Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-04-20
Correspondence.

HAVEN, MAINE, April 3, 1898.
To the Editor of The american:

Lave MAINE, "A pm d, 1000.
To the Editor of The american:
have read with much interest the letter
of your Penobscot correspondent, Al, )" on
the three important questions which are
now, or should be, engaging the attention
of the people of Maine. AS life long
republican / heartily endorse his views
upon these questions, and | regret that
l cannot with equal ability emphasize
and impress upon the public the great
importance of at least one of these issues
the question of prohibition.
This matter has been before the people
long time. in almost all the phases
which such a question could present
moral suasion, restriction, license, pro-
hibtion-all with the exception of the
question should be studied and investi
gated. l would, with all due seriousness
and respect, submit these questions:
First. Why not treat this "drink
habit as contagion, an infection, a
nuisance, if you please, an "infamous
malady"-anything that would put the
matter in its true light-a dangerous mall
prosperity of any community wherein
the baneful disorder has gained foot
hold, or rather never lost it?
Second. Why not institute an inquiry
through the board of health-no need to
create a new board of officers-or some
one of the many boards, commissions, in
spectors or agents, salaried servants of the
of xyb
be tumbling over each other in their zeal
to do any service for the State that would
promote her best interests, thereby Sc
curing for themselves good name and
continuance in office by dint of personal
merit? Investigate the causes that furnish
our jails, reformatory institutions, state
prison, insane asylum and other institu-
lions of the State with so many free but
expensive occupants, to say nothing of the
other evils caused by rum, which "H'' so
truthfully and eloquentIy depicts.
We investigate other matters of greatly
inferior importance, from small pox,
malaria, fevers, humors, away down to
gypsy moths, and scale insects, and apply
heroic remedies when needful, with the
same with the more harmful drink
habit? Why not root out plague that
is so injecting great many of our cti
zens; destroying their health, their NOR
ais, their usefulness, and disappointing
the hopes of their friends?
Third. at can't be done? How silly.
When we can cope with the mightiest
the rest of the world, compel respect of
our rights and our demands; we, the
most powerful nation on earth, cannot
reach out and arrest so mean a sneak as
will vend poison to poor helpless sot
who is unable to control his appetite
for it,
Shame on a humanity that will suffer
such a state of things! ! have no doubt
that the boards of health of municipal
ties would faithfully execute the orders
of the state in regard to this "infamous
malady' as with the contagious and in
fictitious, if given the proper authority,
and with as good success.
Fourth. Shall the scheme be tried? 1t
lies with the voters of the State Your
toli uphoius the SItteflhS snow That your
servant is able to make. Ask them to re-
lieve you of the curse that is every day
gaining ground. If not soon done the
base that is crumbling now will fail to
hold up the monument of temperance
erected by Neal Dow and his co-workers,
and the work will have to be all gone
over.
Fifth Is temperance failure? If so,
then should ''II's" second great issue pre-
lot 10 or
"rescue the perishing"
Sixth. Shall economy in our public
affairs prevail? Let the voters of Maine
take hand in that matter, too, and make
the effort to secure servants who will care
for their interests, a.