The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-20

| and few days after I met Mr.. Willis in
| the street and he said | was abundantly
| Justified in my view of what his choice
would be in the case alluded TO. | want
| to show in as brief space as possible,
by opinions other than my own, what is
the true relation of the liquor traffic to
the public good.
Judge Noah Davis of the Supreme
Court Of New York, after an experience
OF twenty years upon the bench says:
"Three-fourths of the crime which comes be-
fore the courts would never be committed but
for drink
The late DR.. Parker at the head Of the
profession in New York in the same con-
nectlon said:
Statistics show that ten per cent of the an
nuaI number of deaths in this country are due
to alcohol: full thirty-ve per cent of our insane
are so. directly or indirectly from its use; and
from ~ to 80 per cent of our penal and pauper
inStlgutlons owe their condition to its influence.
IN addltlon, we find that As per cent of the in
mates of our asylums for idiots are the offspring
OF parents addicted to drink
The late General Dix while Governor
of New York wrote to his business agent
In Chicago in relation to the hotel owned
by him in that city:
81 am glad you allowed the Woodland House
TO remain vacant, instead of renting it for the
odic VI liquors. L would raGn6f let Ii remain
vacant to the end of time than to have it rented
for such purpose. consider rum the cause
OF nine-tenths of all the murders poverty and
crime In the country, and no earthly considera-
ton would induce me to contribute in the re-
hottest degree to its sale"
The New York Tribune saws:
This liquor traffic lies at the centre of all
polltical and social mischief. 1t paralyses ener-
gles IN every direction. 1t neutralizes educa-
uonaa energies Il silences the voice of religion
NH rnfc r,nIi AL
reform Upon what does the success of the
liquor traffic depend? Upon debased manhood,
MM afdag Womanhood, defrauded childhood; It
WI In hearts blood over every human
In another article the Tribune says:
Directly and indirectly this country spends
IN IN tne liquor traflc every year sum exceeding
diebtl The cost OF that traffic to the country,
aireGt ana indirect is greater than the profits
OF all its capital not invested in real estate. 1t
costs every year more than our whole civil SER
vice, on army. our navy, our Congress lncud-
ing the river and harbor and pension bills. our
Wasteful local governments, and all national
state and county debts, besides all the schools
OF the country. In fact this nation pays more
for liquor than for every function of every kind
OF government How is question of that size
gone by in this country whenssa serious discuss
sion OF question that involves such vast ex-
pense to the nation can be prevented by bully
ing, intolerance insolence OF ridicule."
| could easily extend similar quotations
from the highest sources in Europe as
well as in this country, but these must
suffice for the present. Suffice it to say
that with all its enormous cost, waste
and infinite mischief to the country in
many ways and in many kinds the liquor
traffic earns nothing; it contributes moth
ing to the national prosperity or well
fare.
The people of Maine have resolved
that this Improbable trade shall be sup
pressed within its territory. Let up take
a calm view of their progress in that
direction and OF the obstacles lying in
their way. NEAL Dow.