The Republican journal., 1904-05-26
CUR MAINE LAW.


the twentieth century work will be to con-
serve and establish the best things gained
in the nineteenth century. Was there any
one greater good attained in the last GEN.
fury than that wrought out by Names
great refOrmer, Neal Dow? Lest we for
get. some personal review of the men most
influential in establishing the prohibitory
law in our State may not be amiss at this
time.
The company of Maine citizens engaged
then, and since, in this great cause has
been of the very first and most prominent
men Of the State,-the Washburns, the
Morrills,. the Farwells, Woodbury. Davis,
Hannibal Hamlin, James G. Blaine, Mel
son Dingley, Joseph II. Manley, Charles
A. Boutelle. Eben F. Pillsbury, the most
eloquent Democrat of this State, who, when
a child, promised his mother that he would
never taste strong drinks, said on the plat
form again and again, "And 1 have kept
that promise" In our own county, N.
G. llichborn, Theophilus Gushing, Rev.
Stephen Thurston, Isaac Carver, S. J.
Roberts, Rev. j. Harris, II. J. Wood,
Robert Hichborn, Joseph Manley, B. NJ.
Roberts, True Harmon, Rev. Eben Knowl-
ton, Upton Treat, DR.. Billings and scores
of others have been lifetime workers. All
save Mr.. Wood and Mr.. Manley have passed
on to the other side, but their work re-
Mains Shall we, remembering these men,
see that their work still remains? Every
governor of our State for more than fifty
years, with perhaps one exception, has sus-
tanned the law. Should not the opinions of
this galaxy of Maine citizens weigh in over
whelming offset against the Doutneys sent
here by the rumsellers of rum-ridden Bos-
ton? or, few misguided temperance men
whose milk and water views favor license
instead of prohibition? License, indeed!
License viper to bite; license den of
snakes in the front yard. but don't kill the
snakes. This license is like fishing for
sharks with trout hook or happening
whales with darning needles.
DR.. Edward Beecher, presiding at re-
ligious convention in BOSTON, had despatch
from Augusta on the enactment of the
Maine Law, and on reading the despatch to
the convention remarked: "Brethren, the
enactment of this law in Maine strikes the
devil a hard blow right between the eyes,"
1t was hard blow against an unspeakable
wrong. 1t has always been so regarded. 1t
is no less fact now. OF all the subterfuges
of liquor legislation, of whatever kind,
north or south, nothing but prohibition hits
abe nail square on the head. 1t is blow
straight out from the shoulder. 1t has the
strength of steel and is of full gold standard
value. This is why the dealers don't like
it. This is why a small, folly-begotten tenn
perance sentiment has been beguiled by the
dealers into opposing it. 1t is because pro-
hibtion hits the mark, and when it hits it
hurts. fine and six months in Jail is
very solid fact. How many imported Dout-
neys, paid by the multi millionaire liquor
dealers trust of this country, should it take
to offset these facts?
1t is said the law is not enforced. Well,
if it is not it ought to be- But the complaint
comes mostly from the dealers. A most un-
selfish set, these dealers They seem to de-
light in being hurt-for the public good. It
is like Wolf dying for England on the
heights of Abraham. Poor, unfortunate,
misjudged dealers! The public should APP
preciate such self-sacrifce. No duplicity
here; nothing but straight goods. The pub
lie does appreciate it. Little by little we
are coming to take these people at their
word. The tendency Of the times is to
more and more accommodate them by en-
forcing the law. The enforcement should
be full enough to satisfy them. Perhaps it
does satisfy.
Governor Hill says: 'To-day, in large
majority of country towns, there exists
practical prohibition and the law against
the liquor traffic is as well enforced as
against other forms OF crime. Even our
cities. and large villages, where the liquor
interests are the most active and agrees
sive and where the law is persstently vio-
lated, it has not failed to exert restrain
ing and salutary influence and has been a
power in sustaining and promoting that in
telligent and vigorous public opinion which
is the support of all effective law" Should
not the opinions of our most prominent citi-
zens and men of affairs weigh sufficiently
against the pressure from without the State,
or from within, brought to bear against the
law?
The cause of such persistent efforts of
the liquor dealers trust to destroy the law
in this State is not far to be sought. They
have worked more persistently here than
anywhere else because the law orig mated
here. If Maine, the birthplace of the law,
would repudiate its own offspring, shout
would go up to the delight of all evil minds.
We don't think all minds are evil that pre-
fer license. But we do think, in the general
survey, such preference is misjudgment. In
such an event as the laws repeal, we hope