Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-25


Pine Street Congregational church,
Lewiston, last Sunday dealt sledge
hammer blows at the evil Of complac-
ency and do-nothingness on the part Of
so-called Christian communities. In
some cities men Of the churches are
half-heartedly joining hands as good
citizen" declarations and then remain
ing helplessly hopeful that someone
will arise and tell them how to accom-
plish effective warfare against evil
without doing anything. or without
even showing their hand for fear it
might injure their business or that Of
their employers.
DR.. Bartlett has said something to
these would-be forces against plainly
visible evil. He says that rs deter
mined men could clean up, in 80 days,
the city Of Lewiston where the news
papers say are scores of deiantly open
saloons, where women and even chill
dren are learning to gamble, where
brothels are unmolested, and where
business streets are made disgusting
and unsafe for peaceable citizens by
the product Of Illicit business and def
ance of law. And he answers the ques-
ton why the rs determined men do not
appear, ready for the fray.
Read the following, a part of what
DR.. Bartlett said:
I'VE have just had an election, and
there is a great deal Of talk about a
better day. Who is going to bring about
a better day." they say this new
official: this new order Of things" A
good deal Of it is cheap talk. Take the
city of Lewiston for example. 1t
has settled down, almost without a
murmur and with apparent complac-
ency to q condition terrible to contem-
plate. Not only has the city been the
wallowing place for drunkards, and
the streets Of the city filled with dis
gusting results of liquor, but there has
| been a fragrant condition of anarchy
and defiance of State law, as much in
force as that against burglary or muir
der It is easy to lay the responsibility
on the officials. I lay large responsib-
| ility on the citizens and the church. If
some one had torn down the flag from
city hall and trampled it under feet. a
mob would have gathered and de-
| manded quick punishment for the
offender. But what Is striped cloth
| compared to a human soul? If fifty
men had demanded the right to pick
pockets and burglarize (and why
shouldn't they) we would have held
mass meetings, with citizens going out
armed to shoot the despoiler at sight.
| But the burglar does comparatively
| little harm. He shifts property and
relieves an excess of cash, but the
man who sells liquor, or who permits
its sale, or who in any way puts the
cup to his neighbours lips is burglar
and an anarchist, and a murderer. He
robs and curses the home. He will
take the father out and damn him. He
| will take the son from his mothers
arms and kill him. He does not hest
tate to take the daughter and defile
her. He is in partnership with all
crime. ana hides the criminal. He aids
and abets the white SLAYER, and fur
nishes the drink which overcomes the
virgin and throws her out on the street
He buys up legislatures and defles
evades and laughs at all laws. He cor
rupts police and both gives and exacts
tithes in prostitution and vice. He
fattens on the innocent and the guilty
| He levies both on the home and on the
place Of carousal. And this is the con-
dition we have been sitting down be-
fore with folded hands.
The Citizens Want Liquor
I had \ talk last week with prob
ably the best posted man in the coun-
ty regarding the conditions here. He
banged his hands together and said
"Seventy per cent. Of the people OF
Lewiston want the saloon" He said:
Suppose a man tries to enforce the
State law. who 10 going to back him
up?" Who, indeed! Fifteen years ago
| I would have taken issue with him.
I supposed the church was unit in
this matter. But when went up and
down the streets of Chicago to get
a few names Of those brave enough
to come out on what believed was
the Lords side. they took to the
woods. Or they would say to me For
Gods sake don't drag me into this. I
do business with some Of these people.
| do not pretend to know the sit
uation here as hope to. Supposing
went up and down Lisbon street with
q paper. asking all the business men
to sign It saying they were opposed to
| the liauoe traf1lc, and would back up
the sheriff and other officials to the