The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-08-16
MIR. Leitch on the Great Issue.

AS previously announced the Rev
Fred A. Leitch gave his energies to the
Temperance problem during the morn
ing service the NJ. +. church last Sun
day. The address WAS very opportnne
especially so as one of the great poitca
parties has insisted on making Resub
mission the leading issue of the presen
campaign, thus making it imperative
that all friends Of prohibition understand
clearly how much depends on the result
of the coming september election.
"Woe be to the man that putteth the
bottle to his neighbours lips, that givett
his neighbor drink aud that maketh hin
drunk, and that looketh upon his shame
was the scriptural text, and to this, as 8
basis for his remarks, Mr.. Lsich added
the following quotations, equal In i'm
pressiveness TO the lines from the Bible
and scarcely less inspired:
"See that the State receives no harm
at your hands. "-Plato.
~ on profile OF the old man Of the
mountain is Gods call TO the citiz9ns OF
New England to grow ."-Oanie
Webster at Profile Rock, New Hamp
shire.
"Enforce the law as you find it upon
the statutes of the State. "--P resident
Roosevelt at Old Orchard.
II shall oppose Qualification and shall
insist upon The enforcement of the pro-
hibitory law. "-Governor Cobb's speech
of acceptance at the Bangor Convention.
The speaker told his hearers that thu
United States need fear no foreign fot
tut that, in the great questions OF tn
day, there were dangers quite a. gray
as the menace by a foreign enemy ano
that the question Of the hour in Maine
was temperance as opposed to resuo
mis- sion; prohibition or license. Tht
speaker felt this question 10 be above
ordinary political issues, one which
might properly be discussed from TIT
pulpit and one which no true citizsl
could afford to ignore.
! Some Uf Mr.. Leitch's definitions vert
particularly clear aud forceful. "Pro.
hibition," he says, sis the moral senti.
ment OF Christian people incorporated
In the State Constitution and sustained
by statutory enactments which makes
the trsffic In spurious aud alcoholic
liquors, by any individual or individuals
outside of the State agency, crime a
criminal and penal offence against the
State and against the law. This mora
sentiment arises from the fact that in'
telligent people perceive the gross iniqul-
ty gendered by licensed laws which
indirectly albeit vice, crime, sin, pauper.
ism, murder and in fact all namablt
evils that fl ssh is heir to-"
"License is legalized right, which tn.
Government by consent confers through
the Courts and Municipality, under
certain legal restrictions. to individuals
who desire TO dispense liquors as drug.
gists, to sell it as common hotel keepers
or MS saloon and billiard and pool and
restaurant proprieters. License confers
the right to licensed victualars to open
their bars and sell intoxicating liquors
to all corners, except minors, inebtiates
Indians and idiots. Saloons, bars, rum
holes and the like are protected and en-
couraged by the law, the police, the
judiciary, the State, by the people, tC
carry on their work, damnable or other
wise"
Mr.. Leitch then compared prohibition
with the license system IN q mastery
manner and took up and answered many
of the arguments which are offered BY
friends of local option. He also wen
carefully into the source of the demand
for resubmission, pOrtraying its friend
chiefly as liquor dealers, or those closely
allied with them and its opponents a
| the educators, men Of character, by ia
| the best elements OF the State. III
stated that the assassius of Garfield ant
Mckinley were frequenters Of saloon
and that each came almost directly from
the barroom to commit the murder Of
NATIONS president. Mr.. Leitch ais,
called attention to the fact at the an
archists groups, almost without eXeep
ton, have their head quarters in tn
saloons of the cities in which they ar
located and that their plans for destrue
ton are matured amid tho surrounding
which breed other forms of vloleuc
and crime.
The closing words of the speaker wer
an appeal to all to realize the ser
iousness Of the situation and tn
duty involved, and with this parting ad
mouition came very effectively the word
of Plato, "See that the state receives NJ
harm at your hands"
The address was listened to with tn
closest attention and its sentiments wer
without doubt approved by every person
present. Some OF the other churches o
the town held no services, their pastor
being on their annual vacation, and tbl
gave the opportunity for quite number
who usually attend elsewhere, to hea
Mr.. Leitch on this occasion.