Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-08-06
j, ; GIErllllI,
Pastor Church of Our Father,
Spencer, Mass.

The Bangor Commercial l. one Of tho-e
persistent and virulent opponents "f pr"hi-
hition constantly in the habit Of talking
after the following Illogical and unintelh-
gent style. Says the Commercial.
Prohibition is a tyrannical and unwar-
ranted attempt TO interfere with and con
trol persona. habits with v hich the State
has nothing to do until they reach the
stage at which police Interference Is pro
per.
There Is probably no one proposition up
on which observing people have been and
are so freely in accord as, that innumera
blt nde>cribabc and wei nigh insnrera-
bic evils iuw from the saloons Opinions
have differed, do and doubtless will con
tlnuc to differ as to " hat it is practicable to
do or wise to undertake with a view of re-
lieying society of this incubus. But there
Is and has been general coneensus Of
opinion upon this, that if it were possible
to do away with the rum shops altogether
incaculahle good to all would follow upon
that removal.
Now the chief obstacle in the way Of re-
lief is that, despite the universal know
ledge as to the injury the trade infcts,
some will persist in rumselliug, Why
For no other reason than the profit they
expt ct to reap therefrom. Hence the evils
SO patent to all and the controversy to
which they give rise. Yet the Commercial
and those for whom 1t speaks have many
words of condemnation for those who, for
the entirely unseliish reason that it is
curse to the community in which it is toll
Grated, seek to do away with the traffic,
and offer aid and comfort to those engaged
in it for the sole and utterly selfish pur-
pose that they can make money out of it,
In this connection the Express is not ad-
vocating prohibition, but 1t submits to
every fair-minded reader this question
Who are most entitled to the respectful
sympathy Of every well disposed citizen,
those who desire and seek the suppression
of prolific source of evil because it Is
such, or those who persist in keeping that
source in full flow because they reap profit
to themselves therefrom? The CONNER
cidi, and all who will. have an undoubted
right to give their sympathy and lend their
aid to this latter class. But they should
not through ignorance mistake or through
willfulnesS misstate the real issue
Prohibition does not interfere t, rannical.
ly or otherwise with mans personal
habits" 1t seeks simply to protect society
from the danger which admitted dly always
and everywhere attends upon the traffic
which it outlaws. This effort, it is true
may result in making it inconvenient, Of
ten difficult and sometimes impossible to
indulge in a particular way IN certain hab-
its, and many are doubtless "inconyen-
fenced thereby. This is the case as to
many other laws, those for instance relat-
ing to lotteries, to gambling houses and
houses of i'll fame. But it is great mis-
take to suppose that all who are thus sub
jected to Inconvenience from prohibition
resent it or regret it. Many of these do
and did they pause to think of it many
more would accept that Inconvenience most
| cheerfully for the sake of the general good
that can only be served thereby. The same
principle in hundred different directions
is applied for the same general purpose
with the consent of all good citizens
Wherever society exists natural rights
| are ceded and personal conveniences
| yielded, and trouble only comes from those
who seek to evade in one way or another
their public obligations. The Commercial
ought not to make such haste to caste in
its lot with these latter.-Portland Eren-
ing Express.