Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1839-01-10

dntie5 OF the jurors as Wtil as those OF the
citizens generally, in reference to the same
contains important sentiments. which
ought to be generally known; would res
Pectiuy request you to give a copy of ii
fer publication.
(Signed) W Enmons, Hiram BeIcher,
Samuel Wells, S: X. Gilman D. Williams,
John Potter, Vim Clark, s. w Robinson,
Il. Ii. Vose. Seth May.
augusta. Dee. Z, 1888.
The practice of selling ardent spirits, at
retail, without license, is also one of the
cdences into whichsyou are TO enquire
This is a subject TO which the public mind
is much directed The evil of intemper-
ance has been felt in every town and vii
lage in the country. 1t has doubtless car7
ried down many a neighbor with whom
some Of YOU have delighted to associates
Suffering wives and desolate widows have
wept in secret Places over the woes thus
brought upon them and their lttla ones.
lntoxicaton makes fearful inroads upon
the intellectual and moral, as well as the,
physical powers Gilman. 1t often brings
disease and death. Bat much oltener it fas-
tens upon its victim dullness of perception,
weakness Of memory, harshness of temper,
and stupidity of conscience. Aside from
mental and bodily sulerings, it would be
startling to see what proportion ofthe crimes
committed, snd taxes paid, emaLates from
the use Of strong drinks; If courts and
prisons, peni,entiaries and poor houses,
asyums and hospitals should make full aud
fithiul reports. .,
For what purpose is all this expenditure
Of money and health and Happiness in life;
thus deterioration otinlellect and morals? -
Authors upon physiology and medicine
insist that 10 persons IN heath, alcohol is
never useful, but always injurious. Eth.
/ cal writer's believe they have demonstra-
ted the traffic in ardent spirits as drink,
TO be an immortality. II is announced by
the teachers Of our holy religion as sin.
Compared with things as they have ac-
tuaIly existed in this country for the last
thirty years, what bright and cheering
scenes would have burst out on every side,
ifthe traffic had been unknown!
i From recent Developments upon this
subject, light has beamed out, which no
person can rightfu!y or safely disregard
1t imposes more terrific responsibility,
wherever intemperance is found,
This evil early attracted public attention
in this country. Uuder the colonial char
ter granted in 1923 to Massachusetts Bay,
the frequency of legislation upon this sub,
lect illustrates the solicitudes which were
then felt. Laws for regulating the traffic
were passed in 1915, AZ, Al, '4S, 81, '58
'6l, 10, and 80, soon after which time
the charter was rccinded by judgment Of,
court, and the laws made under its author,
ity, abrogated. The Provincial or second
charter was granted by King William and
Queen Mary in 1851. This embraced the
territory of Maine as we'll as Massachu-
sets Bay, BY its authority laws for regs.
ulating the sale of ardent spirits, were en-
acted i'll 1896, '9S, l7I5, 6l and 63. Under
the constitution of the commonwealth, for
med in 1880 many successive Acts were.
passed for that purpose. Since our sepa-
ration from Massachusetts in 1920, laws
fer the same object have been passed in
1921, "a, '26, 20, -, '33, "a, aud go.
In all of these enactments, passed since
the date of the first chatter, the primary
and only object has beeu, to lesson intem,
perance, 10y restricting and limiting the
i traffic. Can we now, as christians and a.
men. feel ndiaiei cnce on a theme, which
1 mas tllUS 6iiclteu tUe CuSItS Vi many VI ~
wise and good Of our land for two hundred
years.
Within short period much labor has
been taken to incucate upon the public :
mind clear aud full views ofthe cnormitit
of contemporaries, and of the responsibilities
ofthose who supply the means for II. Iherse
is ground for rejoicing that sound sentlmei. :,
has found lodgncnt IN so many minds, AMI
especially that in the bosom OF 80 many
of our young people has been planted the
rood seed, which in due time. will bring
forward thu glad harvest of temperance. !,
The law, which now rcsllicts the sale Of
strong drinks, was moulded with much
consideration into its present form u is
imperative. 1t is the declared will OF the
legislature, evincing their deliberate con-
yicton of the propriety, expectancy, ans
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