The Portland daily press., 1896-02-24
LOGIC AND RUM SELLING.


Rev. MIR. Leitch Thinks the Failure OF the
Prohibitory Law Largely Due to Lack of
Public Sentiment.
At the West End Methodist church yes
terday, the Rev Mr.. Leitch preached on
"Logio and Rum Selling" to large
congregation. He said
One of the uses of logic is to enable us
to form a correct Judgment on opinion
from given data on stated propositions,
facts, etc. The correctness or incorrect
ness of the conclusion will depend upon
the truth of the major and minor
premises.
In opening my subject this afternoon
wish to be careful and not make any
rash statements, or lay down any propo-
sitions which are not true as facts, and as
facts have been verified by concrete
cases.
1t is well known that the prohibitory
law Of the State of Maine, in the city Of
Portland is grossly violated. We have
abundant proof to zorro borate this state
ment.
1t is also fact that sheriff and
deputies are appointed for the express
purpose of enforcing the liquor law by
uOluR III pI6lr power To see UQdG bQe
illegal business is stamped out.
With the existence Of rum selling and
rum suppressing officers, must we be
forced%o the conclusion that rum sellers,
or law defying individuals, Il cannot call
them citizens are more powerful, and
hence defy our duly appointed officials by
continuance in this illegal traffic, or are
the sheriffs incompetent men, incapable
of performingstheir duty. Upon reflection,
l cannot think that either OF the above
statements IL true.
Lawlesnsses and vice can certainly be
held within bound by the long strong
arm of law, backed up by rigorous i'm
partial public sentiment; end have too
much faith in the sincerity and good
Judgment of the voters of this city and
county, to think that incompetent or I'M
trustworthy officials are elected to
positions of responsibility and honor in
connection with municipal affairs.
Where tEen must we seek solid
proposition arising from facts in order to
draw right conclusions? 1t must be here;
that there is large public sentiment in
favor OF non enforcement of the prohlbi-
tory and Sunday observance laws and in
fact, many other laws which are statuta-
tory, and are now almost dead issues. I
believe that our executive functionaries
are following in the enforcement of law,
the character and desires Of the majority
Of the citizens, and that the form of adj
ADMINISTRATION which prevails, is the ex-
preston Of what cultivation exists ia the
community sanotioning it; consequently,
the whole blame must rest upon the citi-
zens themselves.
The truth is this. The majority of
citizens do not wish the law enforced.
small minority wish the law to be rigor-
ously observed and enforced to the letter
Here is proof enough.
In thing n,op,aut Int affair
the Hack and Bean exposures OF two
weeks ago, that you citizens and officials
look with any degree of alarm, or think
there is any great crime being committed,
at this 1nsolent effrontery of the proprie-
tors of the rum shops? 1t was no new
news to any of us. If public sentiment is
against-is against ! say, the liquor
traffic and the on in forcement of statu-
tory enactments, would it stand under
that whitening fire? Would it still allow
this state of things to existP Not at all.
You men would have risen and demanded
the determination and complete suppress
sion of every form of the vice.
Do not be misguided in your judgment
by thinking that our officials are only
held up in the arms of the inhabitants Of
Cen ter and Fore streets, by the rough
and hoodlum element that frequent the
low rum shops of our eide streets. They
are upheld by our merchant princes, our
lawyers, doctors, our business men, on
Congress, Middle or Exchange streets,
ETC., by the respectable well-to-do class
on High, State and Cumberland streets,
etc.. etc. Men who occupy the front rank
in business, the front pews in our
sanctuaries, men of wealth and influence,
who have their high wines, their ales,
their liquors ON their sideboard and in
their cellars.
Why do they and you not cry out
CT he 1od
evils? Why because you ali like it. II
the cap don't tit, you don't wear it.
1t is all very well for us ministers to
poor hot shot into Mike and Pat, Tom
and Bill. SO and SO, in some back alley
for breaking the law What do they
know about law2 What influence have
they in governmental affairsP What is
their opinion worth to the community
Can they influence the Congress or
bride an officials? Preposterous?
Can they stay the tide of rising senti-
ment Of righteousness?
Enervated automatons floating on the
SCUM of society, playing second fiddle to
chance.
1t does not require much grit, grace or
gumption to hold them up from the pull
pit. 1t WON'T effect our salaries one
dime, bnt to strike out as Nehemiah did,
and bring David face to face with his
sin, or as John, the Baptist before
Herod, telling him OF his iniquity, it re-
quires an undaunted courage. and a con-
viction that is worth a crucifxion.
Where are the Christs of today that
stand in the Synagogues and rebuke sin
and unrighteousness.
Where are our Pauls that standing.
banded, and fettered before the Agrippas.
the Festuses, of our nineteenth century,
speak forth the words OF truth and
soberness?
q 1.-The watch dogs on the towers of
Israel are muzzlcd and the stones are
crying out"
Sin, Sabbath Dissertation, unrighteous-
ness, RIGHTEOUSNESS, lawlessness, is not all
IN our back Streets but is rampant In
our brown fronts and stately residences
Drunkenness and contempt for law is
not measured by the same standard in
the eyes of many men. A drunkard on
Fore street, coming rolling out of the
low rnmshop is instantly grabbed by the
man in blue and gets few weeks private
board at the city's expense.
A drunkard coming out of the so-called
respectable club house. patronized by the
upper tens, has hack and footman ready
to assist him to his home Of luxury and
comfort. The man in blue-well, he is
not in it, A jolly crowd passing the
bottle around, having hilarious risky