The Republican journal., 1906-04-12


mvsaIf and tn say that the responsible
itv for their acts should be borne, not
nv them alone but should rest upon
me as well.
No sooner had the Enforcement Com
mission heonn its work in some of the
localities where the law was openly de-
fed than certain counties were in an
uproar and the downfall OF the Repub-
licap party was freely predicted. The
Democratic party believed it saw its
golden opportunity and loudly called
for recruits to support the proposition
that those places which wanted nullifi-
cation should have it. Faint hearted
Republicans forgot their platform and
began to question the wisdom of at
temptinp to put avowed political princl-
niles info practice. The feeling of
doubt and uncertainty spread all over
the State, and naturally enough the
Sturpis Law YVES held to be, II not the
reason. at least the scapegoat for all
the woes of the Republican party. SO
far as actual and known results are
concerned the dissatisfaction culmi-
mated in the spring elections, and al
most every man who for one cause or
another cherished resentment against
the party, masked behind the Sturgis
Law and contributed to Republican de-
feat.
The issue must not be COMPOUNDED,
however, and while our opponents call
it the Sturgis Law yet as matter of
fact it is the principle of enforced pro-
hibition that is on trial and every think
ing fair minded man knows this to be
the truth. Has the Republican party
been sincere or insincere in its profess
sions of belief i'll that principle? Has
it used that principle in its platform
only as a meaningless declaration to
catch votes, or did it mean what it said
and does it propose to stand by it? Has
a few months of attempted real enforce
ment so pricked the holloWneSS of its
convictions that they vanish at the first
sign of possible disaster, or does it in
tend to hold fast to that principle and
if defeat comes go down with colors
flying but still true to itself?
Those are questions that the Republican
party must now face and answer, and ought
to face and answer, and II the Sturgls Law
has no other claim for the right of exist
ence, one is found in the fact that it has
shown what enforced prohibition may
mean, illustrated its merits and defects,
and at last we may expect vote upon this
question that will express the wishes of the
people of Maine. The State is aroused and
/ believe Will stay so. This condition of
affairs was bound to come sooner or later
and it is well that 1t is here now. Nullitica-
ton of the law and all the corruption that
follows in its train has made the situation
what it is, and whatever the result of the
fail elections may be | confidently hope and
believe that Maine will come out OF the con-
test with strengthened regard for law and
a determination that it shall be respected
and ubeyed.
The SturgiS Law is only means to an
end and that end is to prevent notification.
1t will 20 into every county where the local
officials are permitting notification. and it
Will come out the Instant that such officials
give reasonable assurances that they Will
again try to do their duty.
The fundamental question of enforced
prohibition versus local option and license
is altogether too important to be treated IN
a narrow spirit OF in d spirit coored by
party prejudice alone. There are many
who honestly believe that evils growing out
of the use and abuse of liquor can be regu-
lated best by some form OF license ,and it is
wrong and absurd to question tLeir SIN
certify. 1t is only a truiSm to say that in the
final analysis the people will have what
they want. had hoped, however, that the
Republican party, having been committed
to the principle of prohibition for SO many
years, would not be so cowardly as to
abandon that principle upon being con-
fronted for the first time with an enforce
ment that meant the downfall of nulliica-
ton, but would stand firm as a rock for
party unity in giving enforcement falrer
trial than can be secured IN years time
under present excited conditions Nullitca-
ton OF law was never a declared principle
of the Republican party, yet under that
party's domination notification has had ID
long reign in Maine. Why not be fair and
honest and give enforced prohbitio a
chance to show what it will do for Maine?
Our Democratic friends are impatient
and want control of the State at once-thiS
fall. They want local option and license
openly and frankly, but they will not carry
the State this year on that issue unless
they do it with the aid of men who as Re
publcanS have heretofore subscribed either
openly OF tacitly to the principle of prohi-
btion.
am opposed to local option and license,
but better that than nullitcat!on | believe
that enforced prohi bltion, the kind that
many counties enjoy today and many more
might enjoy under the control of local Off
claIS were it not for political corruptlon, is
the best and most satisfactory method to
regulate the liquor problem in Maine This
view may be narrow, provincial and unpop-
uar, but it is my own and | stand by it. OF
those who disagree with me, led by What-
ever course of reasoning or experience TO Il
different conclusion, ask only that they
that they feel to be their due.
| am a Republican, but my own political
faith is not measured by the standard of
prOhb ition alone. | want to see the Repub-
lican party succeed and retain control of
the State Government and Legislature, be-
cause | believe that in its hands the ecOno-
mic and social interests of Maine are best
conserved. There are other questions vital
to the States welfare that, temporarily
pushed in the background by this intense
discussion of the prohibition issue, demand
a thoughtful consideration and an early
settlement Tax reform and caucus reform,
the referendum and good roads, the broad
ening of the common school system at the
expense of the State and the care of certain
untOrtunates not now our beneficiaries, are
some of the things that must engage the at
tention and require the action of the next
Legislature, and are things that in my judg-
ment the Republican party can best settle
for the true interests of our people and our
State. And are these great opportunities
for public good and service to be jeOpardiZ-
ed and thrown away because a dominant
party brought to test by law of its own
making lacks courage to defend its own?
If so, it not only invites but deserves de-
feat. | am not yet ready to believe that
the Democratic party, together with the
commercial interests within and without
the State allied with the liquor traffic, will
control the policy and future of Maine, and
isfaction OF seeing us WAIVER, they should
not see us break or run
AS Republican | appreciate the fact
that an undoubted crisis is now facing our
party, but courage, united effort and con-
SiSteucy will again nut our QODDuentS To