The Republican journal., 1911-07-13

with crisis in the history of our State and
one which threatens the prosperity of our
communities and the happiness of our homes.
1t is something of which good citizen can
remain Indifferent. And the question is to be
decided by the voters of the State upon the
18th of September next. Let US carefully
consider the question and see who is WORKING
for repeal of Constitutional Prohibition and
the reasons why they do so. Let us see II
there is one single valid reason why license
will be benefit to the individual or to the
State This question is one which particularly
affects US in Maine just now, but 1t is ma
tional one of vast Importance, when consider
ed in its broad associations There is not one
State in the Union which is not affected by 1t.
It is of greater national Importance than the
slavery of the blacks which plunged US lato
Civil War. 1t will just as inevitably have to
be settled and that too, in the rear future IL
is the greatest question morally. financially,
and from business point of view, that Is oe-
fore this country at the present time And
the indications now are that it will be the first
great question to be settled by the votes of
the people, oCdIe ny oIaIe- Iiiie queo'ioh 10
before US in Maine just now. The campaign is
on and we must fall into line Several other
States have adopted Prohibition and the others
one by one will do the same thing. 1t will in
each State be bitter fight. The unprinci-
pied elements of the nation support
ing the liquor interests by literature,
by able writer's, and speakers, and by
the expenditure of vast sums of money
which have been taken from the poor, the
veal the suffering and innocent families
of degraded men, ruined and brutallzed
by the drink curse. This money has been
taken from the legitimate channels OF trade
and diverted to purpose which pauperlzes
the individual and causes great financial loss to
the communities in which it exists. And yet
they will brazenly approach the honest and
credulous voter and claim that the license
system is a great financial benefit to the mu-
nicpaity and the State. This business Is one
of the most brutal, brazen, arrogant and law
defying system III existence, wherever 1T OBJ
tains a foothod In its environments and un-
der its care are originated and carried out the
most dangerous schemes and brutal crimes
which threaten the peace of the country and
the safety of the commonwealth. 1t becomes
dominant feature in the political affairs of
the community and the State. 1t is in fact
the most dangerous, degrading and demoraliz-
ing feature of the social, business and moral
world today.
And this, gentlemen, is the question upon
which you as intelligent citizens of an en-
lightened nation are called upon to exercise
the privilege bequeathed to you by..your
fathers the heroes of 1776; who in heat and
cold, in storm and danger, in the horrors of
freezing and starving camps, on the sanguinary
field of battle, won for you this grand heritage.
From the date of the day which cele-
, brate momentous issues have claimed the
attention of our people, and one after another
they have been settled. But no great question
can be settled until it is settled right. Various
| issues are claiming our attention at the present
/ time, some of them of great Importance. But
| in the short time allowed US upon this occasion,
we cannot even allude to them, mucn less dis
cuss the issues. But this question of Consti-
tutional Prohibition is the one live, insistent,
predominant question of the hour, and but a
few weeks from this it will be settled by your
votes, for the State of Maine, and the result
will be awaited over the entire civilized world