The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-01-30


God and take courage! Shall we no
rise from one end of America to the other
and in the Legislatures of New Hamp
shire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, lndi
ana, and Illinois, action commenced, o
a decisive character; and, in some cases
if not completed, sustained by larg'
majority Of the popular branches. Ii
Ohio, battle has been fought, and a vic
tory gained, which we can contemplate
no otherwise than with feelings of admi
ration and gratitude. To the voters o
that large and important State, was sub
mitted by her Convention for the revis
ion Of the Constitution, the question, t.
be decided at the ballot-box, whether i
should form an article.of the Constitution
that " No license TO traffic in intoxicating
liquors should hereafter be granted in the
State" The result has been, that of 217491
electors in that State, 113, ,237 have voted
No LICENSE, creating majority on this
important point, of 8,9S2. This, consid
ering the strength of the traffic in every
city and town in the State, the deep in
terest of every licensed vendor in the con
tinuance of his license, and the power o
the trade to control the votes of the igno
rant and the vicious, we cannot but con
slider a great result; honorable to the
activity and zeal of our friends and breth'
rem, TO the good sense, humanity and pa
triotism of the people, and bidding ut
press forward with hope and confidence
in every part of the Union,
But from Maine has come our highes
encouragement Early as 1887, an able
Report was made by Committee of the
Legislature of that State on numerous pc.
titions for protection from the evils of the
traffic. That committee presented a bill
for the entire prohibition of the traffic in
the State; but it was lost in the Legisla
ture. Yet it was not lost to the Commit
tee nor to the people, From that period
the friends of the measure have been as
siduous in their labors to form to it the
public sentiment OF the Stale. More thar
year since, they carried the subject, as
they felt they had right 10 dc, TO the
balEot-box, and returned Legislature
which passed the bill; but it was vetoed
by the then acting Governor. Nothing
daunted, the bill, with Improvements
was pressed upon the now existing Leg
islatire, as demanded by the people,
Almost without delay, it was adopted by
commanding majority, and received the
approval of the Governor. By this law
Of Maine, all traffic in spirituous and in.
toxicating liquors, except for medicine
and the arts, is forbidden under pains and
penalties and all spirituous and intoxi.
eating liquors, kept for sale but for these
purposes, and by an individual specially
Commissioned, under bonds, is TO be
seized and destroyed by the public au-
thorities.
Such law, if it is indeed the voice Of
the people and sustained by the people,
affords all the protection which a long
oppressed and suffering community can
desire. 1t puts out the fires which have
been burning the bodies and souls ol
men. 1t cuts off the supply which creates
the demand for intoxicating drinks. II
puts an end to all subterfuges, and frauds,
and evasions of law. 1t makes the State
a safe abode for the miserable inebriate,
and secures to the people temperance
millennium. It is almost a vision of the
night; and the mind anxiously inquiries,
Will It be sustained? Athousand voices
answer, Yes, Yes. Already in her chiei
cities and towns, men engagen in the
traffic, from the highest to the lowest
have disposed or theirstock in trade; and
where they have persisted in the sale
the liquor has been seized by the magls'
trate, and, in open day, amid approving
multitudes, poured upon the earth OF
turned into the sea.
So great a scene, in one of the principal
States of our Union, the result of nc
sudden action, no wild fanaticism, but o.
years of profound thought and arduous
labor, impresses the mind with solemn
awe. We pause for moment to ask
what would be the condition of our noble
country if every State in the Union were
to adopt and carry out the same princi'
pie? Where, comparatively, would be
urpauperism and crime? Where, fami-
lies, torn and scathed by drunken fathers
and drunken sons? Where, tenants fol
our vast iails, and poor-houses, and luna.
tic asylums? In the beautiful language
Of inspiration, evidence would no more
be heard in our streets; wasting MOI
destruction in our borders" And vel
Maine was once as far from this action =
once as ready for the full indulgence Of
vicious appetite, and as freely wasting on
the intoxicating cup her millions Of dol
lars. as other States in the Union. Hel
present proud position, is the fruit o.
humble, prayerful, persevering labor in
all her cities, towns, and villages; in hel
colleges and schools OF learning, in hel
medical department, in her churches o.
various denominations, in her Legislature
and courts of justice.
We viii not pause here, brethren and
friends, to agitate and discuss Thousand
questions, and to solve difficulties which
may have arisen in the minds of the
doubtful and unbelieving. We have the
model before US. The action of Maine is
matter OF history. Shall we not thank