Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-27


does not propose to touch Butt claims the right
to prohibit the sale of liquor, as a trade inyoly-
ing vast distress and injustice to large class
Of inhabitants whose defenceless position en-
titles them peculiarly to the protection of law.
1t claims, moreover, the right to suppress a
trade, involving by it's certain consequences an
Immense IN pecuniary tax, oppressive to the
But while such a law treads not one inch
upon the reserved ground of personal right, it
throws bulwark around the mind, body, and
estate OF the poor and helpless, and of the citi-
zens at large, in which every republican phi
lanthropist must cordially rejoice
The suppression of the liquor trade within
the State IS the gist and central principle of
the law under discussion the minor provisions
OF the Maine law may be adopted or modified
without affecting them. If by its enactment
any manufacturer find his machinery rendered
unsaeable, or his premises reduced in value,
let the State appraise and pay his loss She
will be very soon remunerated by the reduction
of her tax list, What the farmer may lose in
the sale OF grain by the suppression of distil-
leries, he will gain by the increased demand
for his produce in the shape of meat and
bread. NJ a"g a.
After all is this mere theory, or has such
law been found to work well?
In Portland, Maine, with population of
over 10000, the Mayors annual report closing
March 20, 1852, presents the following facts.
The liquor law came into force June Cd 1851.
There were then in that city 800 dram-shops.
whose receipts were over $500, 1000 per annum
There are now none, and the mony saved du-
ring the year is estimated sufficient to furnish
to every family in the city five barrels of -four
and five cords of wood at current rates
Commitments to the Almshouse.
For ten months after the passage of the
For corresponding ten months, previous
year 252
Decrease in ten months 1O6
or torty-two per cent
Number Of families receavsng outdoor relief.
For ten months after the passage of the
For corresponding ten months previous
Decrease in ten months As
or one third.
Commitments 10 House Of Correction -
For ten months after the passage of the
For corresponding months, previous
Decrease in ten months 45
or seventy-six per cent.
Commitments to jail and Watch House.
For ten months after the passage of the
For corresponding ten months, previous
year 279
! Decrease in ten months = l44
| or htty-two per cent OF these seventy-two
were for selling liquor, for which none were
arrested before the passage of the law. De-
duct these, and the decrease will be ZIG. or
seventy-elght per cent, notwithstanding in
creased vigilance on the part of the police
And this is but sample of the reform
throughout the State. By the written state
mehts of men of high standing in all parts of
Maine, the law is said to be more popular than
ever. ...r -.
lt is objected, that however beneficial such
law may be in Maine, it could not be executed
In other States, where the capital invested is
larger and the population less law-abiding. II
is believed, however, that in States where pub
lie sentiment will authorize its enactment. il
will also guarantee its general execution, and
every year OF its operation would strengthen il
in the favor of the people
Let us, at any rate, try. Faint hearts can
not cope with evil. But all who believe in God
and love mankind, and all who cherish free
dom, will rally round law which is the off
spring Of philanthropy and justice which val
ues the rights of man more than the claims of
useless trade, and which throws society's
strong arm around the weak B.