Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-02-18
rus TrMeeRANcg NEETING.

Did YOU ever doubt that there was
strong public sentiment In favor OF ten
perance In south Paris: IL YOU did you
should have been present 20 see the au-
dience which flied New Hall 10 It's doors
Friday evening-sn audience OF inteili-
gent. representative men and women,
who testified by their actions and StteH-
ton that they came because OF their IL
terest In the matter.
The meeting opened with PRAYER by
Rev Mr.. Rsmsdell, after which Judge
Wilson said that he felt honOred at being
invited. as he had been, 10 preside over
this meeting. Ii had been expected that
Hen. John Z. SwaSey would address the
people, but he was not present, 80 the
meeting would be- a kind Of testimony
meeting, with short speeches from several
Of those present. la a community ike
this, said Judge Wilson, Il Is good thing
70 have an occasional meeting Of this kinc,
10 foster the temperance sentiment and
give IL EXPIRE sion. The moral support
OF a community Is thing not 20 be
sneered al. and In this cause there i no
neutral ground. Every man must be
either for il or against il.
habit requires new crop of victims con-
stantly. From 60,OOO 10 100000 United
States citizens are carried of hy IL every
year; and he asked the pertinent ques-
ton. How shall this army De recruited
from your boys, or my boys:
Judge Charles +. Whitman thought il
right that the county officials should be
called upon 70 show where they stand
upon this question, and declared his be-
lief in temperance. in the Maine law,
and in the enforcement OF NE law.
Mr.. J. A. I.ambe took for his text the
words Of Hamlet, What piece of work
is man" and said that il is sad thought
that man viii voluntarily do that which
DESTROYS his GOd-giyen reason.
Judge Davis Of the Norway Munic-
ipal Court thought he must De entitled
20 some credit as practical temperance
refOrmer. He was in the habit, he said.
of receiving occasional visits from drunk
en- men, when they would have short
social season together; but he had OBJ
served that no one Of them had ever
come back a second time. He closed by
saying: You may have church on
every corner, with the best men YOU can
get for pastors, aud one open. licensed
rum shop will drag more men down 10 hell
than all your ministers and churches can
lift up 10 heaven"
Hon. A. T.. Herrick Of Bethel spoke Of
the need OF both moral and legal suasion,
and related the experience of Bethel,
where a few years since the rum traffic
got hold, and the leading citizens or
gained and crushed the traffic By
prompt and united effort.
Superintendent II. +. Morton OF the
Paris Manufacturing Co. spoke OF some
Of his experiences with drinking work
men, and declared that his observation,
in this state and in license states, led
him 70 believe strongly in the efficacy
of the prOhibitOry law.
County Attorney Smith cOuuseled both
talk and action in temperance matters,
aud spoke Of the individuals duty TO aid,
actively aud eOurageously, in the enforce
ment OF the law. He complimented Paris
and Norway as two Of the eleanest towns
in the county, and therefore in the state,
in the matter of liquor selling.
Mr.. III. +. Hammond. introduced a.
the court crier, spoke of the prominent
part played by rum in the sadiest feat
ures of court proeeedings-diyoree cases
and criminal matters-a large portion OF
which were due 10 run.
Rev. T. j. Ramsdell spoke of the de-
termined effort being made 70 destroy
prohibition in this country, and thought
we should make il matter Of state pride
70 keep Maine in the position which she
has always held in the mstter-in the
lead in prohibition.
Hou. James 5. Wright said the tenn
peranee question il not old, but ever new.
The hydra-headed monster OF intemper-
anee Is always rising before Us, and must
be eombated. He asserted that Names
prestige in the nation is due 10 a con-
siderable extent 10 the temperance prin-
eiples Of her representative men.
Judge Wilson read letter from Mr..
;. Stowe, who was unable 70 be present,
expressing his hearty interest in the
cause.
Judge Wilson then presented resolu-
ton, briefly re-affirming the belief Of the
people of South Paris in temperance,
prohibition and the enforcement Of the
law This was unanimously carried by
a rising vote. and the meeting closed.