Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-01
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from page 6. ]

ago, DcloTc IL IfftQ WillSkSIS OH IT, 1 hooiSS
that Chauncey Depew and others stopped
telling that story about 10 years ago. 1t
appears that it has just reached the pulpit.
That clergyman when l asked him if he
were an American citizen, and if not, why
not, replied by entering into a rhapsody
on the land of Burns and Scott. But If
Scottish nativity inspires a man of the
Gospel to such flights rs that skunk story.
then thank GOD that am nothing but
asplain son of the land of Washington, of
Franklin, of Lincoln, of Longfellow. of
Whittier and of Bryant. applause That
clergyman had the impudence to tell me
to go home and work for the cause of
temperance. l will match my record
with his in practical temperance work. l
was one of the first men whom they ap-
preached in Sagadahoc county to go on
the bond of the special liquor deputies.
and / went on that bond. There is a
stream of men wanting alo
to take. the Kelley cure that come
to my Office every month, passing
by some of these self righteous prohibit
tionists, and they get this help. Only
few weeks ago / was asked by the minis
tiers of Bath to run for mayor on plat
form for the enforcement of the prohibit
tory law Those clergymen thought l
was sincere in my position and they
thought | would endeavor to enforce the
law. But what difference does it make
To this clergyman He did not care to in
yestigate that sort of thing before ne
made any charges. Now 1 say to him II
he is anxious to reform drunkenness, II
he learned anything for his observation OF
the prohibitory law from his pulpit, let
him 90 back to Scotland. one of the drunk
enest countries on this green earth,
and reform that before he comes here ana
tells me and Others what to do Tor our
own dear State of Maine. l tell him that
the Stars and Stripes are RS dear and bonny
to me rs the thistlcs of Scotland, ana IL
may be that they inspire me to sinccrer
efforts for real temperance than this lack
of knowledge and his lack of love OF this
country which he admits, has enabled
him to take. l tell him that. cap
plause.) And if he means to inslnuate,
he or any one else, directly or Indirectly
that in any way shape or manner nave
been approached, bribed or prcjudiced by
any rumseller or by anybody else, or that
my attitude towards prohibition Is
dictated by other than DISTINGUISHED
motives, l say to him that he Is
a liar and slanderer and L stand
responsible for my words here i'll any way
that he cares to take them. l thank TOD
that though make no prctences to piety,
never stood up in public and slandered a
maa of whom knew nothing, and whose
one crime was that he differed from me.
leave that to those who lead Others every
Sunday in saying. "From all malice,
good Lord, deliver us. II these clergy
men really want to know the truth in re
gard to prohibition and want to help their
fellow citizens, let them get down from
their pulpits without fear of soiling their
sacred garments as DIR. Parkhurst has
done in New York. Until then silence
with them is golden.
Now, sir, l have done. You may take
me, gentlemen, and my resolve and place
us on the altar of blind fanaticism and
run the knife into the hilt; only desire
to ask that little band of Spartans, which
have reason to believe agrees with me
and stands firm with me, to vote as they
think. (Applause.)
| desire to move that when the vote is
taken it be taken by the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Keegan of Van Buren, said that,
with every member here, he could'not but
admire the eloquence and ability of the
gentleman from Bath. (Mr. PattenD and
his admirable presentation of this matter.
l shall only occupy one moment in per
sona1 explanation. So far as | am con-
cerned as an individual, my record on this
subject is written. 1t was my lot to be a
member of this House during the session
of 1881 when this very resolve which now
forms a part of the constitution was be-
fore the Legislature. l placed myself
squaroly on record at that time as oppoS-
ing this matter And why? Because it
was foolish because it was nonsensical;
because there was no object in it. l re-
gard it as still foolish and contemplate Us
the so-called non sectarian amendment,
which q lot of crazy men are trying to get
into the constitution. That is my view
in relation to it. Truly speaking l don t
perance, and l claim to have been an
example of temperance for great many
years. Suppose we We're to submit this
to the people and allow them to vote?
What would be gainedY You could not
make rum any freer than it is now.
G.aughter) And | don't know as you
could make it any less free. For my part
it seems one of those difficult questions
with which don't know how to deal.
Therefore, l say it would be a waste of
valuable time. 1t is of no use until you
can get good sound public sentiment in
Maine that will support it, Then call up
on men like judges of the supreme court
to frame you law that is based on conf
mon sense. Then you will have some
thing. But it is no Use talking to this
body of honest men, as they are. They
would say, My constituents would cut
my head off in second. They don
dare to vote for this On the other hand
you have got so many laws that you can
not enforce any part of them. | see criti-
cislns of men like the chief justice in
some of these papers in which it was init
mated that he was not doing his duty.
While the gentleman from b 9TH is a news
paper man, and this being his hobby, /
admire HIM for it, when he calls upon me
or any other man to take an interest in
q matter which is rs dead MS Julius Caesar
before you start out then l only decline.
(Applause)
Mr. Patten of Bath said that he wished
to thank the gentleman from Van Buren,