The Portland daily press., 1892-02-08

Another thing, | am not only glad that
the question is CIVIC ratnef IMAM
scriptural one, 1 am also glad that
IL is Civic rather than Political
one. If it were true that either of the
great parties were uniformly in their
positions declared had their relations to
temperance legislation the position of a
clergyman would be embarrassing. He
would feel that in advocating measure
purely civic and moral he must neces-
sarily throw all his influence with one
party against the other, a thing which in
his position, save for principles sake he
should never do.
Were one of the parties to declare in
favor of theft and the other of honesty
he would be poltroon in the pulpit who
for fear of the pews should remain silent
or side with the party committed to
fraud Were either of the great parties
thoroughly and unequiyocally and
everywhere true to prohibition and the
other as fully to license in its bad sense,
a clergyman had better quit the pulpit
J than remain in it not daring to take side
| for the right. But SO long as the Demo-
Gratis of York county and the Republican
| of Lincoln, the Democrat of Georgia and
| the Republican of Kansas are on the same
| platform as to the sale of intoXicants SO
| long is the position of the clergyman OF
| today free from the misconception and
misrepresentation which would be in
evitable were the case otherwise. And
as is most fortunate when such is the
state of affairs he can in the position
| which he assumes be true to his con-
xriot HONG mt tho ,,11blio OpnI qhova anu
! and all parties, place measures above
| men and be ready in each campaign to
present the duties of citizenship On the
basis of broadcast craftsmanship, sound
est sense, absolute loyalty to right and
fealty to his Lord. tits then
ASS Citizen of no mean City
| but of city of which, under existing
circumstances, I am greatly proud in
this regard, that can stand in this pull
pit which for more than a hundred years
has given to it's ministers absolute free
dom to speak the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth; and urge
upon the people who honor me by their
presence the vital importance to our city
of maintaining, as our text declares, the
| Impartial vigorous and faithful enforce
ment of the law, law which has made
the state of Maine known to the end of
the earth. And as citizen OF Portland,
not as pastor of this church merely. |
would say
First-It is too late in the history of
this question to argue the point, that a
state can make prohibitory laws The
Supreme Courts of our land have settled
this matter beyond any controversy.
Second-It is too late also to argue the
point that a state can enforce prohibito-
~ laws Men have acknowledged all
along thatet3is could be done in rural
districts and in villages but have been
sceptical in respect of the ability to en-
| force the law in cities.
No such scepticism need exist longer,
the largest and most wealthy city in
Maine can testify that
A County Sheriff
and his two deputies have enforced the
law.
our city and am in possession of sutfi-
cient powers of observation to discover
the state of affairs among us, and [ am
| convinced that few, if any, laws among
our statutes are as well enforced as those
which prohibit the sale of strong drink.
and this would be the testimony Of the I'M
BIASED citizens of Portland. The enforce
ment is impartial. The officers of the
law do not make show OF vigilance by
| arresting the keeper of a low groggery at
| Gorham's corner, while they are unable to
| discover the same business carried on
upon Congress street.
That LIQUOR is sold in Portland and
| Il L. tb6 ic HnI1h
case. but they who sell and they who
buy have to descend to shifts and fire.
quent places which testify alike to the
Vigilance of our officers
and the desperate measures of those
who defy the law.
1t is safe to infer also that the law is
being thoroughly executed from the Wig
orous attempts which are being made to
substitute some other enactments in its
place. Those who argue in this way
were not so anxious i'll the days when
prohibition did not prohibit.
Third.-We have not only the right to
make and execute prohibitory laws, but
it is for our interest to do it. [ know
it is said that there are many citizens OF
Portland who are bound TO drink strong
drink, if they can not buyit in Portland
they will buy it in Boston, and thus the
metropolis of Massachusetts will secure
the profits which belong to the metropo-
| lis of Maine.
| submit that there are some businesses
which are too expensive to be carried on,
sand that if they must be carried on we dc
well to let those who undertake them in
spite of the risk and damage involved
have a monopoly if they desire.
There is a
Powder Mill in Windham.
If it were only in Portland, the people OF
Windllam would not have all the profits
which now go to the men who manufac-
ture it. Suppose we put up the mill or
the Market lot, of which we are hearing
so much in these days. We can then KEEP
all the profits of the business in our city.
| We will not stop to compute the amount
of insurance premiums that will need tC
be paid to cover the risks increased.
Second Parish church and all the proper
| ty in the heart of the city can afford tc
pay these premiumsfor we are going tt
have all the profits of the powder bust