The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-11-20
For The Cecil Wing.
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE-NO 8.
The Maine Law.

ne great amount OF human misery Wnlcn
flows from the bitter fountain of intemperance,
isl theme for sorrowlul reflection. 1t presents
a wide field for the exercise Of the philanthro-
phist's benevolent powers--a field, which, APP
parently, he has been laboring in for many pre-
vious years, without any pcrceptible advance,
Judging from the almost universal habit of rum
drinking at the present time throughout the
country. At certain periods Of the temperance
Reformution-if that term is admissible the
holy principle has gone forward like the tri
umphant march of conqucror-but those adj
vances have been short as brilliant, and the
cause, after these meteor-like movements has
again apparently relapsed into a fatal stupor,
while intemperance took up its march of de-
yastation
The moral force Of truth, when promulgated
by the champions of the cause, has, for awhile,
been able TO Withstand the dark opposing forces
OF rum, and 10 hurl them hack in confusion, but
that moral power alone cannot always keep ia
the field force sufficient 10 cope with the pow
ers of Alcohol.
While the temptation of rum is al lowed to
exist, men will fall victims TO its seductive in
fuence, is fixed fact and while the masses
take the side olrum, as they do at present, rum
will still exist with his noisy iumily, and con-
tinue to exercise that baneful power over the
human race which it has ever done. But will
the time ever arrive, when the people in one
voice will cry, down with The destroyer p Such
II, al I b. tam 90
causc but men dreamed OF u millennium then,
in that cause, while they restrained other nu-
sauces of less magnitude by the strong arm Of
law.
This mnmcntary reformation was brought
about by the declaration Of a simple Truth.
Mems minds were opened to contemplate IN
temperance in all its cnormlty, contraS,ed with
the sublime beauties of total abstinence. The
result was, that when they saw rirtue they ran
TO welcome the goddess among them. Cannot
that truth be again preached as iorciLly as it was
twelve years since! 1t will now, as ever, ex-
crcise IA salnay influence on the minds Of men.
Had the Muine Lu,r been mooted in the days Of
the Washing,onians, it would have been carried
by acclamation; but il is idle to present it to the
masses now in their present state Of apathy
toward the temperance cause. Then, while
there Is yet hail left in the state dedicated to
the cause Of temperance, while there can be u
"corporai's guard" mustered together, let them
Adopt the only plan which promises even a
hope of success. Thousands Of dollars have
been ioolishly, aye, wIchedy thrown away, pre-
irsselly in support Of temperance measures, ill
lnen have grown sick Of blrcln. at the purse,
and weary oflhe juygIery that has been prac
tIcrd, as if 10 populate the god Oftemperance.
Let but 1.-THE Of that money which has been
wasted, be applied to the procurement Of eff
Gent speakers to canvas the State in support OF
law to prohibit the sale Of liquor at every
cross road, street, and alley in country and CITY,
II this plan were pursu el--tor what has been
done once by the power Of justice and truth can
be accomplished again BY the same means
and petitions circulated at the same time TO be
presented to the Legislature, praying the enact
Inent of such q law; the thing could Immediately
be accomplished, and without making party
measure of it either. LEGISLATORS are willing
to pass any law, that they knop the people will
sanction, but when this all important point re-
mains in doubt they move with extreme caution
in any measure.
But let the majority make known their wishes
By petitions with autographs affixed, and their
humble servants at the capitol will move with
aacrty. IL the evils of intemperance were
brought fresh before the people and their minds
opened TO contemplate them in their true light
and magnitude, there would be few, compare
lively speaking, who would refuse TO sign
petition praying the legislature to suppress the
odious traffic; and every name thus registered
would represent an individual pledge 10 sup
port and carry out the requirements of such
law; hence it would serve the double purpose
Of urging the legislature on to the performa nee
Of its duty, and of curing the people of luke
warmness in the temperance cause, and deter
mining them at once to take firm stand in its
support.
word to the ladies-especially to the young
er portion of the sex--ard | will close. In
speaking 10 you | will not do it in 'smoving
tropes," but am bound TO tell you some plain
truths. great many Of you are exceedingly
imhecile in support Of measure that vitality
concerns you.
There lisa certain class of young men grow
ing up in the odor Of the multitude of crog shops
which pollute the land, and like the tabled
Upas tree deal death to all that approach them,
who fear neither God or man; and yet you can
contro. ahem by nod. But instead of excr-
cisng yoUr influence on the side of virtue, you
seldom erea slightly rebuke them when they reel
into gour company respiring the feed fumes of
get the epaa insult you have received if in