Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-16
An ABSTRACT
OF the Address Of Hon. LIewelIyn Powers al
the Bowdoin Conference.

AAic"ehyu IoWcIs ab bne bOWQOln Free
Baptist conference, Thursday evening
the Journal, in justice to MIR. Powers,
publishes this morning a correct and
fuller abstract of the gentleman able
speec on that occasion:
Mr.. Powers stated that be had ever
favored prohibition and temperance rather
than license and intemperance That to
the incorporate and immoderate use of
Intoxicating liquors could be traced the
larger part of the suffering, misery.
degradation and crime prevalent in our
land-that to grapple with and eradicate
this great evil was vital question, call
ing for the best wisdom of legislators
and the noblest efforts of every philan-
thropist. That while the sanguine friends
of prohibition, and especially those who
rocked the cradle of its infancy had not
fully realized all they had anticipated
yet great good had resulted, and that in
most of the towns the law was quite gen.
orally enforced and that as result of
some so years of the prohibitory law
healthy public sentiment had been
created that rendered it difficult for a
man, and especially young man, to have
good social standing and frequent the
saloon and the barroom. That violations
of the law were largely confined to
few large towns and cities. That in the
great number of small towns of our
State, which contain the principal part
of our population, the prohibitory law
has produced radical and beneficent
change for the better, the saloon has dis
appeared and the people have become tenn
perate, and as necessary result more
industrious, prosperous and happy
In the cities we have a larger per-
ccntage of people of foreign birth who
have been born under different condi-
tions and have many instances grown up
outside Of the healthy influences of the
prohibitory law. 1t is there that we meet
appetite on the one hand, and the greed
of gain regardless of consequences upon
the other Yet / am confident any I'M
prejudced person who can and will in
vestigate the conditions in our State years
ago under license will see that We are
moving steadily on in the right direction,
and that as sure as tides and sunrise
come, victory in the best interests OF
humanity will in the not far distant
future crown your efforts. TO doubt this
would be to doubt the ultimate triumph
of Christianity over Paganism, of right
over wrong truth over error, virtue and
humanitarian efforts over vice and selfish
ness.
believe that that part of the prohibi-
tory law which creates State agency
needs a radical revision. / also am con-
fident that we must have places reason
ably accessible. where people can supply
themselves with pure liquors for medi-
cinal and mechanical purpose. That this
is absolutely indispensable under present
conditions if we would enforce prohibi-
ton.
There is often great gulf between the
ideal and the real. That the human
family would be infinitely better off if
all alcoholic liquors were forever ban
ished from the world, no thinking man,
it seems to me, can deny. What of good
or convenience may result from using
them for medicinal or mechanical pur-
poses, sinks into insgnificance when
placed beside the sufferings, misery and
poverty they cause. Still we must take
some things in this world as we lind
them Spirituous liquors are in 1t and
are very likely to remain in it fol many
years to come. Reputable physicians
and very many of our citizens believe III
their medicinal qualities. They may be
wrong, but do not believe the time has
vet come when it is safe or best to ignore
this sentimnt which has been recognized
in every prohibitory law on our statutes.
There has been constant tendency
running all through our prohibitory lcgis-
lation to increase penalties. l believe 1t
was 10 years ago that imprisonment was
made the punishment for the first
offence This was to drive the rumscller
| out of the business-so, at least, those
! who asked for it said. Did it do 1t:
| know not how it might have worked
! here, but in my section OF the state 1t
created sentiment which was such
bar to prosecutions, indictments and con
yictions that hotel keepers and reputable
apothecarcs sold unmolcsted, and DO
not recall in my county any convictions
unless it was of some fellow who Kept a
low groggery and had no pull or stand
ing to protect him.
Now all who have carefully studied
criminal law know that it is the certainty
and not the severity OF pun
ishment that prevents crime. Absolute
prevention of any crime is hardly posi-
BILE. What is sought for is the best trac-
ticable results. Whenever the concrete
| public sentiment OF Augusta VI an.
other town demands that the traffic shall
cease and sufficiently crystallizes around
and supports the officers of the law and
insists upon its enforcement. that VIII be
the end of it, for no one can violate the
prohibitory law for one week and be sub
iected to the penalties now provided,
without being utterly ruined.
1t seems to me that it is not more law
that we need but more and better public
sentiment which will insure an enforce
ment of the laws we now have. We are
proud of our State. We are proud of its
institutions, of the great work it is doing
for education and for uplifting and caring
for the unfortunate and suffering. We are
proud of its equal, just and wise laws,
and OF meme are we mere proud than OF
! that Maine law and constitutional amend
ment, which declares it to be the settled
policy of our State that this accursed
traffic shall never be legalized within its
borders. Other states may be larger and
richer-otber skies may be fairer and
brighter, but they never can supplant IL
in our affections. Its hills and valley
a.. - L,,, rattp nod