Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-11-23
Correspondence.
Resubmission.

SOUTHWEST HARBoR, Nov. IA, 1901.
To the Editor Of The American:
Not long since picked up copy of the
from the waterville Sentinel, headed as
above, and asking the question: What
IL there to be resubmitted7 Holding out
the argument that 1t is not resubmission,
but reinstatement OF some rights which
have been uniustiy taken from US; claim
ing that a person has perfect right to
buy, and eat and drink anything that he
wishes.
Arguing on these lines, then, not only
the fifth amendment but many others OF
same tenor must be brushed aside in
order for man to enjoy all OF his God
given privileges.
The definition OF the term resubmission
is as well known to every fair-thinking
person in Maine as is his mothers name.
Resubmission means the brushing aside
or the notification OF the fifth amend-
ment to the constitution, because it pro-
hibits persons doing some things that
they like to do, or ought to have right
to do, namely, manufacture and sell in-
toxicating liquors and consequen ly In
creasing the use OF the same.
As to the curtsilment OF peoples rights
to "buy, eat and drink, 1t is rule of
common law that any person may do as
he likes until he interferes with the
rights of others, which do not in any way
belong to him. Thus the legality of the
amendment; for very few men drink
liquor who do not, sooner or later, In
fringe upon the rights OF others.
II we are to plead for the notification
of the law on the grounds that 1t debars
men from doing things that they "like to
do", in like menner we might advocate
the doing lsway OF many laws that pro
hibit men from doing things fully os
p,easurabIe as drinking. / say, use US
alike.
AS to the force and usefulness OF e
Law as 1t now stands, we hear much argu-
ment. And think the greatest is this
II 1t cannot be enforced, and is so ofte u
broken, and is Of no use. The State would
be bette without it. Conceded that this
be SO, then do the same by all laws
and statutes that are likewise broken.
/ repeat: Use us all alike. Give to those
who 6nd p easure In it, the right to use
all drugs, the right to kill IL they enjoy il,
II 1t be peoples pleasure. None of these
will use more trouble 10 the home the
State, aud the nation than the use OF
sicohol.
Now as to the benefits of the present
statute: At the present time In the small
towns OF our State there are few or no
places where liquor can be purchased,
the usual manner of obtaining 1t being
for persons to ciu b aud send to some city
for the rt,cle, and upon tue arrival OF the
box, divide the contents. Tnis method
obliges the "club" to put up from e up
Yards in advance, and run the risk OF los
and young men by scores from using the
drink, or lowers the habit of drinking to
a low average. In word we have no
display.
Now what have the ACCOMPLISHMENTS to
offer? Aunui the fifth amendment, and
we are not offered anything in its place.
Therefore we have freedom, perhaps con-
Every village and town will then have its
saloon, and the smaller the town the
poorer the drink. Aud in place of the eff
fort spoken of we shall have display, en-
Elements and inducements held out In
all manner OF forms to our young men,
our boys and our girls, the results of
which cannot be estimated.
la view Of these facts, how many Of
you, fathers and mothers, in this fair
land OF ours will allow this bligh:ing
scorcbing blast to wither the sons and
daughters of our homes, those fairest of
all howe'ss Are you ready to welcome
the rum shop as your next door neigh
Dor, or to have it located on the street.
corner OF your village, where your sous
c.n spead their evenings aud their
pennies?
Consider well which road you will take.
Ponder well the results before you talk
resu bmiss' on. X.