New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-16
T.muerarcc LegislasieB.

.temperauce nor Tippling-HOuses by legis-
sIa,iop-experience proves that you are far
more likely to Increase both To this
cavil MAINE has furnished conclusive re-
fotation. Intemperance, indeed, is not
entirely rooted out Of the State, but grog-
shops are. There is not place where Al
coholic Liquors are known to be sold,
except for Medical purposes, within the
bounds of the State, which is as large
as all the residue of New-England.
There are doubtless some drinkers left
in the State, but they have hard work to find
the means Of gratifying their deprayed ap-
petites, must do so By stealth, If at all, and
with much larger intervals between drinks
than they would prefer Even the imme'
date influences are immensely bene6cent.
The fountains of iotemPerance are dry ing
Up old soakers are reforming moderate
drinkers las they supposed themselves) are
desisting from strong drink almost as
matter of course. None other than man
who really loreS liquor who has acquired
a devouring, raging thirst for twill sneak
around into the back cellars and benighted,
filthy dens in which alone it is now to be
found.
The saving to the State in the bare cost
Of Liquor alone must amount to hundreds
of thousands of dollars per annum, while
tie saving in time ard in morals Is OF far
greater, Of inestimable value. Pauperlsm
is driving up; Crime is scarcely known;
the Police of the cities Of Maine finds very
little to 90: and Taxes, hitherto quadruPAng
every few years, may heaceforth be
gradually diminished. But, better than
even this, the Youth of Maine are no longer
tempted into the way which leads down to
perdition If any among them shall here
after contract habits Of dram-dfinking,
they must do it with the full knowledge
of the fact that Alcoholic Beverages
are under the ban of the law,
and made so because of their per-
nicious and destructive nature. The
youth who shall hencefOrth be solicited
for the first time to drink must realize, as
he sneaks and skulks round one dark corner
after another on his way to the rumsellefs
outlawed and closely hidden burow, that
he is doing base and guilty act, which the
wise and good stermy reProbate and have
done their best TO prevent. If there Is one
spark of virtue or true manhood in his char
acter, must he not pause and consider -
Must he no: scrutuize and Judge the friend
who is Turing him on in that forbidden, lOath-
some path? The ways of Vice are too Oft
en- strewn at the outset with flowers, which
are only transformed to thorns gradually
and almost imperceptibly as the begulled
ore advances but here the very outset
gives ample warning Of the true nature of
the career and its fearful goal. Who can
doubt that thousands, thus seasOnably
warned, will shun it and choose to walk on
in the paths of righteousness and peace
Who can soberly doubt that this Maine Law
is doing more to form the children of that
State to lives of virtue and happiness than
all the other laws on her statute-boOk
The Legislature of Maine is now in
session, and an effort to repeal this noble
law is anticipated. AS yet, however, we
see no move made, and our friends in that
State assure us that it cannot succeed. 1t
would be sad, indeed if the Star in the
East were to be eclipsed, just when her
sisters are beginning to be warmed, glad
dened and lighted on the way of life by
her shining.
But we must not ask nor expect Maine to
stand up for years alone. The contest is
unequal and unfair. The wholesale liquor
dealers Of Boston alone could richly afford
to give the average price of Legislature
to insure the repeal of this law The
Rum-selling interest generally might better
contribute One Million Dollars to procure
the repeal Of the Maine Law than have 1t
stand staring the Legislators Of other States
in the face and pointing them to the path of
duty, for even three years.
We must keep the enemy on the defen-
siye. We must attack him on his own
ground. We must carry the war into AT.
RIGA. The Rum-selling interest of Boston,
OF Portsmouth, Of New Y Ork, must be sup
piled with plenty ef work at home. We
must make determined Struggle for the
Maine Law in New York and in all the
New-England States, preparatory to a de-
monstration on the Center and West. We
shall thus escape all danger-the danger Of