Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-06

ihius great cause IOr complaint III int
1act that a constitutional provision ex-
lists here in addition to statute law
! what effect can "A constitutional pro-
vision have so long as the statute law
remains? And what would be the
| legitimate effect which my brother
| would receive and derive from the
working out of this constitutional pro-
vision. If it We're not in order to get
at the statute law in order to change
on repeal it? My brother does not tell
us what elaborate scheme or arrange
ment he would have. He does not give
us the details Of that great and glori-
Gus enactment Which he would have
If he could only have d change to en-
act it. by which the liquor traffic of
this State would be regulated and con-
fined and controlled SO as To- be to the
everlasting glory and benefit of the
communities in which it is controlled
under that magnificent law. / should
like to hear him detail it, | woul,. like
to know the provisions of it. / would
like to know and see how it is that
1t would cause all communities
to blossom out, where now rottenness
exists. into beauty like the rose. l
would like to vote for it. But | never
yet have seen the man or heard the
man portray its provisions and / never
expect to. with all Difference to the
gentleman from Watcrville.
Success or failure" the gentleman
said in regard to this law. 1t has been
a failure. he said. Some other law
might be success. grant. and every
body must admit, that SO long as hui
man appetite is depraved, just so long
will there be violations of any law
which undertakes to restrain or impair
Its exercises. But, Mr.. Speaker, be-
cause the Drohibitory law has not been
an entire success, because it has not
entirely overthrown and eradicated the
drink habit. will You repeal it? You
might as we'll ard with equal emphasis
say that the Christian religion ought
to he abolished after trial of 1000
years few sinners still remain in Wa
te"villc. applause and laughterD
Now. Mr.. Speaker, candidly if the
proposition to change the organic law
of the State which is supposed to be
as Interchangeable as anything in our
system of law, is to be adopted by
us as the representatives of the people
here. today, ! will tell you frankly what
i
like to see. i'll the first place. the
churches of the State of Maine; l would
like to see the clergy, Protestant and
Catholic: l would like to see the pro-
fessors and presidents of our higher
institutions of learning; | would like |
to see our educational institutions from |
one end of the State to the other take ,
an interest in the question. (Appiause) /
l would like to see the Changers of /
our State who represent at this time |
a very powerful influence. especially |
in our rural communities, for the up
building OF morality and sobriety in So
ciety. | would like to see all the char
table institutions of the State behind I
it. | should then have no doubt that |
1t represented, something; my way /
would be clear; my action could be !
taken in the light and I should have I
no doubt which way my steps were I
But, Mr.. Speaker, / confess /
that | have scanned the petitions in
vain. | do not find upon the petitions
in favor of resubmission these elements |
that | say ] would most gladly dis /
cover and which l certainly want to
sec fairly represented before | take
that sten.
do not propose al this time to make
any criticism upon any individuals or
classes: l know that good men are in
all parties and of all grades, all de-
nominations. all kinds from high to
low. from top to bottom of society,
ana take Il different view upon this |
question and may have expressed
themselves upon petitions and remon-
strances. | assume that they have done
t honestly and i'll accordance with the
dictates of their judgment and con-
science: and | at this time have not, |
ike my friend from Waterville, any ;
poor fellow to impale upon the sharp
spear of my sarcastic eloquence be-
rause he may have made slip in the
leat of debate. / believe that every
nan here is acting conscientiously and {
,airly. and l have a right to assume
hat fact. AS ! said, my first reason
or opposing this matter is fun Il
lamental. because / do not believe /
hat the people ask for it or want it, t
md because | think the people have in
licated their desires in another direc- T.;
ion. They have said, if they have said t
my thing to their servants in this State. II
We ask for the enforcement of the i
y
tand for. That IS what we stood for /.
n the last election: that is what we eX- I
'ect you to stand for here" And j tell S
rou. Mr.. Speaker, disguise 1t as a gen +,
leInan will, you cannot rub out the t
act that the people of this State are d
,oinS to size up the verdict here, today, 1t
Upon this line. 1t is either resubmis- |
len for The purpose of securing a re- q
zeal of the prohibitory law and the I
nactment instead thereof of high IL 1
ense law III this State and the free i
ale OF liquor or it means standing by a
he law as it is. and you can talk TO $
ne country people as much as you a
lease and You cannot get that idea out $
f their minds, and for a very good rea- y
IN because it is the fact. Further Il
more, Mr.. Speaker, there are many | f
ood peonle in this State of Maine who | I
10 not believe for an instant that you | e
an put out fire by throwing fuel upon g
[, of an infiammable character. They b
% not believe that if the great curse I G
f liquor is that ii is being drank and n
reating Il thirst and q habit in the +
aople to their ruin, that it can be Il
topped simply by opening wide the I.