New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-21

Nso far as practicable) suppression OF the
Traffic in Intoxicatins Liquors. We wish
to have done forever with regulating, linn
iting, ccddling or patching up that ruinous
Traffic and its consequences. We agree
with the laws as they are, that bad men
should not be allowed to prosecute 1t: We
insist with the laws as they should and yet
must be, that good men cannot consistently
do il. and that the law should rather adj
mcnish and deter than encourage and Sc
duce them. He who favors the legal and
absolute Introduction and suppression OF the
Liouor Traffic is Maine Law man. tie
who opposes this repression Is an enemy to
the Maine Law. Thus much, at least we
have gained by the last winters agitation :
a test which repels ambiguity and dehes
eouivocation. We have been cheated long
enough and badly enough by assurances
that this or that candidate was Temper
ance man, which afterward proved to mean
onlv that he had fondness for Temperance
votes. Henceforth, candidates for legis-
lative posts will be asked, Are you tor or
AGAINST the Maine Law , and evasion or
silence will be understood to mean hos
tility.
The struggle must and will go on steadily
and unhinchingly. 1t would seem desirable
on some accounts that the years of PreSiden-
tial contests like that before Us might be
intermitted; but that cannot, must not be.
If it were, the whole crew now busted in
reviling US for bringing Temperance into
Politics would assail us even more fero-
ciously for letting Temperance wait on
Politics, and thus seeming to make 1t the
convenience and handmade of party. We
should inevitably lose much valuable
ground which has been gained by patient
and resolute effort. We should lose the
countenance and the cooperation OF our
MANY valued colaborers, who feel little or
no interest in President-making, but a
great deal in the Maine Law. We should
lose the newborn interest of our adverse
ries in the promotion of Temperance by
Moral Suasion-a Jonah's gourd which
we should be 10th to see wlther away In
the freshness Off prime. We should lose
the salutary check which our exertions and
representations must naturally exert over
the tendency TO deeper and more general
tipping in times of high political excite
ment. No, we cannot afford years In
Permission of our efforts for the Maine Law.
This year may not bring us success, be-
cause of the absorption of public interest In
other channels, but we must at least pre-
serve our ranks unbroken.
We hope it may be found practicable to
keep this controversy distinct from general
politics. We do not see why the struggle
for Maine Law Legislature may not pro-
coed side by side with the Presidential
contest. Our next Legislature has no U. 5.
Senator to- choose, and nothing of much in
terest depending on its merely partisan
complexion. As to Governor, we ask only
that each party shall present a candidate
who will not veto the Maine Law if en-
acted and so much we think neither party
will dream of refusing. Then why may
we not all vote for President, Members of
Congress, County Officers, &C., according
to our respective political or personal pre-
ferences and for Members of Assembly as
they shall be friendly or hostile to the
Maine Law! We hope the experiment
may at least have trial.