Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-06-15

blood is stronger than good In paper and
ink. Thus far this contest has been be
tween psper-and-ink temperance and
fesh-and- blood Intempersnce. And the
fiesh-and-blood intemperance has beaten
the paper-and-ink temperance, as q mat
ter Of course.
We have here In Maine on the one
hand 1000, or at the outside, say l,oOO
places which serve the purpose OF sa-
looms. They are organized; and behind
them Is great wealth. They throw their
weight as unit In politics; they spend
their money freely for protection y
they are training company OF support
ers day and night. Against this organic
ed, mOneyed, political power, the isolat-
ed sentiment of ten times that number
Of good people who are opposed to the
saloon counts for almost nothing. The
saloon Is gaining strength every year
and every day, and will continue to gain
SO long as the good people OF the state
continue to engage In this unequal con-
test.
What have we on the other side?
Against these 1900 open or concealed
saloons, We have In Maine 1,5OO
churches. With the exception OF a few
ministers and members who think they
have done their whole religious duty
when they have folded their hands and
lifted up their eyes, and gazed at the
beatiilc vision, these churches are unani-
nous In their condemnation and hatred
of the saloon. Ii was the vote OF these
churches that In 1884 put prohibition
into the constitution OF the state, by
vote Of 10000 to q 900, or by majority
OF AZ 600. And yet when 1t comes to the
more vital point OF making their hostil-
ity effective, these churches and the
multitude they represent, are as sheep
without shepherd. and fall an easy
prey to the wolves.
TO organize this force Of | 800 churches
into united force; to support 1t with
the names and the means, and the intel
ligence, and the cooperation OF all the
Christian people OF the state. In state
and county IL proposes to make what
Christian sentiment there is already,
and what sentiment thorough awaken
ing Of the chnscience OF the people can
evoke, as compact and intelligent and
aggressive a force as Is the liquor inter-
est against which 1t contends.
That liquor interest, rs we all know,
even where II exists under the ban and
condemnation of the constitution and the
law, Is powerful and rich and agrees
i've. Its power lies not chiefly In the
strength Of the appetite and thirst for
drink, strong, cruel and terrible as that
thirst becomes in the abnormal c0nstitu-
ton of the victim OF the habit. The real
strength OF the saloon lies In the far
more cruel and Unsuitable and remorse-
less thirst for gold. WHY Ia the saloon
so hard to exterminate? Partly because
there are few thousand people in the
state who want To buy and drink liquor
by the glass. But the main reason Is
because there are ten or fifteen hundred
people In our midst, who by selling
liquor by the glass can get a living with
least capital, least brains, least con-
science, and least hard labor. A saloon
Is place where man can sell cents
worth OF drugs and dollars worth OF
degradation for a dime. What wonder
that there are ten or fifteen hundred peo-
pie In our midst who are willing 10 vio-
late the law. and make themselves nui-
sances to the community on such profit
able terms? The degradation they In
flict costs them nothing; but Is assur-
ance OF increased trade; and their stock
costs next to nothing In proportion to
the price at which thev sell IL; and even
that can be had on terms Of easy credit
from the distillers, the brewers, and the
wholesale dealers. That u what makes
the liquor business 40 attractive to GER
tain class OF citizens. There isn't another
line of business, unless il be the allied
industries OF the gambling house and
the brothel, which like II fatten on the
vices Of the poor, In which q man can
pocket, by giving so cheap and paltry a
commodity. the wages OF the working
man. That certain class OF men should
like this sort of business Is not surpris-
ing; but that the constitution and laws
Of the state should be set at naught In
their interest that the officials OF county
aud city should receive their instructions
from them; that the Christaian people
OF the community should be ruled by
them this Is indeed surprising; this
ought not to be. 1t is to protest against
this state Of things, to correct IL as
far as il can be corrected, and TO put an
end to 1t as speedily as possible, that the
Christian Civic League of Maine Is or
ganized to-day.
1t is important to keep the main issue
for which this league stands, clear from
needless complications. IL Is al open
question whether abstinence from all
forms Of alcoholic drinks at all times and
under all circumstances Is desirable.
Personally believe that under existing
conditions total abstinence Is the best
rule for every man who wishes TO have
the most beneficial influence upon his
fellOwmen. But that Is not the question
before this league. The league invites
the cooperation Of all who desire 70 see
the actual laws honestly enforced.
Whether separate political party Is de-
sirable for the promotion Of the interests
Of temperance or not. Is an open ques-
ton. Personally am most emphatical-
ly Of the opinion that II Is not. But the
league welcomes the cooperation OF all
who desire to have actual laws enforced.
Whether prohibition by constitutional
amendment is the best way for all states
and for the nation to deal with the
liquor problem Is an open question.
Personally, do not believe that it Is.
But the league welcomes alike the CO.
operation Of those who so believe and
those who do not, providing they desire
TO have existing laws enforced.
Two articles, and two only, are essen
tial to the creed of the members OF this
league; and these two articles are clear
and self-evident. First: The saloon Is a
gigantic evil; and the fewer cOmmun-
ity has Of them the better. Second: So
long as the prohibition Of the saloon Is
actually part Of the constitution and law
Of the state 1t ought to be enforced.
Now these two propositions are PROPOSE
tions on which every intelligent Chris
tian man will agree. Any man who is
elected on distinct pledge to enforce the