The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-12-13
A MORE HOPEFUL VIEW.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: It
seems probable that many out town read
ers of The Journal, noting the assertions
made by some of our good clergymen re-
Gently, might be inclined to think that our
city, in every way, is long distance on the
downward path to ruin. We are, by their
insinuations, at the mercy Of gamblers and
liquor-sellers, with a city government mac
tive in the enforcemento of certain sumptuary
laws and general decadence in business.
population and enterprise. Verify, we can
extend sympathetic, brOtherly hand to
Saco in her troubles! Now there are many
of our citizens who take exceptions to these
views,-citizens who have grown up with
the town and have contributed to it's indus
tries and helped pay its running expenses,
who have property interests here, and are
unable to pack their possessions into box
car and leave town whenever more advan-
tageous business opportunity offers else
where-even should they be so inclined
They feel that our city is all right and has
chances to keep herself in the procession of
her sister cities in the State and perhaps to
that the present city government has done
much good, practical work, has labored for
economy and the public interest and certain
ly deserves the thanks of our people, at
least, which is almost their only emolument
AS to the prohibitory law, which seems to
be the leading point from which some of
our friends condemn the city and its SER
wants, it certainly has had fair trial in our
State. The law is enforced (or rather there
is no occasion for violating it, in almost all
the small towns; in the cities the enforce
ment takes the shape of fines which has
been found by many years of experiment.
ing with different methods, to be the better
way of regulating the evil. 1t is very evi-
dent that the same plans will continue
ndefnitely,-with brief and unsatisfactory
exceptiOns,-and that prohibition must be
more or less of local-option, in certain
Localities. Why should this not be so when
seven-eighths of the people buy and use
spirituous liquors of some description, either
as beverage or for family or medicinal
purposes? Notwithstanding the law con-
siders a person who sells Intoxicating liquors
criminal, the people do not so regard him.
Now, as to our city, for whose welfare some
of our citizens manifest so much solicitude
at this time. 1t doesn't seem that we can
benefit ourselves OF enlarge our conditions
by driving the liquor traffic to the stables
and streets, or by deporting the numerous
"outlaws" in our midst to colony in Canada
or Massachusetts,, or by closing up our
hotels or crippling our drug stores. Posi-
bly, this may be the most efficacious
manner of cleansing our moral character
and getting grip on the ladder of pros
perity, but it doesn't seem so to all of u.s.
This may be one way; but "there are
Others" For instance, here's another Why
not all get together,-all citizens of influence
and property,-and see if we can't get some
new people to come to us. Let the 'out-
laws stay, in the hope that many of them
will reform. The leading need of our city
is a good hotel. This will bring people to
US in the summer time, at las.at, our friends
and others from abroad who will spend
their money with us and perhaps eventually
some of them may become fellow-citizens.
If any of them are depraved enough to wish a
whiskey and soda in the cool of the evening,
let them have it without the fear of a
summons to the Grand Jury before their
eyes. Should the poor quality of Maine
whiskey strike to the head they will have q
kind reception and good care in our well
furnished lookup, which is unoccupied
most of the time, as, strange to say, the
police report that the arrests for drunken
ness are not one-third as many as ten years
ago! | know that many people of means
refrain from any activity of mind or purse
on the hotel question solely on the ground
than likely the guests would be summoned
before the Grand Jury in droves, the house
at once be indicted as liquor nuisance
and the manager driven out of the State, as
was the case with our late lamented Crosby
Inn. Well, these are facts of the past We
can't live on the past. What are we going
to do for the future? If we get together
with the right men in the lead and our citi-
zens behind them, we can have a hotel and
a good one and not wait so many years for
it, either. Then we should see the next
steamer to be built by the Boston & Bangor
Steamship Co. flying the name of our good
city on her burgee.
Our city has not been fortunate in foster
ing new industrial enterprises. Our peo-
Pile have lost their money in numerous in
stances where they were lead to hope for
success. But persistent trying is generally
rewarded with success in the end. We
have many inducements to offer manufac-
turers, and when the way seems clear for a
business scheme, employing labor and prom
Using success in our midst, no doubt our
business men will again lend helping
hand. We have as low or lower tax-rate
than any city in the State, competing ship
ping facilities and labor in plenty, here and
near by. Why should any Of US decry our
own town which has been such a busy
centre in times past to many of us, and so
happy home, and shall be all these, and
more, in the future, for those who are fortu-
nate enough to embrace its hospitalities and
enjoy its beauties? A CITIZEN.
Transfers in Real Estate.