Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-14
MAINE LEGISLATURE,
Continued from Page Sikh

for light and trivial reasons. IL shouId
be most carefully considered before
enactment. and when once it has be-
come n part of the fundamental law of
the State or nation it should be diff
cult but not impossible to repeal it.
The fact. as it seems to me, that this
supposed demand of the people that
they should have an opportunity to en-
dorse the prohibitory law by their
votes is an entirely fictitious PROPOSE
ton. We must throw discredit on the
law by voting to resubmit 1t is al
most entirely the result of supposed
political eXigency. Our Democratic
friends wanted an issue to make votes
with, and they very sagaciously Sc
lected this as one that would win them
at least temporary strength. And it is
a credit TO their ability that they
handled it skilfully during the CAM
paiSn and won votes on it. If you want
to attract attention all you have got to
do is to get out and holler. 1t makes
10 difference whether you have a sub
Iect OF merit or not, if you only hollcr
loud enough and long enough some
body VIII come your way. And our
friends iii their zeal for reSubmission
hOlered for all they were worth. In
fact they hollercd so hard that some
Of the people began to sit up and take
notice and to feel that they had been
terribly imposed upon by not having Il
chance to endorse the constitution by
their personal vote. 1t was practical
~ the same thing that happened in
New York when the laboring men who
were earning more wages than they
ever earned before, who We're having
more home comforts than they ever
had before. were deluded by the cry
of the politicians who said you have
no right tn be contentcd while any 9TH
or men are better fed and have bette.
homes than yourselves. They listened
to the noise hut did not consider tho
reason. And here in Maine as the cleo
ton returns came in after the battle
had ceased and the smoke cleared
away. we find some of the Republican
politicians aghaSt at some of the poll
teal changes, and they were all as
cribed to the rcsubmission. And they
began 10 lIoller for all they were worth
that the people demanded re-
submission and VIC must have it, In
fact II general panic seemed imminent
But while We question the honesty of
the men who are so intensely earnest
to add their own personal vote to the
Tie respect for the men who would
advocate resubmission that they might
have the pleasure of voting on it, there
is a class of men who advocate re-
submission for whom we have high
regard. 1t is those men who would
favor rcsubmsson on the ground that
the people demand it, and that the
people should be heard. That is good
sound doctrine. We are a government
of the people. by the people, and for
the people, and the people must be
heard. But are those gentlemen right
in the Supposftiun that til" pcopl" de
maud re:iubmiseion? 1t is Il wen cs-
tabIi@hed principle in this county that
tn" wishes of a majority of the people
shall be the law, and unless it is a
matter of great wrong or injustice
this principle should be Chcerfuly
acquicSccd in. 1t is not supposed that
every one shall be satisfied, or every
body believe the same way. In 1854
the prohibitory party was defeated in
Maine Did they say at is no use,
there is opposition and We will go back
to license" BY no means they said We
arc morally right and we will stand
by our principles anu in 1856 prohibi-
tIil Nbii am ll'iS SilI'' tli'll UNI III
some form been in force in our State
Within the memory Of gentlemen
present the grccnback craze swept
over the country. AT the last moment
the result of the elections were much
in doubt. and a civil war was imini-
ncnt in the state. This capital was
guarded by armed men and bloodshcd
was narrowly avcrtcd Did the Re
Il
the present inflated system of cur
rcncy and we will give it up? No in
decd. they stood for Il sound currency
and they conquered on the issue. How
plausible tn" theory Of the purity Of
silver with gold as Il basis for our cur
rcncy seemed to many as the ISSUE was
suddenly sprung upon us. but the Re
publican party made gold their stand
ard and they won out in spite of the
large minority which opposed them.
Now, We claim that because in some
cases the election may have gone
against the party who has opposed re-
submission it was no reason why they
should go back on this issue.
submit there is no call by the pco-
pie Of the State for resubmission.
There is no demand sufficient for pco-
pie to leave their old-timc doct1in"
and vote for license. Who is backing
this call for rcSubmiSSinn? The Rev.
Smith Baker said before our commit
tee. You find 80 per cent. of the min
listers of the State of Maine against
rcsubmsson. You find 80 per cent.
of the church membership Of Maine
against rcsubmission." | have in my
desk here a petition which came too
late to introduce. from the District
Lodge of Good Tcmplars of Portland.
representing 500 people. opposed I"
rcsubmission. have a petition
from the Friends Of kcnnchcc
county representing 425 names pledg-
ed against rcsubmission. We have large
petitions from Biddeford, Bath, Bel
fast. Rockand and a petition from
Bangor. There arc those among the
most intelligent and the best citizens
Of the city Of Bangor who do not be-