Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-21
NINtTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Of Gen. Neal Dow's Birthday Appro-
priately Observed in Augusta.
Ex. x.h1isistsF Stevens Addrsss-Five- Minute
Speeches BY others.

mixed quartet.
In front of the platform was table upon
which was fine picture Of Gen. Dow, sur
rounded with wreaths Of pinks, white roses,
smilax, carnations and other flowers.
Upon the platform were the speakers,
Hon. J. L. Stevens, pastors of the various
churches, Mrs. A. s. Bangs, Mrs. E. S.
Fogg, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. j. NJ.
Wyman.
The exercises opened with selection
from the choir, followed by an address from
Mrs. Williams, giving brief history of
Gen. Dow's life. The next was an address
from Mrs. A. s. Bangs in behalf of the I.
O. G. T., dwelling upon the noble work
General Dow had done for prohibition, the
principles upon which he founded his good
work, and of how he persevered untir-
ingly during the days of turmoil and
struggle.
Hon. John L. Stevens was then intro
duced and gave an eloquent and interesting
discourse, speaking as follows:
A strong individuality is always notice.
able, and is often attractive to observers.
Even an unthinking embodiment of force
draws attention and elicits investigation.
A strong current of water impresses by its
persistent flow of power. A sturdy tree of
elm or oak teaches a striking lesson. How
its strong arms wrestle with the storms of
any years, ard its stately trunk, clamped
to the soil and rocks by its tough and
healthful roots, symbolizes a mighty per
sonali,y. But there is no single force in
he m material world that impresses US like a
strong, self-reliant, well-directed human in
iividuality. There is q vital, effective
power in the human mind and human char
acter deeper and outside of material causes
md combinations. Hence the biography
If men who have made themselves con-
spicuous by their highly spoken words and
xorthy deeds is an interesting and val
liable study. 1t is just to say that
the man whose birthday we are
.ommemorating by assembling here
this evening has been a vital force
force in human affairs for many years. 1t
is almost half century since l first saw
Neal Dow and heard him speak. An open
air meeting was beiug held within the lin
its of the city of Portland. think it was
on Munjoy hill. on beautiful summer
lay. 1t was large and Influential gather
og of citizens in the interests of temper
,nce. we'll known clergyman, a pastor
# Portland church, made an excellent ad-
dress, lucidly presenting the moral and
economic reasons against the use OF alco-
holic liquors as a beverage. He finally ap-
IL Al, s~k 90 <I,n nF
force to suppress the evil, and then some
Shat humorously and abruptly closing
his remarks said to the meeting: 81 will let
Neal Dow attend to this part of the sub
Jet" At the mention of this name an OBJ
sious sensation passed over the assemblage.
Soon this new speaker arose on the plat
form. He was then In bis early prime.
Handsome in person, with the glow of
health in every feature. straight
as an arrow, his sinews seemed knit and
bou nd together with polished iron. While
in his look and manner he had little of the
soft and melting, there was q certain fasci-
nation il his figure and expression OF
countenanee. which visited the attention of
of the careful observers, which the ring of
his fret spoken sentences served to en-
phazze. His words seemed to have been
cast in military mold and rang out like steel
hammers on the anvil. There was in them
that possessed intensity, to which in all his
after years and campaigns SO characterized
his speeches and writings. 1t could not be
said of him then, it has never been truth
fully said Of him since, that he used words
to conceal his meaning. Even his enemies
nor the sincere opponent of his views, could
say that he took them unawares or con-
tended with soft gloves. He used Ian
suage as warriors use grape and
cannister-not to play with. His words
to the Portland meeting then were "Cl0se
up the rumshops. Down with the liquor
traffic. 1t is the curse of mankind" That
has been his unvarying language for more
than half century. The old Roman gen.
eral who never wearied in repeating "Car-
thage must be destroyed had more than his
equal in the stubborn, lifelong persistence
of the iron man of Maine in his uncompro-
missing assertion, 'Close the rumshops."
In 1916 the Legislature of this State, in
response to numerous petitions from the
people, passed very stringent license law,
intended to be in practice nearly prohibi-
tory. This law in experience proved to be
unsatisfactory to the great majority of the
temperance citizens of the State, who
promptly took measures to secure the adop-
ton Of . probibitory statute. Neal Dow
was one of the most active and infiuentiali in
favor of this measure. In 1851 this law was
passed by vote of Sc Democrats
out of llS Democrats in the Legislature,
of 4S Wings out of the whole number of sc
WhiQs, and Of four Liberty party men out
of FIVE. Thus the Law had the support of
nearly half Of the Democrats, six-sevenths
of the Wings and four-ffths of The Liberty
men. 1t was approved by a Democratic
Govefnor-honest John Hubbard of HALO
we'll. Had the friends Of this movement
organised themselves into distinct and
separate party there is little doubt they
woul l have been Defeated But the moral
force of the whole community being brought
to bear on the three parties in existence, .
strong majority Of the Legislature was se-
cured. In this there il lesson which the
friends Of temperance will do well t, re-
member. Whether Neal Dow or Gen.
Samuel Appleton was the author Of the first
prohibition bill it 10 not now essential. Ger
tain il is that the courage and uDf1ageing
energy of Mr.. Dow rendered him the
foremost champion of prohibition in
the State for many years