Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-02
None So Blind as Those Who Will
Not See


Not See.
To the kennebec journal:
I will ask YOU to kindly publish tins
letter in reply to the Biddetord
Record
note in the Kennebec Journal your
comment stating This correspondent
(A) does not deny that all the evils
that come from liquor are experienced
under prohibition" / do most en-
phatically deny that "aIl the evils that
come from liquor are experienced I'M
der prohibition" and believed this
fac 10 be so self-evident that no
denial was necessary. | also most We
hemently assert that all the evils that
are found under prohibition are due
to the lawless element who do not
obey the laws of God or Maine. either
in spirit or action. but would degrade
the State by their lawlessness and
their unconcern for the welfare of 9th
ers than themselves.
You further enormously state, He
makes the point that even so it is bet
ter for Maine to pretend to outlaw
the liquor traffic than to make it re
spectacle by license" ! declare
decidedly and unequivoealiy that
my statement made no allusion. stat
ed or implied. that could be wrested
by any honest. intelligent mind into a
belief that sit is better for Maine to
pretend to outlaw the liquor traffic
than to make it respectable by Ii
cense." The liquor traffic cannot by
any expedient be made respectable.
1t would be an utter impossibility to
do so. and all who are urging an at
tempt in this direction by advocating
local option or any other halfway
course are showing a Willingness to
become accomplices in producing mis-
cry and crime and evil conditions
which the saloon Keepers would ex
change for Names integrity. honor
and home happiness. Maine should
not and does not pretend anything.
Maine should outlaw not only the
liquor traffic but any people who will
not gladly obey the constitution as 1t
Stands. with the prohibition amend
ment included. which was placed there
to safeguard objects for which the
constitution was enjoying
and defending life and liberty" "pur-
suing and obtaining safety and happi-
ness"
: Neither prohibition nor license is
now on trial License was tried and
found guilty of murder in the highest
degree and of other crimes, and the
penalty of Punishment decreed Pro-
hibition was thought of, worked for.
prayed for, and finally achieved. and
the State of Maine rose to a dignity
never before attained by any com
munity in the sight of other states
and nations. Maine still holds the
respect this action kndled, and the
tribute paid her is best expressed in
the message sent her from England.
wishing her Godspeed in her efforts to
keep what she has striven for. Eng
lands message said. Many years ago
your State learned the lesson which
the civilized nations are learning with
increasing rapidity. that it Is the re-
moval of the CAUSE of intemperanee
which can alone secure nation
against the disastrous result of in
Temperance. Filled with an earnest
desire to safeguard your family life.
and to secure for your children an en-
vironment cleansed from the de-
moralizing influences of the drinking
saloon, your State marched straight
to the goal of prohibition to which all
the civilized nations of the world are
looking as the only real safeguard
against the drink evil The princi-
pies which you were among the first
to adopt have now become widely ac-
cepted among social reformers
throughout the world, who owe you a
debt which can never be repaid"
The only objection that has ever
been made to prohibition is that it has
not been enforced. For this the law is
not to blame. but the aw-breskers;
and law breakers should bear the pun
ishnent rather than the homes of those
who have made and abide by the law
for the sanetity of their own and
equally other homes. Why should
liquor sellers receive special privileges
to destroy Maine individuals and fam
Ines? Local option is no satisfactory
solution of the problem and never will
ne what difference does it make
where an enemy is located if his darts
are able to reach the defencelessn
Instead of exterminating Maine for
the sake of continuing the liquor traf-
inmate liquor and the liquor traffic by
compelling obedience to the law No
trouble has been found In enforcing
other laws; why should trouble be
found in enforcing prohibition? The
Blddeford Record would seem to argue
that having prohibition a law is the
reason that liquor is sold And con-
tihuing with the same logic, it would
give the impression that if a few sa-
looms or illegal places of sale will Gre
ate some crime and misery, increasing
the number of saloons will largely
lessen 1t. We have long known the
adage that misery likes com pafy' but
we would prefer 20 Danish the misery
rather than increasing the company
upon which it is bestowed indiscriinl-
nately, whether willing or unwilling to
receive IT. Why cannot people, in
stead OF trying to prove that "Prohibi-
ll0n does NOT nrahihitv md cax;lIi,ag