The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-10-22
The Maine Law in Canada.


Powerful efforts are now making by
the friends of temperance in Canada,
to secure from the Provincial Parlia
ment the enactment ofa "Maine Law. "
The Sons of Temperance, Rechabites,
and other temperance associations, are
laboring with commendabIe earnest
ness and zeal. Some of the papers
are out very strong against it, not with
argument, but with denunciation. The
following is specimen from the
True Witness"
"A man may hate drunkenness
without being tetotalIer, and it is
very possible that he may have a great
respect for temperance, both in eating
and drinking, and yet look upon the
maine Liquor Law" as one Of the
most disgusting pieces of political
quackery for moral evil that has
been perpetrated since the days of the
Connecticut Blue Laws" And yet
we believe that an effort will be made,
ere long, to indict this precious piece
Of humbug upon the people of Can
ada; it behoyes every enemy Of cant
therefore to be upon the alert, for
monstrous and absurd as the thing
seems, it is by no means impossible"
If any friend CT the "Maine Law -
would be guilty of writing such re
diculous piece of nonsense about tht
opposers of the measure, we woulc
regard him as " numskult." +"
GA man may hate drunkenness ant
not be tetotaller." Altogether likely
We presume there is not liquor sci
ler in Canada, and scrrcely drunk
ard, and very few moderate drinkers.
who do not hate and even loathe
drunkenness. Even the editor Of the
Z" True Witness " does not defend
drunkenness, or give an apology for it.
Z" 1t is possible for man to have a
great respe It for temperance in eating
and drinking, and yet look upon the
Maine Law as disgusting piece Of
political quackery," &c. Very pos
sible, for we doubt whether there is
gIutton, or drunkard, or wine-drinking
clergyman, or beer-drinking lawyer in
Canada, that has not great respect
for temperance both in eating and
drinking. That all such liquor guz-
zlers should be hostile to the law, is
quite likely. But wherein consists the
"political quackery?" Does the Wit
ness find in the workings Of this law,
anything that entities it to this designa.
ton? Is tin the fact that pauperism
wretchedness and crime are fadin!
away at its approach? that the lazar
houses and prisons of Maine are bein;
depopulated? If these are the fact
from which he in(ers that it is "guac
remedy" then give us more of sue
quackery. If the Connecticut f" BIe
Lars s" wrought similar results in th
land of steady habits, and on this az
count they were suggested to the min
of the " Witness" it is a pity the
were ever repealed, and much to /
regretted that the British Province
and especially Canada, did not re
enact them. This precious piece {
humbug," it is "by no means impos
sible, will be inflicted upon the peopl
of Canada" We hope that the inhic
ton will be made, and when it is, W
predict that the "Witness" will fin
it something more than "hunbHg.
His jugs and decanters will not be a
easily supplied as now, and his respec
for temperance will become a ''practi
cqi thing"
Another Canada editor says, tha
the Maine Law p" strikes at the four
dation of the British Constitution.
"Iti is fundamental principle of Il
British Constitution, that the subje
has a perfect right to invest his capt.
in whatever stock Providence mt
place in his reach, liquor not e
cepted." We think it would puzz
the writer and lord Brougham himse