Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-03-20
NEAL DOW.
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Neal Do~ was born In Portland,
Maine. wh<rs he hes always lived, oa The
3Oth of March, 1904. llia parents and
anc~stcrs an both sides, were of the 90
cietv of friends and hc grew to man.
hood under their Teachings, his educa-
tion being obtained at the common
schools aud academies. when . youug
mau he learned hls fathers trade - .
tanner, aud subsequently, entered upon
the business which he continued Tor
many years.
In early life he became deeply inter
ested In the Temperance cause and work,
aud soou becsme satisfied that no per.
msneut improvement could he expected
among the people while grog-shops were
permitted to sprcad their temptations
publlcly, snd his efforts we're directed
towards eullghtenlng public opinion ~
to the wickedness Of liquor selling, lie
Injury To public welfare, aud the peccs-
slty Of making it . forbidden occups-
ton. For ten years he made mlsslonary
carriage tours through Maine lectaring
sud distributing Temperance literature,
always paying his own expenses, In
fnrthersnce of these ideas.
In lsSi while the state Legislature
WAS In session he had . public temper
ance hearing before the Legislative Com
mlitee aud at its close they unanimously
adopted q bill he had drawn, which the
next day. May !, Was adopted, aud
enacted by the Legislature by = large
m.iority In both branches, and took
effect on the "a Of June. This bill ~a.
the original historic "Msinc Law" nov
famous the weird over, sad the prohibl-
tory Law 10 Maine thus originating, but
later amended and strengthened, wss put
Into the constitution Of the state In lssi
by vote of three IN Que.
In ls5., ga, aud - he Waited England
and made many addresses In fsvor nj
the prohibition of the liquor traffic. In
i~Sl he VAS In the var ot the rebs llion ne
Colonel, and there won hls TIL. of Gen.
ersl; Was twIce wounded; and . prison
er In the encmy's hands for q long time.
since the close 81 the war Gen. Dow
has lived quietly and uuprsteniicu.ly II
hls home In Portland, keeping fully
posted and abreast of the times by his
reading aud correspondents, and aIssys
ou the alert for aiding, Recommending
and forwarding efforts for the advance
meut aud strengthening of the prohibit
tory laws of this state against the sale
90 Intoxicating liquors a. = beverage.
lie hs. had the pleasure OF seeing hi.
state changed from one Of the poorest
and most drunken, Ia one OF the most
temperate aud financially wealthy In the
union, bec.use % the statutes aud pablic
sentiment which outlaw the liquor
traffic.
Personally Neal Dow iss nne speci'
men Of hale old sge With all the vigor
and force % the average man twenty
y..rs Younger, much of which be
sscrib~. Ca his Temperance habits. Oniy
year ago when the prohlbitory Lac
MAS mensced by . proposed messurr al
losing druggists to cell intonicAtins
liquors. he appeared before the leE'sls'
tive committee In opposition, seemingly
exhibiting all the DIRE, energy, and
ability of nearly half century ago.
~. form Ia erect, hls senses all sp'
psrently In use, bis interest In public
affair. as great, aud his voice sud pan s'
strong snd sharp for the right. ss ever,
aud especially In advocacy of the csn.c,
nearest his heart Tor lifetime-prohibl'
bition aud Temperance. which be- has "a
Loyalty aud .ucvcssfully chsmpioned,
and for which he IL to-day so generously
and worihlly honorrd.-Malne TEN
rrrance Revord.