Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-27
From the National Era.
The Maine Liquor Law.

From the National Era.l
The Maine Liquor Law.
Among the questions now under wide discus
sion in America, stands conspicuous the Maine
Liquor Law. 1t is the object of absorbing in
terest for the greatness of the evil whose cure
it seeks, and the vast incidental aid it promises
to every other reform. 1t is the subject of
vigilant scrutiny for its claim of singular eff
cheney
All admit without debate the evils of intem-
perance Yet only they realize its manifold
curse, who have pledged heart, head and hand,
to the work Of human advancement. Intem-
perance is their ever-present foe They visit
the prision, the poor-house, and the hospital
seeking to soften, aid, and cure, While they
rescue and protect by units, intemperance
pours in recruits of misery by hundreds. They
establish free schools, but the children of the
drrnkard cannot come. They study the fear
tul question of pauperism--the grand impover-
isher is intemperance. This is prolific root
of poverty, ignorance, brutality, and crime.
And where they spring Immediately from other
vices, or from the force of circumstances, how
often these originate more or less remotely in
| that fatal cause! We bewail the low, selfish,
dishonest spirit Of American politics; it is but
| the exponent of a constituency who hold the
balance of power, while they learn their De-
mocracy in the grogshop The world wonders
how a nation of free voters can be drilled blind
fold by the million, in support of party nom-
nees without talent or moral worth, and of
party measures repugnant to freedom and to
| common sense. They forget the myriad places,
all over the Union where reason sleeps while
prejudice and passion are retaled mixed with
liquor at three cents glass.
Of o1l the widows and orpbnpc of A n,arioo
how many have been made so by intemperance,
or by the disease and destitution it induced
Of the degraded children of our large cities,
Ignorant of all but vice, poor little heather for
whom the neighboring free school-houses open
their doors in vain, how vast proportion were
made what they are, and are surely doomed to
hopeless future, by this suicidal and murder
| Gus vice!
Whence arises the necessity for iails, crimi-
nal courts and police, for hospitals and asy-
| lums? Certainly more than three fourths of
| the enormous tax society pays for their support
is made necessary directly or remotely, by the
use of liquor. Among the obstacles to human
progress, there is none in our country more
deadly or so universal Slavery is the only
specific evil comparable to it in extent, us a
source of human debasement-and who can es-
innate how long emancipation will be postpon-
ed by Southern intemperancel
As intemperance is the nucleus and prime
stimulant of all kinds Of crime and forms of
suffering SO the liquor trade is the grand
tempter and incentive to intemperance As the
post Office and press awaken and increase in
teligence while they facilitate its transmits
sion, so do establishments for the sale Of liquor
deepen and aggravate the vice they crafty.
The simple, distinct object of every establish
ment for the sale Of liquor is of course to fur
nish the utmost facility to those who drink it,
and to make use of all allurements to form in
others the taste it is their business to supply
Perverted social influences centre there. The
weary laborer, the idle youth the acuuiescent
friend, who but for the peculiar attractions of
the coffee house might have rested, lounged,
and refreshed themselves harmlessly elsewhere,
softly enter the road to ruin there. The liquor
sellers of America with innumerable hands
meet the free citizens of America and com
mend the poisoned chalce to their lips There,
corrupt politicians ply their trade and carry
thence millions of blind and thoughtless votes
There, home delicacy and filial love, and all
the graces of domestic life, decay There, the
heart is blghted and betrayed, and the fresh
ness of the Young mans generous spirit lost
forever It is the gamblers haunt, and there
the plots of the criminal are ripened There
the hard earnings of the laborer are wasted,
while the wife dies slowly without home and
the children take the likeness Of the father.
Ifintemperance be so enormous an evil, and
if its growth still more than it's qualification
lies in the liquor trade may not the State re-
gard that trade as criminal?
What is the first demand Of society, and the
fundamental principle of law! Plainly the pro-
lection of the injured and helpless Are not
the wives, children, and dependents Of the in.
temperate suchl And who can count the
number Of these, so destitute and so strongly
challenging our sympathy, hitherto unshielded
by the laws strong arm!
Since every official report athrms, and year
by year reiterates the fact that n very large
majority Of criminals, whose thefts arrest con
fnement, trial and punishment costs the com
munty so much, become such by intemperance,
may not the State prohibit the sale of that
which is the admitted cause of 80 vast n
taxi
Since all the statistics OF the origin of crime
attribute to habits and occasions of intemper-
ance so large an influence, may not the State
prohibit the sale of that which has proved so
dangerous to reputation, life, and limb1
Is any principle involving sacred personal
rights violated or endangered by n law prohib-
iting the sale of liquor as a beverage or its
manufacture for such sale Certainly not.
Does q man choose to drink intoxicating LIQUOR?
He has right to do 50 to any extent which
does not injure and impoverish others--a per-
sonal right which no legislation can impair
Let him buy it for has olCn use, from any place
he chooses beyond the jurisdiction of the law
if drink he must. Even the stringent provis
4 pf ha Mosn ID