The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-20
When Will the End Be?
To the Editor of the Press.

To the Editor of the Press:
Ihave often wondered when the work
ing temperance men and women will he
rewarded for all their expenditure of la
Dor, time and money by the complete
suppression of the liquor traffic. The
answer is now going about the country
freely, to wit: when the churches shall
wake up to their duty and responsibility.
But when will that be? When intelli-
gent men and women-the leaders of
public opinion-shall clearly compre-
bend the relation which the liquor traf-
fic bears to the honesty, pauperism,
suffering, Indebtedness and crime of the
country. There are not many people
who understand thoroughly the intimate
relationship existing as cause and effect
between the grog shop and the evils of
many kinds with which the community
is burdened and cursed.
| was struck a few days ago with this
passage in Western newspaper. judge
Hubbard of Nebraska in passing SEN
tence upon some convicted rumsellers.
said:
,.s There Is something in the taking of human
lie suddenly tnat SHOCKS and terrifeS the mind
Of all, and yet 1--WE look upon man who takes
lie by lingering process slowly and surely il
not without condemnation, at least without nor
rOr. You who now stand before the court for
sentence are in every moral sense murderers
at least you are in the spirit if not in the letter
guilty OF manslaughter; by law whoever accel.
guilty of this crime. Your bloated victims upon
the witness stand who undoubtedly committed
perjurysto screen you from the law, not only
testify that you are accelerating death but that
you are inducing men to commit crimes even
greater than your own
"You still maintain the appearance of respec-
liability but morally how leprous and scrofufous
ruin you are inf1icting upon this community
declare, as from the housetops. that you are liy
ing in idleness and eating the bread Of orphans.
killing your victims and destroying the peace
and industry of the community and thereby con
vertlng industrious, thrifty homes into abodes
OF poverty, misery and rags. Anxious mothers
home of your victims, whom you are alluring to
every species of debauchery, shamelessness
and crime"
In 1912 there was an incendiary fire in
Portland-a bad one-at the corner of
congress and Brown streets. The
flames ran through to Free street and
destroyed the fine residences of Jacob
Knight and William Willis. 1t was mid
night; the families were asleep when
their houses were attacked by the fire:
it was Saturday night. On Sunday even
ing our regular temperance meeting was
held at The Exchange, the largest audi
torium in town, always. crowded to it's
utmost capacity. In my speech I al
luded to the fire and said:
THE family of Mr.. Willis VINO s,,ao,,..
aroused last night and driven from their houses
having having time hardly to save the clothes which
Si Meiy,; wore. TWAS an incendiary fire. Ask Mr..
Wills what his chance would be ii it were left
TO him to determine whether his home should he
destroyed by the incendiary's torch and his
young son in it, or that he should fall into the
hands OF a runseiler, living and dying drunk
ara? VIII venture to answer for him as /
would for myself If the case were mine. If
would be far better to die by the hand of the
ker. ma
The speech was reported in the papers.