Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-01
PROHIBlTIONlSTS
Continued from page ~

opponents, and we urge upon patriotic
citizens the duty of abandoning parties
that serve the rum power. and the ne
cessity of building a party that shall
destroy this monstrous agency Of cor
ruption and go forward in Political
Progress.
5. We declare that the State o.
Maine presents condition of laWleSs-
ness that disgraces its civilization
that notification of the liquor law il
widespread and open: that whole com
munities are compelled to consent to
shameless and Illegal traffic; that
county officials work the law for pur
poses of revenue, and that long con
tinued familiarity with illegal run
selling has begotten in a considerable
number of citizens disrespect for thu
authority of law in general. We hold
the Republican and Democratic parties
responsible for this deplorable condi-
ton: the officials of these parties
nullify the law, and the voters of these
parties condone the notification at the
ballot box. We pledge ourselves wher
given the power to faithfully enforce
the laws of the State.
". We arraign the Republican ane
Democratic parties for the class legis
iaton by which monopolies and usurer.
plumber the wealth. producers anc
spread distress among the people. We
charge these parties with responsibilitS
tcr the growing influence of rapaciou:
trusts and corporations. for the presen'
chaotic condition Of business an6
iinance, for the unjustitiablc depletion
- no nj and fn
the unprecedented increase of bonded
Indebtedness in time of peace, anc
bountiful production. We claim thai
the Prohibition party is the party
progress, the party of the people. an6
We pledge ourselves, when given the
power. to erect such legislation upor
the question of currency. taxation
monopoly. transportation and suffrage
as may he needed to establish justice
and insure government by and fol
the people.
We can attention to the fact that
every political revolution in our coun-
try has been brought about by concen-
tration of thought upon some great
issue. We hold that the time is now
ripe for the successful political move
ment against the liquor traffic, and we
invite the cooperation of all citizens
who are in sympathy with this pur-
pose. whatever their opinion may be
upon other questions, confident that a
party which wins in a righteous con-
tiict with the saloon will have intelli-
gence and conscience enough to settle
other problems of government and
maintain the interests of the re-
public.
VIII. We call upon Christian voters
| to enforce the declaration of the church
against the liquor traffic by supporting
the Prohibition party, which aim te
settle the only political question upor
which the church makes deliverances
and we maintain that a new era OF
political righteousness will come wher
the voting members of the church
stand at the ballot box, in state and
national election for the principles and
candidates of the Prohibition party.
The reading of the platform was
frequently interrupted by applause.
| A delegate from Oxford county, Of
fered the following amendment: Re-
| solved. That we are in favor OF
Woman's Suffrage.
Mr.. Burrowes of Portland, moved
/! that as the resolution offered by the
gentleman from oxford county. hai
not received support, the platform az
read be adopted.
Mr. Skillings of Portland. did mo-
want any thing done hastily and asked
that the platform be read again which
was done by the chairman.
Mr. Estes of Vassalboro asked if i
was not in order to offer an amend
ment. The Chair stated that in hi.
opinion an amendment could be Of
fered at this time.
), Hon. Volney b. Gushing of Bangor
, was in favor of the adoption of tn.
platform as read. The platform wa: