The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-08-24

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mind on a great public question.
1t is pleasure to the publishers ant
editors of the kennebec Journal to vel
come the former editor to its head ono
more, to treat subject of vital import
ance to the people Of Maine-a subiec
in which he feels so deeply because o.
his love and pride in our grand old State
We recommend the reading of How
ard Owens earnest words to every read
er of the Kennebec Journal.
FROM A TRUE FRIEND OF MAINE.
Dear Journal:
l rejoice that the old and reliable
newspaper, with which l was so long
connected, has taken the foremost posi-.
ton in support of Prohibition in the con-
test which is now approaching the battle
at the polls. The Journal has always
been right on every leading question;
and since the days of Luther Severance
and James G. Blaine, it has never been
more ably edited than at the present
time. Its editorials in standing for the
integrity of the home and the safety of
the freside, are quoted throughout the
country.
There is only one side to this question
that will stand the bright light of pub
licity, and that is the side of the prohi-
bition of the liquor traffic. The other
side has no argument. The other side
will hold no public meetings, will hire no
brass bands to call the people together to
discuss the question. Discussion and
publicity are the things it breads. The
devil always works. secretly, and most of
the time in the dark. His most efficient
work is done when good men and women
are sleeping, when darkness envelopes
the world.
A license law in Maine is unthinkable
am tired of the ldiotic cry that "prohi-
bition does not prohibit" Whoever said
it did? But the prohibitory law poorly
enforced is infinitely better than license
Prohibition at it's worst is better than IL
cense at it's best. Those who have lived
in license States, and made a careful
study of the workings of their liquor
laws, decide in favor of prohibition every
time. One gentleman writes: Il have
seen more people in one hour under the
influence of strong drink in Washington
than have in all the cites of Maine COM
bined. have seen more people drunk
in city in Maryland in one day than |
have seen in Maine in three years. |
have seen more men drunk in the coun-
try in Delaware in one evening than
have seen in Maine in three years, and
more people drunk on the sidewalk in
front of one building in New York city,
than have seen in Maine in three years.
am sure, as far as drunkenness is con-
cerned, that there is not licensed city
of any State that can show as clear a
record as the worst governed city of
Maine' So much for the testimony of
a gentleman Of keen observation.
When l was a boy in Brunswick, be-
fore the prohibitory law, l heard my
father say that there were fifty grog
shops in that town, and thirty eight ir
the little village of Topsham, just across
the Androscoggin river. When l came
to Augusta to I've, in 1854, nearly every
printer in every printing Office drank,
keeping his bottle under his printer s
stand, concealed by quire of paper.
One of the best pressmen we ever had If
the Office died of delirium tremens.
was called to his room, and was with hin
near the end of his dreadful conflict, ane
helped to close his eyes in death, aftel
the most fearful scene l ever witnessed
God pity me if | should vote Eyes
while the memory of that event burn:
itself into my soul. Now under prohibi
ton, ne arly all the printers are total alb
stainers, and any one of them drinking
steadily would soon lose his situation
And the same could be said of many
other professions and occupations.
Prohibition has not only saved the
man, but it has saved the State from
disgrace. A license law can never max,
the business of rumselling respectable
You can't regulate it any more than vol
can regulate hell. determination is the
only remedy. Why should the State Ii
cense business that destroys the home
removes the ripples from the face of al
innocent child, and gives him the draw
and wrinkled face of an old man; de
stroYs the power and capacity of the
breadwinner to support his family, anC
sends his wife and little helpless children
out into the cold world to shift for them
selves; seals up all the fountains of ten
der feelings and emotions, and makes {
brute Of once fond and loving husband.
On, no! The State of Maine is not ready
to put around such monster evil its
arms of governmental protection, tt
place by law such business on the
same footing as the grocer, the dry good:
merchant, and the the boot and shoe
dealer.
But why multiply arguments? They
have all been on one side. All we have
to see to now is to get out the votes
Blaine once said, "Take nothing fol
granted in politics. say to the gooo
people, don't let the feeling that we
shall certainly carry the day, keep yol
at home. Every supporter of the run
power will be at the polls. See that ,ol
are there.
In my long career in journalism | have
no doubt written and published senti
ments that many members of the Demo
cratic party couldn't subscribe to. Ye
they are warm friends of mine, and have
believed in me and in my judgment.
am glad we are able to come together il
one election, and clasp hands on com
mon issue-the protection of the hom'
and the good repute of the State. | an
glad of the privilege of going to thu
polls with such sterling and lifelong
Democrats as brave Tom Ingraham an(
conservative Ed. Doe, and voting just al
they do against the rum shops. Ant
many are the Democrats who will do thu
same thing.
AS I descend the western declivity o.
life, towards the setting sun, l am con
scious that
'Some day the silver chord will break'
But hope to live to participate in tn
rejoicing when the votes are counted OF
tie 18th of September, showing tina
Maine has again reaffirmed her nobl