Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-01-17
The Maine Liquor Law.-.IIOw II Works.

absolute prohibltlon OF tne SAFE, except tor me-
dicinal and mechanical purposes, and this limi-
ted traffic is most jcalously guarded to prevent
its abuse. The law is no sham, and tho people
who demanded it, are in earnest, as is proved
by their enforcement Of it. 1t is the most sem
sbe law that has ever been adopted on the
subject.
1t docs not visit the miserable drunkard with
imprisonment, though that to him would be a
blessing in comparison with his indulgence. 1t
imposes upon him no fine, which would be one
upon the suGcrings of his afflicted wife and
starving children. It does not as all other laws
have done before, expcnd itself upon the petty
retailer who, as bankrupt in cash as character,
is the irresponsible go-bctwcen of the drunkard
and the unprincipled capitalist, who spoculates
in the poison by wholesale. 1t docs not even
impose fine upon the wholesale dealer, which
he might perhaps afford to pay from the increas-
cd profits of his stock on hand. 1t proposes to
extcrminate the poison-and to do it in such
way as to defeat all hopes Of gain from those
whose business il is to swell this river of DEATH
1t scizcs il in most "summary" way. And We
are in favor of summary process in this case.
The mark of Cain, the murderer is on it, and
whosoever mectcth IT, should destroy it. This
law walks boldly into the Stcamboat-the Rail
Road Car---or the Store Room-scizes the Ii
quor wherever found-to whomsoevcr belong
ing, in whatever quantities, and of whatever
quality; whether it be tho sparkling cogniac of
the nabob, or the nauseous compound Of his
drudge, and consigns it all indiscriminately to
the sewer. 1t destroys he article and Of course
its traffic and use. Its loss falls where it should
fall, upon those who invest their capital in such
ton of the causc-and not at the effect. 1t dries
up the fountain, instead Of sopping up the
streams that flow from it.
A vigorous, and We arc told, we'll organized
effort is to be Immediately made. to induce our
legislature to adopt similar measures. We hope
every temperance man will be found in his lot,
vigorously operating in the work. Non-as-
sailants and even non-resstants, if they can
muster confidence enough in any sort of legis-
lature to induce action in its bchalf-Of course
will have no seruples about an assault upon the
bungs of rum puncheons and the fassetts of
whiskey barrels.
But though the law looks well upon its face
is sensible and just, yet our every day temper
sncc men and women, who do the work in tenn
perancc, abolition, and every thing else. would
like to know what have beon tho actual work
inss of,he law in Manner tslsts'-s'' ~ Z
1t has been on the statute book now, some six
months, or moro. And to the credit of the
people of Maine, it may be said, it has been no
dead letter there, as we feared it would be. 1t
has been executed, and the results are apparent.
What they are, our readers will learn from the
following letter. from Neal Dow, the present
Mayor of Portland. A gentleman who we be-
lieve was largely instrumental in the adoption
of the law, as he has also been in its vigorous
execution.
The letter is copied from the New Bedford
(Mass.) Mercury, and was written in answer to
inquiries of gentleman from Massachusetts,,
who was desirous to know whether it was wor-
thy Of an effort for similar enactment in that
State. The letter will help to answer similar
inquiries from our Ohio Friends:
PORTLAND, Dec, "a, 1851.
Junles b. Congdon, Esq.
Dear Sir:-Yonr favor of the 20ih is re-
ceived, asking me to give you in few
words, my opinions as to the eXpediency of
making the "Alaine Anti-Liquor Law" the
law of Massachusetts, aud our experience
of the working of the law in this State.
The law to which you refer was enacted
in this State after a long aud patient strug-
gle of the friends Of Temperance 10 obtain
il, and was drawn with many improvements
upon any preceding enactments, suggested
by our experience.
A grent many good temperance men took
part M all our efforts 10 procure a stringent
law-for they could not very well decline
assisting us-while they all doubted the ex-
pediency of enncting such an one, and fear
ed the result would not be favorable TO the
cause of Temperance. They reasoned from
our experience with all preceding laws
which had not been well calculated to nc
complish their object aud could not he easily
enforced. They were willing, however, TO
aid The bolder and more sanguine friends of
the Temperance cause in their efforts to
procure an effective enactment, while in
d huii ulty Hhu Hlllo nope lnul inucn gO0u
could I've effected by it.
The law has been enacted, stringen, in its
provisions and summary in its processes,
and all pariies-both It's friends and enemies
have been greatly disappointed in its results.
Ii has been quietly and energetically enforc-
ed, pretty generally through the State-and
it has accomplished its design TO an extent
aud with facility, which has surprised and
delighted its friends, and il is now firmly
fixe'l in the good opinion of all classes of
persons, who are friends of Inv and Order,
aud who wish to promote the real prosperity
of the State, and the happiness of the peo-
pie.
The "Maine Law" is here "fixed fact"-
mud 10y !; onr State has assumed a position
from which she will never recede, but from
which she will advance, until the rum trafic
is driven entirely and forever from her bor-
ders.
The wholesale trade in strong drink is now
ENTIRELY ExTERMINATED here, mean
throughout the Siate-and generally, the re.
tail trade is driven into cellars aud dark cor.