The herald., 1897-10-17
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
!; THE FATHER Of PROHIBITION
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Probably the most distinguished sur
vivor Of the first decade of the preseut
century was the Hon. Neal Dow, au-
thor of the Maine liquor law, who died
few days ago at the ripe age of e3
He was born during the administra-
ton Of Thomas Jefferson, and cast his
first vote for John Quincy Adams He
was five years old when. Abraham Lin-
coin was born, and eighteen when U. S.
Grant first saw the light in 1922. Presi-
dent Mckinley was a baby when Neal
Dow was secretary OF the Portland
Young Mems Temperance society, where
he gained the experience that era bic d
him to make a successful campaign. for
the state legislature. While serviCg his
first term in that body he drafteo the law
which was to make him famous where-
ever the English language is spoken.
On retiring from the legislature in
1851 he was elected mayor of Portland
and vigorously enforced the law which
he had framed. Two years later a
license law was enacted. but the gov
ernor who signed the bill was ig-
r,omininously defeated for a second
term by popular vote of rs per cent
against him and his policy. Since that
decisive mark OF public sentiment no
formidable effort has been mace to over
throw prohibition in Maine. Dow sub
sequen.tly served another term as mayor
Of Portland, and was again sent to the
state Legislature to remedy any defects
developed BY the practical working of
the law.
At the outbreak OF the war Neal Dow
tende. ed his services to Govern or Wash
burn, and was asked, 10 raise regiment.
In response to his call $500 men volun-
teered and from these he formed the
Thirteenth Maine, which he command
ed, together with battery of artillery
H. was shortly commissioned brigadier-
general, and placed in command of
troops near New Orleans. He was as
bold and aggressive in the field as on
the platform. Twice was he wouxlde ed
at the siege of Port Hudson while lead
ing his brigade, and lost one-thir6, of
his rank and file in the sharp conflict
which followed. While convalescing
ne was captured ard thrown into Libby
prison, where he endured nine months
for General Fitzhugh Lee.
After the war General Dow resumed
his prohibition work, and spoke and
lectured in nearly every state in the
Ur,ion, as we'll as in Great Britain. He
was Prohibition candidate for presi-
dent in the Garfield campaign Of 1880,
and although 76 years of age, made a
notable and vigorous canvass. Even al
hn nf fn 70 cd
great audiences with the force of most
speakers twenty years younger.
General Dow attributed his good
health and long life to his lorg-iived
ancestry, his temperate habits. and
largely to not worrying" 1t was his
custom for many years to rise at five
o'clock and to retire at nine. He spent
many hours of each day in his ample |
library, engaged in reading ar'G literary
work Born iT the city of Portland, he
lived and died in the large, comfortable
mansion which he built for himself in
1929, and occupied continuously for 5S
years. OF his ten children, Only one
son and three daughters survive him.
1t will interest Califorvians to know
that his menu included two oranges
every morning before breakfast Ths
he confessed in ar Interview with Fran
els Willard, reported BY herself. In il
She said to him: General YOU are real
the boun dary lirie; J know, how much the
spiritual world grows upon persons as
they advance towards 1t; I never look
into the starry heavens but 1 wonder
or which star my loved and lost ones
lived, and which shall be my home"
His eyes twinkled as he replied: 81
don't bother about the other stars-Im
occupied with this one. The dread of
death does not disturb me. In, old age
one goes easily. perhaps in sleep. or
while sitting in a chair. I never shrink
from the inevitable. But I do not pro-
ject my thought into the future; the
now ard here preoccupy me. am
passenger, travelling the infinite sea of
space on. this swift steamer of world
In the captain I have all faith. He
knows the map and he will make the
port"
General Dow's ninetieth birthday was
very extensively celebrated on March |
20 1894. More than 1000 congra tulatory
kilograms were received from English |
speaking people In every part Of the |
world. An immense meeting was held |
In Exeter hall, London, in honor of the |
veteran temperance agitator. and a |
highly eulogistic address adopted. In |
Los Angeles the occasion was marked by |
Q general meeting of all the unions Of the |
w. c. T. U. at Temperance temple, |
where brief addresses were made an an |
interesting program performed.
It was by accident that Dow was first !
led to take the field In an open fight for |
prohibition. A woman that he knew |
asked him to use his influence to keep |
her husband from drinking, as he was
about to lose his position on that ac-
count. He was in the ha bit of visiting
certain saloon, and Dow, explaining |
the situation, urged the saloon keeper
to comply with the wife's request Dow
was rudely rebuffed and this treatment
led him to begin a war on the traffic
which resulted In driving every liquor
dealer from the state.
The fun eral Of Gen. Dow was a notable
affair. There were present the governor
of Maine, four ex-governors, several
other prominent state officials, two gen.
erals of the United States army, and nu-
merous members and ex-members of
congress, including ex-Vice President
HamlIn. who, though but few years
younger than the deceased, Is still in ex-
celent health. Mr.. Dow was held in
kindly remembrance by all classes with
out distinction Of party, and his casket |;