Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-07


| place before our boys a continual tempta-
ton? Shall we legalize business which
we know is evil, and only evil, just for
the sake of the cvi-minded? ssi w4asr ----
The trouble is not with our law, but
with its enforcement. Possibly the
Herald has unwittingly rendered the tenn
perance cause a lasting service. 1t has
convinced many of the need of action.
The great trouble in Maine is: The
people thought, when they passed the
prohibitory amendment, that the work
was done forever. They somehow thought
the law would enforce itself. No law will
do this. The more temptations there are
to cvade the law, or to defy it, the more
alert should we be to enforce it.
The Herald's exaggerated accounts of
reinforcement are aimed at the over
throw of our law. But if the statements
were true, we, as a people should stoutly
oppose any change from our present sys-
TEN.
The benefits of this law to our State
have been simply incalculable. 1t has
brought prosperity and thrift to hundreds
of communities, and those localities where
its enforcement has been disrcgarded look
like the track of cyclone. it is not
difficult to find where the people are in
different on this subject, The mean, i'll
kept tcnements tell the story. Yet these
localities are not numerous. Large sec
lions once cursed by rum have been
transformed under our law into prosper
uos towns Ask such towns if they
would like to go back to the old condi-
TONS They would sooner set fire to their
own dwellings than to have an appetite
for drink cultivated in their children.
The sons and daughters of Maine every
where speak with pride Of the Maine law
1t is pointed out through the entire eX-
tent of our territory as beacon light.
1t held before the world as Il worthy
example. | has done more for the temper
ance cause directly and indirectly than any
single factor which can be named But
at this very time there is movement
well under way and strongly endorsed by
some for change. You shake your head
significantly. Let us not rest too easy.
Our opponent is subtle and willy. We
should not allow him to steal any marches
on u.s. 1t is not enough to defeat such
a movement Defeat should be decisive.
But still more important matter is sug-
gestcd by these articles. Whether they
contain much truth or much fiction, our
attention should be fastened on the sub
ject of enforcement.
Are we not ineXcusably dumb in re
gard to this matter? 1t is, of course, dis
couraging to have officials laugh at any
suggestions for enforcement; to have the
open and secret connivance with the law
with which we are all so familiar.
But we must remember that these same
81; CT 70, InTrpp Ilndpr
the license system. So long as men con-
tinue to be base and unprincipled, we may
expect to meet these things. The human
mind has always been exceedingly fertile
i'm deyising means for cvading law. The
liquor law is no exception to the general
rule. We need to be on guard. Our duty
was not finally performed when we
stepped up to the polls and voted that we
would not license the sale of liquor. We
must still stand up and fight. We may
pass laws to prevent setting houses on fire
But if they get on fire, we must see that
the flames are extingushed. Our duty
TO act promptly is clear, whether there Is
a law or not.
1t is even more important for us to act
when the lives Of men are in danger IL
is appalling to think how drink destroys
the hapr mess, usefulness and prosperity
of the individual What shipwreck for
every earthly and heavenly interest there
is here, There should be more general
interest in the careful enforcement OF law,
Public sentiment,as expressed in definite,
intelligent action, is an important aid to
the faithful discharge of official duty. 1t
is encouraging that there are indications
anywhere Of quickening. Particularly
so that in some quarters where law has
been flagrantly violated, the people are
asserting themselves. This simply in
dicates that the law is thoroughly practi-
cal All we need is honest, earnest, de
cisive enforcement -Maipe Farmer.