The Portland daily press., 1894-07-23
Jelly-Fish Prohihitionists.

10 Gne Editor of the PRESS:
Receat local agitation and discussion
OF various aspects of the temperance
question. especially those relating to
dlncultles in the way of rigid enforce
ment OF the prohibitory law, have fur
nlshea occasion for giving greater curren-
cy IN some quarters to the advocacy, pro-
fessealy as a temperance measure, of the
moalHcatfon or repeal of the law in
question. Among those entertaining
and freely expressing these views may be
found here and there few who have
justly earned the title of "strong friends
OF temperance" Disguised with the
downright hypocrisy of those who on
dress parade occasions are always anx-
ious to go on record as prohibitionists,
but otherwise are never heard from, and
discouraged with the apparent fruit
lessness OF their efforts to enlist and
effectively organize public sentiment in
the WORK of enforcement o. existing
liquor laws, they are ready and honestly
anxious 10 sry the experiment OF some
otner method OF dealing with this great
social evil than that which now has in
tnls state highest legislative sanction.
WIN the nope that thereby better practi-
cal results for the cause of temperance
and general sobriety may be realized.
put making allowance for few honor
able exceptions. in the Judgment of the
writer, the so-called "strong friends of
temperance" who favor the repeal of the
pronipltory law, however substantial
their appearance to the superficial obser-
yer, Will usually be found, on closer ac-
4 0udlQUalCG. IA or IN i'm
portant elements of conduct or character
essential to the constitution of sincere
ana thorough-going friends of the tenn
perance cause.
There is a type of life we'll known to
those familiar with our New England
coasts called the jelly fish, which Turn
lsnes very good illustration OF this class
OF so-called temperance people. The
jelly hsh, looked at from distance, has
somewhat attractive appearance. But
when you get alongside OF one of this
species, especially with the idea of MAX
ing any practical use of it, the discovery
is. soon made that it is of little worth. It
Will DE found not to have strength
enough to bear it's ON weight. The
Jelly fish can make quite show of motion
when there is no opposition, but let it
be confronted by any obstacle, or once
get aground on rock or sand and there
IS usually collapse. One trouble with
the jelly fish is that it has very little
substance Of its, own. Take specimen
that would weigh twenty pounds and dry
the water out of it, you will not get even
a vestige of back bone.
NOW II 1T be true, as vast majority
OF the people of this commonwealth un-
questionably believe, that there is no
tenable ground for denying the sscorrect-
ness OF prohibition as principle" the
duty of all who SO believe would seem
to be very clear. There can never be any
just ground for conflict between what
is right in principle and wise in policy.
All genuine friends of prohibition, what
ever their political complexion or party
Affiliations on other issues, should set
their faces resolutely in the direction of
maintaining and vigorously enforcing
the law that has justly made the name
OF our State famous throughout the
world, repudiating meanwhile all utter
ances, however plausible they may appear
in their guise of respecta bility viewed at
long range, II on closer inspection they
are found to be the spineless product of
the jelly fish type of prohi bitionist,
that falls limp and useless heap upon
the rocks and sands of difficulty often
found in the channel of progress toward
the effectua1 humiliation of the liquor
traffic.
The leaders of the rumocracy fairly
hug themselves in diabolieai glee at every
supstantlal sign OF any serious attempt
to repeal the Maine law upon its native
soil. This is no hour for faint-hearted.
or semi-apologetic deliverances from
press, platform or pulpit as to the laxity
OF officials or the want of interest upon
the part of the public in the work of
practical prohibition, but rather time
for all of these mighty forces SO potent in
the forming and shaping. yea, in Great
ing public sentiment to unite in pro-
ducing ''preponderating'' and even an
overwhelming public sentiment that
demands vigorous and persistent en-
forcement' Of theaproh bitory law alike
in city" and country"
q IRA GROSS.