The Republican journal., 1898-11-10
The "reminiscences of Neal Dow.


Recoliections of Eighty Years.
This is notable addition to our ''Shelf
of Maine Books and must crowd out
some of the earlier corners which have
less claim to the limited space. Every
thing in connection with this work, print
ing, electrotyping illustrations, binding,
etc, was done in Maine. Ii is published
by the Evening Express Publishing Com
pany of Portland, and is a handsome vol
ume of ISL pages. The first portion of
the book is dou6ly interesting, as in con
nection with the boyhood aud young man
hood Of the author it affords glimpses OF
life, manners and customs in Maine in the
early days. 5iembers of the bar will be
interested in reading of the pomp and
ceremony attending the opening of court
then, in contrast with the less formal
the old time muster makes an entertaining
chapter. The temptations to quote are
many, but we must pass on to the real
motive of the book, to which these per
sonal chapters are merely preliminary, a
history of the temperance agitation in
Maine 1t appears that Waldo county
was among the foremost in this movement.
Mr.. Dow says:
In 1927. a society was organized in the
town of New Sharon, SO far as | know the
inst OF its kind in the State, which adopt
ed the pledge of total abstinence from
"distiled spirits. Commencing its work
with ten members, within year it had
increased to seventy. A little later five
PERSONS ass, ciated themselves foI the
same purpose in the town of Prospect,
and IN & few months the membership OF
the iattel society hadincreased to over enc
hundred.
The story OF the temperance agitation in
Maine concerns many prominent men and
women who have passed away some of
Diem befoIe their leader closed Bis long
ANA useful life, and every page is full Of
interest. We quote only Neal Dow's trib-
ute to the church.
The Temperance reformation in Maine
was bonn in the church. In its infancy it
was almost wholly dependent upon relig-
iouS leaders and teachers. In the DAYS OF
its youth and young maturity it WAS slim
ulated. encouraged and sustained 10y the
same powerful agency. 1t never could
have attained the height it afterward
reached Int f0r that early and continued
assistance Of godly men and women. It
waits 10! final and complete Il iumph until
chose whose calling it is to declare ''all
the counsel of God'' shall deem it their
duty to teach that He abhors everything
CHAT tends. however remotely, TO the de
sJlUction Of the living bodies and the i'm
mortal souls OF men.
Ii was often said that had Neal Dow
been less radical in his demands for tenn
rerauce legislation he would have accom-
rlished more. But You had only to know
the man, as now revealed in his book, to
realize that this was impossible. y our
trne 1eformer is always radical and rare
" practical He may not attain the full
measure of success. but lie knows 20 such
word as fail
When Neal Dow had attained manhood
he was Exceptionally well equipped for
public life. He was Well educated. had
experience as a speaker, and was not
hampered by poverty. But whether
knowingly OF not, he put all political pre-
fe1meut behind him when he decided to
devote his time and talents to the tenn
perance cause. Many defeats, many bit
ter disappointments came to him, but did
not move him from his course; and now
that his race is run all can see that he
chose the better part. His bitterest OPP
ponents when living We'd with friends in
tributes 10 his memory Not alone in his
native State and county is his name i'm
perishably recorded urop the scrc,l of his
tory, but in every part of the civilized
globe lis fame is secure.