New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-21
TILE MAINE LAW IN NEW-YORK.

terval between Its enactment anu us tan-
ing effect, could majority be induced 10
send it down to the People for confirmation
or rejection. The members most strenu-
ous in their assertions that the People were
not prepared for, and were averse to any
such legislation, were the most careful
and most determined that the People
should have no chance to speak for them
selves in the premises. The Rum interest
evidently dreaded a submission even more
than the unconditional enactment of the
Maine Law Members who owed their
election to Temperance pledges or profess
sions have voted against both the Law and
its submission, OF more basely lodged the
vote ON either. So in all the States where
the question has been agitated, the enc
mics of the Maine Law have. with scarce
ly an exception resisted a submission TO
the People equally with the passing OF the
Law.
So much, then, is already gained by the
agitation for the Maine Law. 1t is clearly
demonstrated that its enemies dare not sub
NIT the question to the People. Their con-
fdent assertions of the unpopularity OF the
measure are uniformly contradicted by their
more expressive acts. We shall carry the
suppression of grog-shops whenever we can
reach the People with the question; such
is the tacit confession of our adversaries.
We know how common and how futile
also is the appeal of our adversaries to our
Town Elections in opposition to this view
They say, and we presume truly that a
large majority of the towns have chosen
License officers; but this only proves
that the light troops of Liquor are more
disposable than the undisciplined militia OF
Temperance. One-fifth of the voters, with
whom politics are entirely subordinate to
interest or appetite, may easily be so ma
neuvered as to overbear the great majority,
whose attention is distracted by variety
of interests and considerations. The rival
town caucuses of the two political parties
are generally held at taverns, and mainly
attended by those to whom bar-rooms are
most familiar. The fact that the lovers of
Liquor will be very certain to bolt If not
suited in the nominations, while the Tenn
perance men are more likely to grumble
and submit, naturally exerts a very potent
influence with those to whom the success
of the ticket is a controlling consideration.
Thus two License tickets are often made
out in towns where a clear majority OF the
electors will vote No License on a dis
tinct issue and then party discipline holds
the great body faithful to their respective
party standards and even where one par
ty (oftener, but not always, the Whig,)
puts up No License ticket, the Rum
interest at once throws all its weight into
he opposing scale, while Temperance men
are held to their party affinities by ambig-
uous assurances, party feeling, or personal
considerations and the result is Lii
cense' triumph in town where three ffths
of the voters on direct issue would vote
No License. This has been exemplified
in two or three hundred towns at our re-
cent elections.
. Thus stands the controversy at present
the friends of Temperance striving earnest
ly, but as yet unsuccessfully, to disentan-
gle the License question from the COM
plications of politics, and commit it direct
ly and simply to the arbitration of the Peo-
pie; the Rum interest desperately resisting
this, and insisting that it shall be blended
and covered with Tariffs, Banks, Canals,
&C., ard yet keeping up vociferous out
cry against miring up Temperance with
Politics. Its organs tell US that Temper
ance is Moral question, but they would
fain conceal the fact that it has vast Polti-
cal bearings as well. Politics, in the higher
and truer sense of the term, is the science
of Legislation, of Government, and of Pub
lie Well being. And who will say that
the prevalence of temperate or Incorporate,
virtuous or vicious habits and usages, is not
vitality associated with these Who shall
say that the great first cause of Idleness,
Unthrift, Pauperism, Crime, and the heavy
burdens and taxes by these imposed on the
community, is not properly a subject OF
political discussion and action
But, In fact, out opponents take ground
refuted by all the past legislation of our
States and Cities-by all their o,cn past ac-
ton. Long before Total Abstinence had
been prescribed as a rule Of life, and when