Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-12
rue IeMpsaANce MEETING.

IMP strong temperance sentiihehe Va
this community again found expression
last tuesday evening in the meeting held
at TIA court house according to the call
published last week. The room was
well tilled, the speakers were earnest,
and the audience responsive.
Thk meeting was called to order few
minules before o'clock by DR.. Rounds
Of Sohth Paris, who called upon Rev. b.
s. Riheout Of Norway To offer prayer.
Drl Rounds then introduced as the
chairman of the meeting one who had
part IN framing the original prohibitory
law cb Maine-Hon. +. w. Woodbury. OF
BethIl.
Judge Woodbury. said that forty years
ago he addressed an assembly In South
Paris In behalf Of temperance, and he
saw before him on this occasion but few
facesIthat were In that assembly.
Hethen reviewed briefly the history OF
the ptohibitory law to the present time.
| IL thd present law Is not enforced, il Is
beca'ise you and | are not doing our
duty,
Lictnse and prohibition were compar-
ed. Id the light OF the speakers expert
ence IN license states. The license law
Is mol enforced, as he could testify from
personal observation.
There IL as much liquor sold under
the plohibitory law as there was under
the o n license law" some say. The
speaker challenged this statement, and
instal led the general drinking customs
Of half century and more ago, asking
II theke would be possible at the present
| time.
II the prohibtory law Is not enforced,
! IL Is ltcause you and are not doing our
dutyJ The thing for US to do Is To elect
oniceis who will do their duty In en-
forcing the law, and then furnish them
the Evidence they need, and stand behind
them IN their work.
JuGke Wilson emphasized the neces-
sity " the enforcement OF the law, and
the mteans OF such enforcement. We
have Jaw enough 10 close the saloons;
but the people choose the officers, aud
unlesk there Ia public sentiment behind
the enforcement of any law, the law Is a
| failurb. You can not have too many
puhlil temperance meetings. Every such
meeting IL a warning TO the liquor seller
md al support 10 the officer who enforces
the six.
Fu,ther, the citizen must support the
COURT I'm enforcement OF the law, and
must hot vitate the effect Of enforcement
by sympathy with the rumseller who
gets ought.
ak that the hearty support OF the
ciiizels shall be- given TO the enforcement
II tn, law II all good citizens do this.
there will be no question but that the
law v Ill be enforced.
TheEe Is no argument that can be
brought In favor ofthe liquor traffic. IL
Is for every interest OF humanity that IL
.hoult be suppressed.
CorHty Attorney Smith took his stand
in faybr OF temperance II Il the only
safe .land 10 take. There should be a
healthy public sentiment behind enforce
ment III the law. That very statement
,howJ our weakness. Sometimes that
sentiment Is not 40 strong as IL should
he. sometimes the liquor seller and the
liouorl drinker are shielded, and the
officers who enforce the law are hinder
ed Ham glad 10 say that In these COM
muniiles that IL not often the case.
HoJ. James ;. Wright advocated and
practib bed total abstinence a. the only
safe u|Av. Where one can occasionally
indulge and come out without disaster,
ten 90 to ruin. -,
Thejtrue temperance sentiment should
start b the family. The sentiment must
BE- keIlt up II must be constantly agitat-
ed, c,Instantly watched. and the law
must b. constantly enforced.
"PrIhibition doesn't prohibit" they
tell ul Yet many other laws-against
murd,t, burglary, etc.-do not prohibit.
Shall Ne therefore repeal those laws;
On thI whole, prohibition has accom-
plbheh A grand result.
Reyl u. :. Rideout thought every one
would admit that drinking was wrong
The M ethod Of the Almighty Is 10 place
the lat aud the Gospel side by side.
think ve have perhaps let the moral
suasiob side OF the question get little
TOO lat We need more stirring up OF
that size Of the matter. The speaker
made lone very forcible and well Illus
trated Temperance talk.
Honl John l.. Swasey was called out
Of "A secluded corner, and though seeking
70 be- Excused. the audience insisted, and
he made stirring temperance address,
and ed phasized the need of strong,
bold rbbic sentiment, and Of support
ing thl officers in the performance OF
their duty.
.Judile Woodbury., In rising To close
the ms ting seasonably remarked that he
believed In a curfew bell Though he de-
ferredt the curfew until after Mr.. Swasey
had Ioken) and gave expression to
thought which IL might be well for many
father( 10 cherish: "Show me where my
BOYS boots are after dark, and you may
have N IN during the day