Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-10-11
REV. PEARSON.
Sheriff Elect Speaks at Grand
Lodge Of Coed TempIars.
Meeting at Gardiner People Of Maine
Will Realize Situation
And Crush Drink Evil--Eaecs OF Eniorct me nj
on Business.

Gardiner, Me, Oct. 10.-At the meet
ing held by the Grand Lodge of Good
Templars, in the Johnson Opera House.
this evening. among other speakers
was the Rev. Samuel F. Pearson, sher-
iff-elect of Cumberland county, who
said:
Amidst the many issues which have
been presented to the people of the two
old parties there is one that far ex-
ceeds in interest and the intrinsic val
ue of the people of this nation, the
traffic in intoxicating beverages. The
figures taken from the statistical bu-
reau at Washington show that the
amount Of liquor from which the rev
enue was collected amounted to one
billion. sixty million. eight hundred
and forty thousand dollars, which far
exceeds the coinage of both gold ana
silver in the whole world for the year
from Jan. /, 1895 to Jan l. 1899, and
would pay our whole national debt and
leave a handsome balance in the treas
ury. This, however, seems to be in
creased by out politicians and members
IN DOtn houses or congress.
The people Of Maine. being awak-
ened to the alarming condition of our
State on account Of the drink habit of
the people in 1857 by large majority
established the principal Of the prohib-
ition system. and after 80 years. realiz-
ing the benefits that had been accrued
by the people. changed it from statua-
tory enactment and placed it in the
constitution, thus making it a part Of
the organized law OF the State. From
the time Of its insertion the thrift of
the people has been manifested to
every unbiased investigator Of the
world. in the multiplicity of savings in
stitutions and by the large deposits of
the wage earners Of the commonwealth.
Why the law has been put into i'll re-
pute. bread and butter politicians have
used the law as an article of merchan-
disc to trade with for the purpose of
political advancement, but the people
have at last awakened from the appar-
ent slumber into which they had been
soothed by dishonest and corrupt party
leaders.
Cumberland county. the largest coun-
t. Of the State. spoke in thunder tones
against tlit- uISIIpitSl l. tliI III Ai4t
right Of franchise on the 10Th day OF
September last, and the murmurings
of The thunierbolt have been heard
from York u Aroostcok and the people
have awakened and shaken off the
bonds that have fettered them. They
have cried out in their supreme maj
esty that they will be free from the
party lash and unscTupuIOus political
leaders. and that the organized law Of
the state must and shall De upheld at
even the cost Of separating party lines.
With this declaration Of the people
also comes the cry from the calamity
howlers. that business interests will be
ruined. different kinds Of trade will be
scattered and that the outlook for the
coming two years will be dark indeed.
But we claim that the $l5.0e0 week
that has been going through the legiti-
mate channels Of the saloons of Port
land. which the provision dealer. dry
goods dealers. boot and shoe dealers.
wood and coal dealers and landlords
have had to pay Indirectly. viii BE-
turned into the legitimate channels Of
trade. and the abodes Of poverty. mis-
cry and sorrow will he transformed in
ID homes of peace, plenty and happi-
ness.
Ir. Pearson here turned and argued
the responsibilities Of the former con-
ditions rested absolutely upon the peo-
PIE. and ii is for them to declare
whether the organized law Of our State
shall be Up held. or whether under the
crack of the party lash We Will longer
submit to have this heaven sent course
trodden under the foot Of corrupt men
and thus make our commonwealth
laughing stock 70 the presence of the
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