The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-16

successive government Giving it effectual |
projection" And Tins in city, state and |
this great tn aaatehty argument Is supplI!eu y
be. sSse srsfilc an argument most plauS So
who have tax cries the demon; ,,s aai 70 S9
see them small. G nl y"' give me legal
and n, respectabillty and protection;
%our viii VIII generously bear large part OF
main maint Ddiru 1o | will care for your poGb'
eraly for tba department OF Justice, pay and
eyen pGild you public library" What an
o % ,i demon! How preposterous to THINK
~ casting MIN out! Here lies. to my mlnd'
iI Sno peril OF the system of high license.
ance reforn, some sincere friends OF tenp az
gronnS tha1 are among its advocates, on VIZ
giUunH Inat It affords the best method OF al.
inlnLsning the evils of the traffic. l do not
u ,,,"Ht sne integrity of their motives. but
, rMuSo Seileve tne system delusion In us
well fear its terrible apneaI To human selfish
me- snort-sighted selfshness. indeed, but
tn appeal Is, nevertheless, powerful. Under
sarSo S ,s the demon proposes to confer
that ~ abaI, DEMENT'S, on the awful CONDITION
sion OF his victims and be suffered TO multi
ply Inuennltely their number: using for the
purpose tne increased facilities. the attract
I'VE lespesctability which legal protection Sc
the d,s9r ni Inc traffic no longer hides IN
chie1 places of the city, resplendent In all
the attractions that Satanic Ingenuity can
u s1SeS ana enlarged receipts provide;
gi1ae1 monster under public protection.
l nave mentioned two classes Of persons
who prefer to keep the demon. They are
innuenced by cash Considerations, either for
themselves directly or for the c0mmu-
nity. But l must speak Of yet
anotner CLASS, namely, those who would
pIotect Tue Demon on political GROUNDS,
OF for personal reasons of a political nature.
Inc liquor interest hasa tremendous political
grip upon our cities, and, indeed. upon the
nation. In many cities there is such DOM
lnation OF TINS pernicious element as, to sug-
the walls of London: "Who rules the king
dom? The king. Who rules the king? The
duke. Who rules the duke? The devil"
SO it might be said "Who rules these cities?
Inc 0nclals: Who rules the officials? The
saloons. Who rules the saloons? The dew.
IL" Perhaps no one will accuse the late
hon0red Secretary Window of fanaticism. |
beg you hear his testimony on this subject,
The saloon has boldly entered politics. and
torious. 1t insists upon the right to manu-
facture at will drunkards, paupers and GRIM
inals, and then to cast them upon society. to
pc supported or punished. To maintain this
forces. formed its political alliances. and now
conscious OF Its strength, bids open defiance
to law and public sentiment. To maintain
the right to get money by the wholesale de-
oeIuctiVu VI lie, neditu anu property, 1t cor
rupts the ballot, brides legislatures, hampers
with 1uries. In most of our cities. the saloon
Is the central power around which politics
revolve, and which dictates candidates and
party policies: Even in our national cleo
LIONS It sometimes exercises a controlling in
huenee and decides presidential contests"
Dr. Howard Crosby is not a temperance ia
matte. Let him also speak. There is no
danger to our state more threatening
t aasdi the disrefard Of law by public
of this evil is undoubtedly found in the ds.
mands OF partisan politics. The party Is
placed before the state. Everything is sac
rlhced for the available candidate, and he is
the man who can poll the most votes. OH
GERS elected In this way not only disregard
the laws. but they conform to the low poiiti-
cal system that is thus practically advocated
by the better classes. Thus even men of
general soundness are affected and public
oflcers who otherwise would do their duty
learn to lose principle in the discharge Of
their Office, however much they may desire
10 retain 1t in their private life, and NAV
sincerely advocate its theory" Here, too,
Is the testimony OF the demon himself. 1
gladly let him speak. that he may serve for
once the. cause of trutl. The National
Brewers Association keeps paid attorney
In Washington. In a recent Convention Of
that body, he said. mo prohibition bill will
paoSd iEs - o tbg Indeed can point
which we have fought thus far passed Con-
gress; nor will hereafter. provided no mis-
lakes are made on our part The reason Is
very simple. The watchfulness Of the
Its effect. Appeals to our friends in the
states have. frequently kept recreant con-
gressmen at home forever" In another con-
ventlon OF the Brewers Association he said.
Enough whole battalion of prohibltionists
MADE fervent appeal before the Senate's COM
mittee the simple reminder from the friends
OF personal liberty that there was a presi-
uential election pending sufficed to induce
m0usly."
In view of such utterances can anvbodv
influence In politics?
Having spoken thus in general OF the on
position TO the enforcement Of law against
the drink demon ON grounds essentialiy Ca
aarene-g grounds of financial or political self
lsnness.-l come now to a few words with
regard to our own city. What is the present
SITUATION IN Portland? We witness the rare
spectacle OF an enforcement of the prohibit
tory law which is, so far as can learn. Wig.
orous and impartial. We have been told for
several years by city officials that the best
results were being secured which were pos
Siole under our present laws. Yet the sight
OF our own eyes has compelled us to believe
the enforcement farce. There has been
great unchecked traffic both In many we'll
known saloons and behind hotel bars: these
latter being the most damaging of ali, and
being suffered to run with scarcely sinole
seizure during year. But suddenly a man
appears VINO proposes to keep his oath of Of
nee. And, without increase of cOnstabnlarv
force, without single change in the laws.
ne Drought about change in the conditions
.! tne tralnc which at once c0mpels public
attention. Even the hotels close their hars
and men who have enjoyed immunity for
years are brought into fear of personal i'm
prlsonment. Is 1t not the duty, yes, should
lt not be counted the privilege OF every good
cordial approval Of his work? For myself I
nave had few greater pleasures in MANY a
day. We freely criticise unfaithful officials
as we ought to do. Such criticism, especialjv
II backed up at the caucus and the polls. is a
faithfulness, But ought we not, on the same
principle to praise and support an officer VINO
does his duty? l confess to feeling akin tn
contempt for man who refuses to do SO on
grounds OF partisan politics. But this en-
forcement of the law is sure to bring ont the
Gardarenes. We have already heard from
them. The cry is raised In various Quarters
This actual enforcement of the law Is
mistake. 1t hurts business, frightens awav
trade: 1t must be stopped" No sooner had
which they must have. felt at the enforce
ment upon their premises, than we began to
hear threngh the public press of the great
loss they would suffer from such enforce
ment. IL was even suggested tnat the hotels
would be compelled to close to transient Gus
tom. recalled with smile asI read these
things, the assurance which one of these
men gave three years ago to ministerial in
nocent of the city that there was really no
money in the sale of liquors in his hotel. It
was kept up simply to prevent his guests
from becoming drunk on vile liquors which
they would otherwise buy at the saloons.
Yes, it was really bar kept in the interests
Of temperance. 1t seems curious too, that
the closing of hotel bars can make such a
financial difference to these proprietors.
some of whom, if am rightly Informed.
have SWORD in court that they have absolute.
ly no financial interest in them beyond the
rental of room, and consequently no re-
sponsibility for them!
But this Gadarene cry Is my theme; the |
cry that we cannot afford to enforce our law |
vigorously and impartially. This plea Is |
made in the name of business. We are told |
that the general business of the city will |
suffer, as well as the hotels and the liquor |
business. A similar protest Is sure to be |
made also, though perhaps not so openly, in |
the name of political interests. Can the /
party in power afford to lose the support of /
the liquor interest? Does not that interest /
control several hundred votes in the city? |
And has 1t not freely contributed to the
management OF the campaign? Have not /
the hotel man haqn rauulor Contributors to