Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-07

ultu Careful CbHSIuefdtlDH. Iney Ill :
volve great rights and great wrongs SO
fundamental that they cannot be left
to the passion of the hour.
For these reasons constitutions
when once adopted are not readily
changed, and ought never to be chang
ed at all except for weighty and we'll
considered causes.
when therefore, a free people are
asked to change a constitutional pro-
vision, esta blished for generation, one
long tried and under which the people
of the State have grown strong and
great, a decent regard for their own
happiness and the welfare of their
posterity should impel them to seruti-
nize with analytic care the character
and motives of the persons or inter
ests. who propose the change and to
consider thoughtfully and we'll the rea-
sons upon which the proposed change
is argued.
This reasoning applies with APP
propriateness and eogency to you peo-
pie here In Maine in this campaign.
You are asked to strike one of the
great inhibitions from the constitu-
ton of the State, to take out of 1t a
provision that has stood for 80 years at
your frontier, safe barrier against
the encroachments of a powerful, SUBJ
tile and awful foe, to break the sword
that for generations has kept you free,
to abandon policy that has made you
a sober and thrifty people. brought you
wealth and fame and made you great.
You are asked to substitute for
~ the lin l.
uor traffic statute regulation; for in
hibition, permission; for no-Hcense
license; for condemnation, toleratloni
for legal prescription. legal sanction
sanction of thing you have prohib-
tied for 60 years,
Before you do il you ought to sat
isfy yourself as to the motives OF
those who ask 1t and weigh with can.
dor the reasons they put forward II
justification of the thing they woulc
seek to have you do.
'frhe burden should be upon them tc
show sufficient and satisfactory cause
for the change demanded and purity
and rnselfishness of purpose on the
part of those demanding the change
Unless they can do this to the COM
plete satisfaction of your consciences
and your judgment you ought not to
strike the inhibition out OF the constl-
tuition. Fortunately for you and your
children and for the State itself the
character and motive of the forces who
seek the change are not in doubt
The speaker then went on TO point
out that there was no demand LOT tiis
change from the forces in the State
that made for progress ana the pest
welfare of the State. THE industrial
interests of the State are not demand
I ing it; the educational interests OF the
! state are not demanding it; the char :
liable and fraternal societies of the
State are not demanding it: the re-
! lieious interests of the State are not
demanding it," said he. The allied
If1uor interests of the nation are the
only great interest that is demanding
it. They alone demand 1t, and for sor-
did reasons They want the legal sane
ton of their trade in territory in
habited by 100000 of Industrious, frugal
and thrifty people
Governor Hanly then passed to a
consideration of the reasons put for
ward for the change in the constitu-
ton; that the constitution was no
place for prohibitions; that it should
be left to the Legislature and that one
might as well put in the constitution
an inhibition againts murder and ar
son. He stated in answer that this in
hibition is in keeping with the great
propositions OF the constitution to es-
tablish justice to ensure tranquility
to promote the common welfare" In
the constitution we find a number OF
inhibitions, designed to put limitations
upon the power of the Legisla-
ture in regard to great fundamen-
tai rights and wrongs. We have
an inhibition against the regula-
ton restraint of freedom of the press
against the deprivation of trial by jury,
against the deprivation of life liberty
and property, without due process of
law; against second jeopardy for the
same offence; against notification of
the writ of habeas corpus; against bills
of attainder: against ex-post facto
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