The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-02-24
4 incoIn on Prohibition.

ppings ! came across Tic i
r. -, of the day, it almost seemed that
words we're put into my hands
am for purpose-and believing this,
are nassed along for other eyes to
e;
.r,o ,rraat convention held in Column
hy the Anti saloon League had its
tact sensation in the speech of ex-
.rror Patterson of Tennessee, who
boldlv over from the side of the
1,n and, recalling with grief the loss
rs son through liquor, gave himself
.ss cause of righteousness and tenn
-ooce Hardly less thrilling was the
o;,sj of an old-time friend OF Lincoln
an otterance of his made on the very
: Of his death.
Major ]. B. Merwin of Middlefield,
,no was the personal friend and asso-
,.a If President Lincoln and was es-
.,ouy commissioned by the President
~. in behalf of temperance among
,oI5iers "You are but the growing
.oos,rs of what Lincoln lived for and
= f,r' the little man told his hearers.
then repeated with startling clear
=. The words of Lincoln on the day of
s.sassinaton. "Merwin, we have
,susa w, by the help of the people, a
losssl ion. Slavery is abolished. The
rreai question will be the overthrow
.ss isgaIized liquor traffic. and you
ou }erWn, that my head and my
arr INV hand and my purse will go into
O., ea-a. In 1912, less than quarter
a Jury ago, | predicted that the
p would come when there would be
it,srs slave nor a drunkard in the land.
ave lived to see one prediction fulfill
4 hope to see the other realized"
MAJOR Merwin says that he at once
co,pjzsd the exceptional significance
the words of the President and asked
he might publish them. publish
en- as vide as the daylight shows
Bs the Presidents answer.
Few people doubt the wisdom of Presi-
Int Lincoln. If he were living today; if
were once more leader of men by
sson Of that wisdom; by reason of that
rpngtb and gentleness, that love for
humanity which were his, | wonder if
ere can be any question in the minds of
" Of Us as to where he would stand on
r LIQUOR question. Can any of us by any
,ssibI.ity imagine Abraham Lincoln op-
'sing the people who are working for
ohbtion and throwing the power of
! wonderful personality into the fight
h license and for the saloon? No! The
ought seems a sort of sacrllege, and
' pen falters in writing the words.
Neither a slave nor drunkard in the
nd he predicted-a and even then his
Ear vision mus have seen in the future,
L day of National Prohibition. And
attry day of National Prohibition will
'me and is even now approaching, is, it
lens to me, as sure as that the planets
loys M their orbits and the sun gives
III
|Jr recent letter to the Boston Herald,
h. Murlin, President of Boston Uni
,rsity, said: For selfish reasons, in
rsstra parties assert that prohibition
Ia failure in Kansas. Having lived
at ur II years, knowing the situation
it, lmately and having no personal
F-4st IN the matter, think | may
eas on the question with reasonable
gre of accuracy and fairness. Accord
gomy last information every college
y.essor and public school teacher,
psun-endent and officer in the State is
thu5iastically for prohibition. Of equal
Ilers anding and intelligence are the
wspaper men; of the 800 newspapers
Dassed in the State, all save an in
six or eight editoriallv
yor prohibition, and in every meeting
the State Editorial Association for
ars they have endorsed prohibition.
iese Two organizations illustrate the
hiuce of the members of all similar
ate associations, such as the bankers,
Syers doctors, farmers, travelling
en- commercial clubs, stock raisers,
hardware dealers, retail
etc. So far as my knowledge goes
'ery legitimate State organization
rlai fraternal, industrial, political,
|catonal, commercial-heartily favors
Fbibition.
Al the last State election there were
+ candidates for Governor; by party
Ettorm and public speech four were
Fnnltely committed to prohibition; the
70, the most responsible and popular
ct man in the State, inserted sub
|sSlon' plank in his platform; the vote
+ was the largest in the States his
\ ahen liquor dealer associations con-
FLED most expensive campaign; it is
Esonsbly certain that the States entire
prohibition vote was cast; it was
than 9 per cent of the total vote, the
II candidate appearing at the tail end.
The people of Kansas rank in intelli-
PC with the people of Massachusetts;
r know what they have and they know
al they want. After 80 years. expert
|'t with prohibition they believe it is a
|u' economic, social, civic, moral and