of yigor-
ously enforced law. with proper penalties
and should receive the condemnation Of all
good citizens.
regard the liquor traffic as one of the
worst.-in view Of the evils that follow In Its
train,-the worst Of all crimes. 1t destroys
MAJ. MANHOOD ~ breaks up families. 1t fills our
every grade. 1t Is the foe Of progress, Of In
dustry and Of Christian civilization. The
victim Of the drink habit Is more than his
own enemy, he is a menace to society. Be
to take that traffic the endangers citizen
ship In hand and deal with 1t in the most ef-
fecFlve manner possible. Certainly this can
not be done by giving 1t the dignity Of the
public sanction and placing IL upon the
same footing with honorable and legitimate
commerce.
do not claim. nor do 1 think there is any
temperance man or woman In Maine who
Will claim, that the sale and consumption Of
liquor can be wholly suppressed by constitu-
tional law, however vigorously il may be en-
forced. Such an ASSUMPTION would be ex.
Pecting more for prohibition than ever has
been or probably ever will be accom- plished
py any law for the prevention OF crime L
do believe. however, that under the wise
laws that have been enacted In Maine for the
suppression Of the liquor traffic, the use Of
intoxicating liquors has vastly decreased. 1t
Is no longer leading article Of commerce at
every grocery store; 1t Is no longer included
In the hospitalities of every kind OF social
event from corn husking to a grand ball
IL Is no longer reputable and legitimate ar
ticle OF trade.
Today one can walk the streets Of any
Maine city or village without seeing a single
snop window filled with intoxicants to invite
and tempt our young men TO ruin. The traffic
that once Haunted itself. in the public gaze has
been driven into dark corners. Popular sem
timent and constitutional law are alike ar
rayed against 1t. 1t Is carried on by stealth
In fear and In secret, behind barred doors
and with every device that ingenuity can in
vent TO- avoid the vigilance Of the officers
charged with the enforcement Of the law.
You can go from one end OF this state to the
other and see no such fiaring canvas sign as
from the opposite side OF the street stares tue
traveller In the face as he steps from the
door OF a certain railway station outside OF
Maine: Choice bottled goods for family
use" including whiskey, rum, gin and about
every other species OF int0xicant known t.
to the liquor traffic. Thank God, the fami-
lies OF Maine have no longer use for choice
goods" Of this description. Even among
intemperance there are exceedingly few who
do not desire to keep the curse Of their own
lives as lar as possible from the sacred pre-
cincts OF home. The family meal Is not now
temptation and menace to childhood. l
have never yet met drinking father In this
state who did not earnestly hope that his
children might be strong enough and wise
enough 20 Withstand the temptation that con-
qered him.
In the face Of all these facts. how utterly
m m tlxra kot, - IL o..
to assert that prohibition has accomplished
nothing Tor the suppression of the liquor
traffic and for the advancement of temper
ance in Maine.
l tell you. my friends. that of all the great
moral movements that / have witnessed In
our good old state, which has ever been In
the van OF such movements in this country,
L have seen none that has accomplished such
mighty y,,s. results In the past. or that gives
men ure, as that which has been
carried on against the liquor traffic.
To my mind. Of all the puerile attacks up
on our prohibitory laws, that which asserts
that 1t Injuries the business prosperity Of the
state is the most absurd. IL will be impossi-
BILE to conceive Of two things more incompat-
tDle than business success and intemperance.
The people Of Maine are certainly excusable
when by any method Of reasoning known to
sound logic or good common sense they are
unable 10 conceive how the one can be in
any way dependent upon the other. Sobrie
ty and Industry 60 hand in hand. Both are
essential TO success. There Is probably no
one in this audience who cannot recall, from
his own observation q number Of promising
business enterprises that were wrecked upon
the shoals Of intemperance.
Bu', say the enemies of prohibition, the
future prosperity Of Maine Is largely de-
pendent upon It's becoming the national sum-
mer resort, and II visitors cannot secure the
liquors they are accustomed to use at home
they will 20 somewhere else. Now it has
been my good fortune to meet a number of
summer visitors to this state, and have
never yet discovered one who came to Maine
In search OF liquor. IL that were their quest
they would have remained many miles be
yond our borders. No. my friends, they
came here TO enjoy the magnificent beauties
and drink In the health-giying breezes of our
woodland hills, our lakes, our rivers and our
grand stretch OF ocean frontage whose rug
ged beauties are unsurpassed upon this con
tinent. They came for rest and recreation
and their annually increasing numbers is
sufficient proof that they are not disappoint.
ed IN securing both. Today one OF the most
celebrated OF all our splendid summer resorts
Is noted all over this country for the pure
spring water it supplies its guests Ii has
never run bar nor supplied liquors to its
guests, yet Tor some years past 1t has been
crowded during the season with dlstln-
guished people from all over the country,
aud 50 great has been its popularity that
hundreds have annually been turned away
for lack of accommodations, and the pro-
priet0rs, who have already vastly enlarged
their house, contemplate the construction Of
still larger addition before the opening Of
another season, In order to keep pace with
the demands upon their hospitality. What
greater proof Is necessary 10 show that the
summer resort In this State Is In no way de
pendent upon the liquor traffic.
But, my friends, 1 will not weary you
further. / am glad to be present here. My
heart is with you in this great work, which
means so much for the future progress and
prosperity of our State and the welfare and
happiness Of It's people.