The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-06-15

ness occupies the time of police and
court and produces 80 per cent Of the
crimes of the world! Concerned about
the majesty of the law, when brewers
and dlstlllers use every possible means to
coerce Legislators, corrupt editors, and
defeat restrictive laws! Concerned about
the majesty of the law, when the liquor
power runs ruthlessly over all State laws
in its way and intrudes its noXious
products where local statutes prohibit
them! Concerned about the majesty of
the law, when all restrictive legislation
touching this business is everywhere
evaded as far as possible and taxes in
creased by the many prosecutions so oc-
casioned. There is the abominable ICON
tempt of law which ought to be
stamped out by the righteous wrath of
long suffering and indignant people
WHO DEMANDS REPEAL?
"a clear indication of what we ought
to do in this matter is found in the
answer to the question: Who wants this
law repealed? Are they the mothers
who dearly love their boys? No! They
are in many cases men who care more
for a drink of whisky than for their
own children. Are they the substantial
farmers who desire good government?
No! They are often men who want to
rent shop or shack for a saloon, caring
more for filthy lucre than for the inter
est of home and church. Are they the
teachers of the rising generation? No!
They are frequently persons directly or
indirectly in the employment of the
liquor interests. Are they the ministers
of religion? No! Many of them are on
E ,Lo
as little for law in general as for the pro-
hibitory statute. Are they bankers who
wish to encourage savings, mill owners
and merchants engaged in honorable
trade? Few of these indeed!
"Who then desires this change? Are
they not, as rule, the people who give
trouble to the police, who pay no taxes,
leave their families to be cared for by
private or public charity, who at present
are law-breakers frequenting the blind
notions of personal liberty simply, de-
sire change? Surely the contrast be-
tween those who favor and those who
oppose prohibition, taking a fair average
on both sides, furnishes an overwhelming
position. Of course, not all the good
people are on one side of any great ques-
ton. But in this case, all the vicious,
lawless, undesirable persons are lined up
for repeal. Every earnest citizen may
we'll ask himself: Are these the people
whom want to encouraged
WHOM SHALL WE HELP?
'There is just one other point which
bo votorc nf Moipo o,1obt 70 oopci6ar
and they are considering it most serious
ly: What effect will repeal have on
the world? If prohibition is here defeat
ed, who will be glad and who will be sad?
All the brewers will be glad, but all the
mothers throughout the world who are
trying to keep their boys from drink will
be sad? Ali the distillers will rejoice,
but reformers in all lands who are striv-
ing to conquer the evils of drink will
mourn! All saloon keepers will be en-
couraged in their ruinous business, but
every philanthropist toiling to lift the
burdens of misery from human hearts
will be discouraged! Every disorderly
and criminal person in the State will
shout for joy, but every stalwart son and
daughter of Maine scattered over the
continent will hang their heads in shame!
''Repeal in Maine will make temper
ance reform harder in all countries. Do
you want to make it easier or harder for
the disciples of Christ, who are fighting
for a more glorious humanity? Do you
want to make it easier or harder to raise
children to sober manhood that they may
bless rather than curse the land? Do you
want to make more paupers or less, more
criminals or less, more lunatics or less?
Do you want brewers and distillers te
have more power or less in Washington?
More dominance or less in the politics OF
the land? No good thing will suffer by
maintaining prohibition in Maine, but
many evil things will be lessened; on the
other hand, repeal will injure all good
things and encourage many evil things.
The voters of Maine may we'll consider
the gravity of the situation and the i'm.
portance of their action. Whom do you
wish to make happy: the legions of I'm.
righteousness or the army of the Lord?'