Daily American telegraph., 1852-03-10
Letter ON the Maine Law.

The following letter has been published in the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin" 1t will prove
highly instructive and interesting to the advo
Gates of the great reform:
PORTLAND, March 8, 1852
DEAR SIR Your favor, making some inquiries
in relation to the Maine liquor law, was duly re-
ceived, but have been obliged to defer an an
swer until the present time.
The effect Of the Maine law in diminishing
crime and paupersm, and in preserving the
peace and quiet Of the city, is most obvious to
all The city marshal stated to me that 1t was
Impossible to estimate the difference between the
good order now prevailing in the city and that
which existed before the law went into operation;
and such understand is the case in all the cities
and towns in the State, The lasc ,corks better eyen
than its most ardent friends expected. It might
however, have been presumed that closing all
the rum-shops in the State, and thus cutting off
the means OF intemperance, would effect a great
change in lessening crime of every kind, and in
promoting the best interests and happiness of all
classes Of tho community. Wherever intoxicat-
ing drinks are tolerated, crime and poverty and
their attendant evils are sure to follow.
There is some opposition to the law, and it
comes chiefly from the dealers in intoxicating
liquors, and moderate drinkers; bat as far as |
have been able to ascertain it constantly increases
in popularity; nor have | any apprehension that
it will be repealed. The longer it remains on the
statute-book, the stronger it viii grow in the ap.
proval of the people 1t is an interesting fact,
that among those who approve of the law, there
are many ,Oho Were notortousty mtemperate, but
who not now being able to supply perverted
appetite, have regained their self control. and
are glad that the temptation is removed beyond
their reach.
The great popularity of the Maine law lies in
the fact that it absolutely prohibits the sale of in
toxicating liquors, except for manufacturing and
medical purposes. 1t has heretofore been the
great error in all the legislation of the several
States relating to the sale Of strong drinks that
the sale has been authorized by law for the pur-
pose of being used a common drink. The only
material restriction has been in respect to the
number of persons who should sell. We have
tried the common system of granting licenses to
select individuals, under various FORMS for more
than two hundred years, and the effect may every
where be seen in the increase OF intemperance.
1t is the necessary effect Of the common legisla-
ton on this subject to augment the evil which it
proposes to restrain. Any legislation that toll
crates the sale of Intoxicating drinks is utterly
worthless and impotent in restraining intemper-
ance. The experiment, it would seem, had been
sufficiently tried to satisfy the most ncredulous.
1t were better to have no law on the subject than
any which have yet seen that tolerates the sale
as common drink. Entertaining these views,
the friends of temperance in Maine could think
of no legal remedy for the restraint of intemper-
ance, but in prohibition. To go back to the old
system of granting licenses would SAVIOR too large
ly of the ridiculous, and would be in such utter
disregard of the actual results of the system that
it could not be admitted for moment The
only question, it seems to me, now before the
public, touching this matter, is prohibition or the
free sale everywhere. This is the issue to be met
at the present time. And aOhy should the sale not
be prohtbedP Prohibition is the rule in all other
cases of wrong -doing-Why depart from this rule
ficted on society? Very respectfully,
JAMES APPLETON