New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-18
Wow the 1raiae works.

! their fruits are dissipation, lndoience, nrl1t-
lessness, Quarreipg, Psuperism, Fraud,
Robbery and Murder; we know that the
Maine Law is rig bit because its results are the
opposites of the foregoiog are Sooriety
Industry, Thrift, Peace, Competence, Virtue
ard Happiness Christian Patriot Phi
ianttrofistl hos ca1 you be Indifferent to
TIE issue OF the struggle now in progress
between the Liquor fTsffic and the Maine
Lawi
Whoever carefully watches tho pro-
gTess Of this controversy cannot fail to per-
ceiye that our side deals ia authentic ted
facts the other in vapory distractions or
unsupported assertions. We show what the
Liquor Traffic does and is, and what are the
glorious fruits Of its suppression by means
of the Maine Law the other side talk of
the dangers and mischiefs of excessive
legislation, the impossibility Of coercing
men into virtue, &c AS if the Maine Law
were any more obnoxious to all these caviIs
than the acts forbiddiag and furnishing Sc
ductien, Gambling, and other vices, already
inscribed Oh our statute-book There is no
shadow of principle involved in this law
which our Legislatures have not already
affirmed without objection hundred times
over.
Very rarely and reluctantly our ADVERSE
RES descend from their cloudland into the
region where fact should be, and talk of the
Maine Law as imperative but those who
make these representations are very care
full to withhold their names, while they rare
ly fail to discredit their own assertions.
Thus IN anonymous correspondent of The
Herald, protesting to write from Maine on
this subject, asserts, l. That Liquor il
now as abundantly and generally sold aud
consumed in Maine as ever it was. 2. That
for this reason the People care little for the
Maine Law aud do not press its repeal.
3. That the only effect Of the Law is to
make Liquor cost many times its former
price uader Free Trade
These assertions confute and destroy
each other. If the People of Maine are
buying and drinking Liquor freely as of
old, they certainly are not such fools as to
sustain law which immensely enhances
its cost to no purpose whatever. Who can
fail to see this
Now look at our array Of testimony in
the premises. Each statement has real
name subscribed to it, which is generally
that Of well known and most reliable cit
izen; and it is very often made up in good
part of official records Of Pauperism abated'
Crime diminished, and Misery transformed
to Happiness BY the operation of this Law.
The following new testimony to this effect,
from distinguished citizen Of Maine, was
addressed to an inquiring friend in Philadel-
phia
PORTLAND, Friday, March S, 1882.
DEAR Biz Your favor, making some inquiries In
relation to the Name Liquor Law, was duly receiv-
%, but have been Obliged TO deter an answer until
The effect Of the Maine Law in diminishing crime
and paupefism, and IN preserving the peace and
quiet Of the city, 10 mosI obvious to all The City
Marshal stated to that II was impossible 70 est.
mate the difference between the GOOD order no arc
vains IN the city and that which sxsted before the
law went INTO operation and such understand 10
the case In all the cities and towns In tae STATE.
The l6c works better than most ardent friends
expected IL might, no ever, have been presumed,
that closing all the shops In the State and thus
cutting Oh the means OF insempersnce would effect
great chango m lessenibg crime OF every kind, and
In promoting the best interests and happiness Of all
ciasses Of the community. Wherever intoxicating
drinks are tolerated. crime and poverty and their a.
sendant evils are sure to follow.
There IL some opposition to the law and Il comes
chiefly from the dediers In intoxicating liquors and
me60afs drinkers; but, - far a. have able to
ascertain, II constantly increases In popularity nor
have any apprehension that Il wiz be repealed.
The longer Il remains the statute book, the
stronger II will grow In the approval Of the people.
IL is IN interesting fact that among those who ap-
prove Of the law. there are many wAo psrs nstorsssy
satenperate; but Who not now being able to supply
perverted appetite, have rsgained their self-coa.
uOl, and are now glad that the temptation IL removed
The great peculiarly Of the Maine Law lies in the
fact that it absolutely prohibits the sale Of intoxcat-
ing nauons' creepy ioI nanuiac!uing and medicinal
all the legisaton OF the several States, relating 10
the sale OF strong drinks, that the sale has Deen
authorized BY law for the purpose OF being used a.
conmon eIink The only material restriction has
been In respectt to the number OF persons who should
sell. We have tried the common system of granting
licenses to select inalvduals under vArious forms,
for more than two hundred years, and the effect may
every where be seen the increase of atemperance
1t is the nseesary effect Of the common legislation
this SUBJECT TO augmentsne evil which proposes
TO restrain. Any legislation that o,efstes sale Of
Intoxicating drinks, 10 utterly worthless and impo
tent In restraining incorporates. The experiment,
it would seem, had been sufficiently tried 70 satisfy
the most Incredulous Ii better TO have Law
on the subject, than any which have yet seen, soat
tolersiss the sails as common drink. Entertaining
these views, the friends OF Temperance in Maine
could think Of legal remedy for the restraint OF
intempersnce, but in Prohbst'sn To 20 osck 10 the
old system Of granting llcecses would SAVIOR too
largely OF the ridiculous and Toad be in such utter
disregard OF the actual results OF the system that 1t
could Lot be admitted fora moment. The only quss.
tion IL seems to me- now before the pubic, touching
this matter 10, prohibition the free SALE every.
where. This Is the Issue TO be met at the present
tine And rhy should NOT fhs ssIs b. rrvasossaf Pro-