The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-05-28
!" "Ertermination.n

that it originated with some Maine lanai
ic. This is an error, the doctrine has
been proclaimed for years, by grave aud
reverend divines, as well as by eiudIte
lawyers, skilled physicians, and reflect
ing menfp every department OF society
The only thing that Maine men are enti-
tied to the credit Of, is the discovery OF
the process, by which that lougdesired re-
suit could be attained, and the rigorous
application oftle means for its attainment.
This is all.
The Rev. Baxter Dickinson, of New
Jersey, said, more than ttDenty gears ago,
"This scourge can never be removed, till
those deadly fires are all put out. With
out prophets vision, ! foresee the day
when the manufacture OF intoxicating
drink, for common distribution, will be
classed with the arts of counterfeiting, and
forgery, and The maintenance Of houses OF
midnight reveiry aud pollution. Upon the
dwellings you occupy, upon the fields you
--5noidso' 1f'5aAi"s 20 y-v--i--s7 . '''si a.
spot that entombs your ashes, there will
be fixed an indescribable gloom and obi
BUSINESS, 10 offend the eye and sicken the
heart of vfrtuous community, till your
memory shall perish. Quit, then, this
vile business, and spare your name, spare
your family, spare your chidren's children
such insupportable shame and reproach." "
We might quote from Justice Edwards,
DR.. Beecher, Thos. P. Hunt, John Pier
pont, John Marsh, and indeed from the
whole list of the "Otd guard" and show
that the determination" doctrine was
iavorite theme, years and years ago.
True, some of them thought, that the way
to get rid Of the traffic, was to declare it
a crime, punish the criminal, and let
the instruments Of his cruelty remain for
others to use. While they classed it with
counterfeiting and burglary, they did not
think of seizIng the plates, and the counter
felt money, and the kegs and crolcbarS, of
the offenders, and confscating them.
Some maintained that an increased duty
would very much restrain the evil, and
advocated larger bonusior the privilege
Of manufacturing drunkards, and contin-
ing the business TO better men. There
were variety Of proposed remedies, but
none Of them recognized the simple prin-
ciple of seizing and destroying the liquor
itself. 1t seems TO US, now, very singu-
lar that such plainly recognized right Of
government, and one which had so long
been asserted in reference to other often
ses of less magnitude, should have es-
capped the attention Of our Fathers. The
delusive idea that license was a restraint
that the business could be regulated
has done much to retaTd the great work
of determination. DR.. s. Beman, of Troy,
a distinguished divine, and others, no less
distinguished, years ago, began to see the
folly of this method of curing the evil.
The gentleman, just referred TO, said in a
sermon, illegal restraint, tn this business,
is like a cobweb around the brawny arms
ofa giant. Leviathan is not thus tanned
There never ought to be any other act
passed than one, to legislate dramshops,
both genteel and vulgar, out Of eriStence.
They are moral pest houses, wherever
they exist. 1t is in vain to attempt tc
make such business, pure in character
or harmless to the community, by lega
supervision. When you do this, yor
may regulate piracy by law! You may
have an honest gaming house, and a holy
Sodom! You cannot tame the hyena by
moral suasion or legal discipline! 1t is
all piece of solemn mockery, The H.
cense laws, in the best form in which you
can present them, are a burlesque upon
legislation; alibel upon civilized life, and
ought to be the laughing stock Of poor
human nature y
This is strong language, but who will
attempt to deny its truth ? Maine, for
years, tried to regulate the traffic. They
went further than this, they prohibited it
entirely, except for artistical and medici-
nal purposes. Th9y tried the execution
ofthe law, brave men and true gave them
selves to the work. The liquor itself was
not disturbed. 1t was left in the bar-room
to inhame the passions and destroy the
the moral sense of the virtuous, while
the guilty vender was on trial, or suffer
ing the penalty of the violated law The
result was, after repeated trials, that the
liquor was too strong for them. The en-
ragged and drunken imps Of the bar.room,
under the inspiration of liquor, distributed
freely and without charge by the villain
Gus Landlord, oGtentimes committed dep
relations upon the property, and outraged
the persons of those who aided in bring
ing offenders TO trial. We remember an
instance of a peacesble citizen, who in
formed upon a violator Of the law, who,