The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-12-08
If it is Resubmission,
Let Us Meet It.

ASl 70 V4SGl H.
To THE EDITOR OF The JOURNAL:
There is no doubt that the question of
resubmission had great influence in the
last election. AS a matter of policy I
think it would have been better for the
Republican party to have resubmitted
the question two or four years ago. But
as a matter of principle the party did not
believe in resubmission, and rather than
sacrifice principle to policy they stood up
for what they believed to be right, and
met with temporary defeat. They did
not fear resubmission because they ap-
pretended that the people would ever
go back to license; but they regarded it
as child's play to go to the trouble and
expense of reafirming principle which
was already part of our organic law,
and they had every reason to believe it
would be reaffirmed more emphatically
than before. If the question had de-
Gliding influence on the election it apd
pealed to voters in various ways, an
men voted with the opposition from
various motives. The Democrats voted
as matter of political policy. A great
many of them would never vote for IL
cense, and if the question was between
prohibition and license they would vote
for the former every time, for they have
told me so.
Some Republicans voted with the
Democrats because they thought by SO
doing we would get resubmission and
that the principle would be so strongly
reaffirmed that the question would be
taken out of politics, for the officers
would not dare to do otherwise than en-
force the law, as the people had demand
ed. Many voted against US because they
were thoroughly disglsted with the gross
hypocrisy which characterized the con-
duct of so many of the officers in regard
to the enforcement of the law, and they
took that course to register their protest
against this criminal neglect. have no
doubt that this contributed to our defeat,
and if so, every official who was recreant
co his trust can assure himself that he
is most responsible for the result. And
looking over the disposal of the cases on
the docket at the last term Of court in
Waldo county we find some of our own
officials did their share in bringing about
the result.
Some want resubmission because they
s,hink that means license, and there are
some men even in the Republican party
who have so little regard for the laws of
God, or the welfare of their fellowmen,
that they would even stoop to the low,
degrading occupation of selling rum to
make money, Notwithstanding there are
so many honorable business opportunities
in which they might engage and in which
they might be of benefit to their fellow
men. instead of a curse. But the wishes
of this last class should not be taken into
consideration at all, for their principles,
or rather lack of principles, are entirely
antagonistic and detrimental to the gen.
eral welfare of our State.
was always opposed to resubmission.
| do not believe the State can possibly go
back to license. | believe resubmission
would result in the reaffirming of the
present legal status, and l see no more
need of this than there is of resubmitting
any other part of our organic law. be-
lieve that rigid enforcement Of the law
would so vindicate it that its opponents
would have no good ground for their op-
position. And the reason that it has not
been indicated is the fragrant dishonesty
of our officials from the judges down.
The last election showed that the people
would no longer uphold the existing con-
ditions, but that something must be done
to bring about better state of affairs.
Under existing conditions | believe this
can be best done by resubmission. A
majority of the voters want it; not with
the idea that we are going back to Ii
cense; but with the assurance that the
present laws will be reaffirmed so en-
p, atically that there will be no question
a cut their honest enforcement the same
as I'll other laws | have faith in the
hig1 moral principle and integrity Of our
citizars. They will never go backward,
having once taken advanced steps. So
let US enter the campaign that is now
4sthrust upon US with that courage which
is born Of conviction of the righteous
ness of our cause and we cannot fail
G. E. SMITH.