Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-04
Or. Blanchard's Open Letter to Gov
ernor Plaisted.

In yo9Ir recent message to the Leeis-
lature YOU advocated the passage oil
local option law which had received your our
approval You stated that you believed
that this law would do no more good
than any other of which you had kno~l-
edge. You then asked any one to snow
YOU better law. ] respond with great
earnestneSS. For years l nave Deen
studying the operation of laws when
have been enacted to control the SAFE OF
liquor and to lessen the aWlaI results
of intoxication.
Nv belief is strong that there is far
better way than to license saloons. ii
appears TO me that the bill which you
approve is intended to establish these IN
cities which shall vote for local option
] am aware that the advocacy of local
option does not necessarily involve the
licensing of saloons. There are many
Democratic voters who wish to have To-
cal option, but who would not favor sa-
looms Most readers of your words, how
ever. will believe that you sanction sa-
looms There are many noble men-Prcst-
dent Taft is one of them-who believe y
TO be proper to have these where pubic
opinion favors them. Such men are NOT
I'm league with the Liquor Interest.
They deplore the evils of drinking as
tionai Prohibitionists. | do not agree
with these gentlemen. ] am relentless
enemy of the saloons. | am also a de-
terInined opponent of Our present law.
The law which | would have passed Is
q simple extension of the liquor agency,
General Neal Dow told me, many years
age that this agency enc w, Was very IMPORT IT.
clared that he did not dictate to men
that they should not drink. lie would
only do all he could TO prevent the buying
/ believe the state should manage all
sales of liquor. | would have every mu-
nicipality, which decides. to have liquor
sold, in city, town or village, hire few
well known and respected druggists and
grocers to sell pure liquors These
should be sold only in packages. They
x.txf he a1l NH ldyAV
or drnnkards. These agents should be
paid sufficient salaries While [ stoutly
oppose saloons, | believe ii to be the
duty of society to furnish substitutes for
the saloon. As only one of these | would
establish beer parlors These should be
owned and managed by the Municipal
more than four per cent. of alcohol
should be sold freely and, If desired,
drank upon the premises.
Catholic priest once told me that IL
he could have sold beer, of this light
Ness, in his workingmen's home he be-
lieyed that intoxication would be great
~ lessened
know all the objections which can
be offered TO my plan. ] am convinced
that they can all be answered That the
plan would very greatly lessen intoxiea-
ton | am profoundly convinced.
What we want Is new crusade for
total abstinence. Today science is warn
ing men against even 50 called moderate
drinking We can inform men. We can
persuade men We cannot drive men
/ beg of YOU, tine chief executive of
our state, TO consider earnestly my pro-
posal. If you can approve such law
as | have outlined, your influence would
help 10 secure its adoption. Many per-
sons can and will favor this who are I'M
alterably opposed to saloons.
Respectfully yours.
HENRY BLANCHARD,
Portland, Me, March rs, 1912.
The above letter of Rev. Henry
Blanchard, the famous Portland pulpit
orator, we publish by request. We do
not agree with DR. Blanchard and feel
in duty bound to point out to our
readers wherein we believe our Port
land friend has erred. We deem his
letter doubly dangerous to many who
have not made study of conditions
because of the well known high char
aeter and splendid mental equipment
of the distinguished gentleman himself.
At first we almost exclaim that we
cannot understand how man of DR..
Blanchard's grasp of human and
spiritual affairs can assume such
ground. but we must admit that he is
wholly sincere and earnest in his
position.
DR.. Blanchard is an enemy OF the
saloon. but he would allow the sa-
looms merchandise the encouragement
and the stamp of responsibility given
by government approval. He believes
that intoxication would be lessened by
the State, counties and towns engaging
in the business of handing out liquid
poison. against which he admits all
scientists are warning humanity. He
opposes saloons, but he would give
that aid and comfort to the makers
and sellers of damnation, that comes
of towns ordinating with the ma
tional government which now con-
stantly violates Names laws.
Maine has had the town agency
plan and few cities and towns ayailed
themselves of it. The law was vio-
lated just the same, by those work
ing for selfish purposes in the inter-
ests Of the makers and sellers of booze
Would our distinguished Portland
friend make his town agency plan
compulsory? "We can persuade men,
We cannot drive them" he says.
We would answer that: We can per-
suade communities to tolerate the
domination of those who make and
sell an unmitigated evil, but we can
not compel them to do it.
Have not those who oppose evil as
many rights as those who promote II :?
Is not that the origin of restrictions of
s.personal liberty" and the foundation
of law? Was the Decaloeue intended
for "persuasion"7 Can we persuade"
men TO cease murder. theft and other
crimes: or, do not the laws provided
by every civilized nation drive" many
constituencies human beings into re-
epecting the rights of others2
Can any one of DR.. Blanchard's
readers for one moment believe thai
lit v.rnnasaa onnces sfnn IN tho fiaua,