The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-02-20

New York Tribune-Temperanoe
It does us good to see a political journal
ke the Tribune speaking out on the great
uestion of legal enactment against the
ouor traffic. Greely is emphatically the
apoleon of the press in this country, and
Q dares to say Just what he thinks, whether
spleases or displeases, on all the absorbing
,pics of the day. In last weeks number
g find an interesting article, from WHICH
e make the following extract;
"INTEMPRANoE AND Law.
The friends of The Maine LaW are now
ssolute and active throughout this State
nd New England, and are beginning to
iake head in the Free West. They court
avestigation and challenge discussion.
hey appear before Legislative Committees
ith carloads of petitions, with arrays of
cts and arguments, vainly defying their
ltagonists to meet and rebut them if they
An. But the Rumsellers have no argu-
ents for the public eye. For the venal
ey have cash, for the ambitious they pre-
nd to have the power of controlling nomi-
ltions and elections but though their
nissaries swarm in every hall and darken
,ery lobby, they are all dumb dogs, and
not dare to come up 10 the ordeal OF
partial scrutiny. They deal in abstrac-
ons and predictions, while the appeal OF
champions of Legal Suasion is mainly
FACTS. When the Rumsellers' agents
nfdently assert that the traffic in AlcO-
Ilic drinks cannot be repressed, their op-
,nents answer by evidence from Maine
at it has been. When the former assert
lat stringent legislation against tippling-
Duses will be openly resisted, the latter
We in answer the fact that the traffic has
en- abolished in Maine, and yet that State
as never more tranquil aud law-abiding
IAN it now is. When the Rum interest
serts that the Reform in Maine is only
rperfcial, and that there is really as much
linking there as formerly, they prove by
great diminution of Pauperism, Beg
Try, Police business and Crime in that
ate, that the fact must be otherwise.
nd finally, when the former threaten all
no vote for the Maine Law with political
struction, the latter point to the facts that
party, and not even a clique in Maine,
oenly oppose the present Law, that nobody
cams of its repeal, and that the present
ovenor, who was originally opposed TO
now proclaims himself instructed by
vperience and its decided supporter, to
)othe the nerves of the timid and strengthen
le hearts of the doubling. In short, the
lntest is maintained at long shot on one
de, while the other is eager to come to
le closest possible action. Who can doubt
le final result 2"
Ithas been suggested that the Maine Law
light be adopted in New York at the pre-
mt session of the Legislature, subject to
le approval of the electors of the State at
general election. On this point the Edi-
II of the Tribune says:
Let us have the Maine Law passed,
it'll no localities exempted from its opera
on, and we are perfectly willing to abide
le peoples verdict on its propriety and
orh. In our own estimate, its merits
utweigh those of all the acts of our last ten
legislatures added together"
Who dare say that Greedy places too high
estimate on the merits of such an enact
rent? We agree with him perfectly. How
oes the remark apply exclusively to New
,ork. The enactments in any State of this
'nion for the last ten years "added to-
ether,' are valueless compared with this
ne. 1t would do more to secure life and
roperty, preserve the peace and good order
society, promote individual, domestic
nd social happiness, than all the laws Of
he last half century.