The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-11-13
For The Cecil Wing.
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE-NO III.
The Maine Law.

All WHO nave Deen ln(erPSteH IN lle advance
of temperance principles, have become satisfied
that the mere Temperance Cause, solitary and
alone, with no lever save that of moral suasion,
will never be able to reach its point ofdestna-
ton, achieve the overthrow of the rum trade,
and suppress the custom OF tippling ardent
spirits Hence it was, that enthusiastic tenn
perance men early made nm effort TO muster it
into politics as principle for demagogues 10
quarrel about, and make political capital ont
of. This mode OF advancing the cause has not
only, in every instance, been complete failure,
hut it has seriously impeded the progress Of
tempera nee reformation. By entering the lists
as n politician, the sacred principle has shared
soodly portion of the odinm which invariably
attaches itself TO a mere partizan.
This is the fate, however, ofalmost all 'iHn,s,'
and it is well that Ills 50; for were it otherwise.
designing men would ride into power on eycry
imaginable species OF norM lofty. and thus
prostitute the most sacred principles 10 their
own selfish, nnlallowcd purposes.
The last hope of temperance men TO check,
and eventually 10 overcome and finally sub!ue
inc hUffbfS OF lH!cInptI"Hff, WHICH ARE S"ctI'-
ing over the 1ai- face Of our country like the
srocco of the DIES "r, leaving death and desola-
lion in its track. \ nd every moment increasing
in violence, is the plan hnown as the Maine, or
Liquor Lar.
And wha, is HIS :;Maine Law?' II is a law
declaring ,hr sale at ardent spirits as a bever
age. nuisance and crime, and prescribing GER
,nin penalties for nose who violate lis provl
sons The law, of rather tn" rinn of such a
law, is thoroughly .D:Snocra,ir, acknowledging
the VII of the majority a. supreme; ard ran no
more he considered II party law, than can II
school law. doy law, or any other law, which
las for its object TIE promotion Of good, the
protection Of life and property, and the suppress
sion Of evil.
The next point to br considered is:-should
thu traffic in rum except for medical AMI me-
chanical purposes, b. prohibited by law II 1t
iuhics more eril than eocd npon society. there
is M valid r"aSm. why it 'shonld not. If the
libe,tv of nm individual clashes with, or Injuries
majority of his fellows. there is no good reason
whtnc shculi no, he deprived Of that portion
OF RVS lTttlOU WHICH Is detrimental ~ INC GULF
munty.
fl the abstract man has a rip3 to drive his
horse Il, rapid pace in a c1owded street. In
the abstract he has right TO establish powder
Magazine in The heart ola popnlons city. In
the abstract he has rigM TO establish gamb-
ling houses. and brothel>; yet there are laws
prohibiting him from doing any Of these things.
and they are called very sautary laws; in every
way iudicious aud humane, and no one thinks of
calling in question the justice Of them. Now
the reason wny sch a judicial arrangement is
cuncurrcl in, is because, tho rghi in The aJ-
Nrac', surh things are mrong in tho concrete;
viz: \ man has perfect right to drive his horse
rapidly in the public street. but he has no right
to iujure persons By so dom z: hence he is com
peIcd 10 compromise for the convenience and
safety of his neiahbors, and drive nj a moderate
gait that all may enjoy the road without danger
to life or limb. Thus we see society, instead
oran individual solely, Is benefited by the regu-
laltop.
So, also, in the case Of powder magazine in
the heart Of populous city. There can be no
injury, whatever, TO the community, in the sim
pie act Of storing gunpowder in city; but the
law anticipates an injury because powder is
liable to combustion and explosion, which is
destructive to hath life and property; conse-
uuenty the law deems this sufficient ground
for prohibiting the establishing powder maya
zine in such place. And in the case cibroth-
els and gambling houses, the law interposes
because they are considered injurious 10 the
morals of the community. These are deemed
sufficient reasons FIR preventing their existence.
Now, all Of those calings may greatly adj
vantage their propre,ors, but because they are,
or may be, detrimental to the interests of the
social compact, the right Of individuals must
succnmb to that Of the community. Thus we
find right in the abstract swallowed up by right
in the concrete. If,he law is just that inter-
feres TO subvcrt individual rights in such matters
as above cited then how nitey greater IS its
latitude for interfering with the business of the
rum seller, whose occupation, tho very lucra-
tive to himself, combines all the evils of a gal
Looping horseman who cndangcrs life and limb;
of the powder magazine, that threatens life
and property with destruction, of the gaming
table and brothel which pick mems pockets and
corrupt their morals? To these it adds call the
diseases flesh is heir to" that contribute to make
lie miserable and death horrible.
Nor are all The evils OF rum yet told We do
not ask for the suppression Of the trade on the
ground that evil may result from it, as in the
case Of powder magazine, but on that of its
being an existing and active evil With the
first decanter that is uhcorked, injury to the
community commences. Tasting the spirit
creates an appetite in most young persons, and