Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-12
Monday, September II. 1911.
We Have Met the Enemy.

we rave met Ine enemy
We regret exceedingly, the road
staked ont by the voters of Maine. We
feel that it is a turning in the wrong
direction. away from those ideals
which characterized our fathers. We
believe Maine has taken a step back
ward ana that she viii drink deeply of
the cup of sorrow" because of having
endorsed the cup that cheers The
pc onle of Christianity and progress the
world over have been watching and
now deploro the action of Maine. 1t is
a blow to civilization; triumph for
the forces of evil.
Maine has taken only one false step
but il makes the return doubly hard.
1t is disheartening to those loyal souls
who have fought with every ounce OF
energy 10 maintain every inch of
ground gained in the struggle against
the aevils heavy artillery. But they
have no excuse to offer. no pricks of
conscience; they have done the work
have been overwhelmed.
Looking AT the result in one way.
the faint hearted might deem it Il re-
buke fer those forces which have
fought for the good of humanity with
our expectancy of 0ther reward. They
have been hurled back by the we'll or
ganized hosts of greed and crime,
whose watchphrase is: ITO he'll with
humanity: let us have the dollars"
And that is just where humanity
goes with a free ticket" from the
Rum Trust, furnished at the expense
Of ones relatives friends and money.
So far as the Kennebec Journal is
concerned we have no complaints to
make. TO reflections to fling back. We
did our best in the light given us. Our
opponents won We cherish no bitter
ness for the foe. We gave and took.
We expressed our views frankly, with
out fear or favor. and received merci-
fesS jabs from the enemy without re-
lnembering who gave them.
The issue. was squarely presented to
the people and they have decided it in
a manner different than we had be-
lieved possible. 1t reveals the fact
tfat the pendulum of events is swing
ing toward chance" The people are
ready to gamble on a change. They
forget or outgrow old lessons. and say,
TT can be no worse: let's try some
thing new
has been the tenor of predictions and
the burden of our proof. They did not
understand or would not believe. Time
win decide for them. In the end they
viii understand and believe. let us
hope the experience will not cost too
dear a price.
hosts accept the result will bespeak
their calibre and will predicate the ex-
istence of their regime.
From the verdict we might conclude
that the people of Maine desire to give
trial to such conditions as exist ir
Massachusetts. They will do well tC
remember conditions as they are, and
compare them with what follow. The
experience, we predict, will be pur-
chased at bitter cost TO some, but il
win convince more effectively than
any argument.
Nc apologize TO Christian and tenn
perance workers of other states and
nations. We had led them TO think
better of the high character of Maine S
people. and we ask their moral sup
port while we win back that proud
place in lead of the world. The first
sorrowful defeat presages an aroused
public sentiment that will soon swing
back to such brand of prohibition as
never known in this or any other state
We believe this hour was necessary
and is propitious. We believe that in
order 10 advance we had first to be
brought to realizing sense of oui
STANDING and our DUTY.
Now BOTH are plainly outlined.
Again we congratulate our fellow
workers and bid them be of good cheer
The next step will be lighted rs We
start forward
We have made no concessions to ant
ask no quarter of the enemy. To then
we would say, DO your worst! and by
Jour deeds We measure your future"