The Portland daily press., 1896-02-17

we should discontinue the work imme-
diately and trust to chance and time to
accomplish that in which we have failed.
But nobody believes this. Even the in
dividuals that MAKE the statements
know better when they make them. But
to return to the matter Jhat came
across recently that refers to the liquor
traffic 1t is n petition signed by some
90 or more citizens, many of whom we
remember with feeling of esteem and re-
spect, requesting the selectmen not to
grant licenses for the sale of liquor for
that municipal year. before reading this
old petition / wish to state that by the
treasuTer's report for 1888, find that
there were 80 licenses granted for the
sale of LIQUOR in this town that year, and
that the town received $751; rs by grant
ing such licenses. It was necessary even
after granting these licenses to deny the
privilege of purchase to some persons,
hence o list was presented and is recorded
in the seleetmens' records of "a habitual-
ly int mperate people who were sup
posedly unable purchase liquor from
these 50 licensed rumsellers in the year
of grace 1888 in the respectable town of
Westbrook.
''For the municipal year of 1887. the
one referred to in this petition in regard
to money paid for support of poor, the
total expenditures Of the town were
81. 500. 80. about one-tenth of the amount
expended today by ouI city for all pur-
poses.
Tracts could be presented in regard to
the sale of liquors here in more recent
years. To every one however, who has
candidly looked over the temperance con-
dition of our town even from those early
days into the present, it Is evident that
LIQUOR has been sold here i'll gradually
diminished quantities, until the sale is
decidedly limited and much restricted
in every way in this year of 1896. And
l haven't tho least doubt but what there
are many persons in this audience, not
particularly aged ones at that. who can
bear witness to the fact that the NUM- Der
of 'habitually Incorporate men' in this
tuwn has very perceptibly decreased
within their recollection. Which shows
decided gain in the temperance Eenti-
ment of the people? No law ever &c
complishes in fullest measure the ends
at which it is aimed, and to adequately
en- 'orce any law requires the moral sup
port of the people That the prohibition
law does as much for the purpose of the
suppression of the liquor traffic as any
law, every fair minded man will admit
But back of all law is the Intelligence
and conscience of the people. Educate
the young in every way, in temperance,
manners and morals, and you have struck
the key note of the finally successful
effort to overthrow the liquor power
The names of the remainder of the
members of the city government were
called, but Aldermen Knight ard Nc
Lellan were the only ones to respond.
Alderman Knight stated that in his OK
perienca he had known vast amount
OF evils to result from intemperanoe, and
that he favored all movements that tell
dered toward its suppression.
Alderman Mcclellan did not like the
report submitted by the secretary. He
Thought the officers should be sure of
their evidence and the validity of their
warrants before instituting proceedings
Rev G. G. Pbelan closed the remarks.
He scored the officers Of the league along
the same line as Alderman Mcclellan.
He said they should be sure their guns
were loaded before they fred upon the
enemy.