The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-01-10


nniiihcaflon Of me prohfbitory nav
has passed In Maine. Public senti-
ment and all the moral forces Of the
state have been aroused and arrayed
| against 1t, and 1t will . never return.
With all the clamor against the ex-
pense of the Sturgis law, with all the
outcry alleging political trickery, in
sincerity and cowardice on the part of
It's sponsors and its officials, / still
hold to the opinion that the people OF
Maine believe that notification is in
fnitely worse than any law which
seeks to prevent it, and respectfully
submit that it is incumbent upon
every man who believes in the princi-
pie of Acknowledgement as indispensa-
Bile to the cause OF good government
and good citizenship, to support the
Sturgis law or to propose and support
some other measure which will ad-
vance that cause as well.
The attempt to secure a better en-
forcement of the prohibitory law by
means of the Enforcement Commits
sion has brought the resubmission
question into such prominence that a
failure to refer to it in this address
would invite grave misunderstanding,
The statement will stand unchal-
lenged that speculation on the action
this Legislature may take in dealing
with resubmission is causing more
comment and exciting more interest
than any other topic of public moment
in Maine. l enter upon a brief dis
cussion of this question with reluc-
lance, not because of the lack of con-
victions or an unwillingness to ex-
press them, but simply because of the
doubt in my mind as to my ability to
present some of its phases without
violating the proprieties of an occa-
sion upon which references to party
politics are neither expected nor de-
sired
Every thoughtful and fair-minded
student of political conditions in
Maine must admit that there is a very
strong sentiment in favor of the prop
osition to give the voters an opportun-
ity to express at the polls their opin-
ion of the present prohibitory law.
While this sentiment may not be that
OF the majority now, it surely is held
by a very large minority of our citi-
zens, and the results of the September
elections last year seem to furnish a
complete justification of this conclu-
sion. 1t is true that the temperance
legislation On our Statute Books was
placed there during the domination
of one political party, and it is also
true that nearly every person opposed
to the prohibitory law and it's en-
forcement favors resubmission. But
it may be asserted with equal truth
that belief in the prohibitory law is
not confined to the adherents of either
of the two great parties, and that
the desire for resubmission is not con-
fined to the enemies of that law.
There are many men, earnest and sin
cere in their advocacy and support of
temperance and enforced prohibition,
who believe those principles will be
jeopardized by their resubmission to
the people under the only method by
which this can be accomplished at
this time. To them the cause of pro-
hibition is of far greater Importance
than the success either of Republican
Ism or Democracy, and to promote
and conserve that cause they organ
lied and maintained the Prohibition
party. But they cheerfully sacrificed
their own organization in behalf of
the greater principle, and allying
themselves with another party be-
cause of its promise to enforce the
prohibitory law and it's opposition to
resubmissiCn. contributed largely to
its success. These men feel that re-
submission granted by this Legisla-
ture woul5 be distinct and unpardon-
able betrayal by the dominant party
OF many who worked for and helped
70 aclio-Fe It's viatery. They insist
that rasue1sa isssiOa a isa proposed
form is a blow 10 Dyoc 9iiss31asa and an
attack on temperance, atia resEuse to
endorse the suggestion si4a1 the peo-
pie are entitled to vote or en- amend
ment to the Constitution waen very
large number have unquestionabiJ sig
nifled desire to that effect
1t is extremely unfortunate for what
] conceive to be the true cause Of
temperance that resolution to resub-
nit the prohibitory amendment must
be in form at least a practical con-
domination by the Legislature of the
present policy of prohibition, and not
the authorization of a simple referen-
dun to ascertain the peoples views.
We're it not for this fact and the prob
able ciie ct tHat the mere passage Of
such a resolution WC&fI have upon
the friends CT the lroaibitory move
Hent everywhere, | believe thore
would be little or no opposition to the
reaSOa%N'a plain and unencumb6r9d
propos to place the original quas-
ton 2e.o-G the voters again fer their
ap5TOval or rejection. If that partic-
uiar and important objection could be
removed and the question be referred
to the people directly, solely on its
merits and unhampered by the preju-
dice excited by premature and unnec-
essary legislative condemnation, the
citizens of Maine would rally TO reef-
firm their belief in the pl'ohibiiory
law, and the cause of temperance be
infinitely strengthened and advanced.
For If we accept the principle Of the
referendum We must recognize tho
fact that it's fundamental strength
lies in the right of an appeal to the
people, and no good cause if fairly
and properly presented, should hest
tate to enter that Court or should fear
its verdict.
I thank you, Gentlemen, for your
courteous attention, and am sure that
no more worthy desire can animate
us than to perform CIR respective
duties here faithfully and fearlessly
for the best interests of me State we
love so we'll.