The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-11-13
For The Cecil Wing.
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE-NO 3.
The Maine Law.

The great amount Of human misery which
flows from the bitter fountain of intemperance,
is theme for sorrowlul reflection. 1t presents
wide field for the exercise of the philanthro-
phlst's benevolent powers-a field, which, APP
parently, he has been laboring in for many pre-
vious years, without any pcrceptlble advance,
judging from the almost universal habit Of rum
drinking at the present time throughout the
country. At certain periods Of the temperance
Reformution--if that term is admissible the
holy principle has gone forward like the tri-
umphant march Of a conqueror-but those ad-
vances have been short as brilliant, and the
cause, after these meteor-lke movements has
again apparently relapsed into fatal stupor,
while intempcrance took up its march of de-
yustaton!
The moral force of truth, when promul ated
by the champions of the cause, has, for awhile,
been able 10 Withstand the dark opposing forces
OF rum, and 10 hur them back in confusion, but
that moral power alone cannot always keep in
the field force sufficient 10 cope with the pow
ers of Alcohol.
While the temptation of rum is al lowed to
exist, men will fall victims to its seductive in
iuence, is fixed fact; and while the masses
take the side of rum, as they do at present, rum
Will still exist with his noisy family, and con-
tnuc to exercise that baneful power over the
human race which ii has ever done. But will
the time ever arrive, when the people in one
voice will cry, down with the destroyer ? Such
an era as this once existed IN the temperance
cause; but men dreamed Of millennium then,
in that cause, while they restrained other nu
sanccs Of less magnitude by the strong arm OF
law.
This mnmcntary reformation was brought
about by the declaration Of simple Truth.
Mems minds were opened to contemplate in
Temperance in all its cnormity, conlrn:ed with
the sublime beauties of total abstinence. The
result was, that when they saw rriue they ran
to welcome the goddess among them. Cannot
tia, truth be a.ain preached as lorcibly il
twelve years since! 1t will now, as ever, ex-
.rcise >an,ary influence on the minds Of men.
Had the Maine Lau been mooted in the days Of
the Washinotonans, it would have been carried
by acclamation; but il is idle to present it to the
masses now in their present State OF apathy
toward the temperance cause. Then, while
there IL yet hail left in the state dedicated to
the cause Of temperance, while there can be
..corporai's guard" ned together, let them
hope of success. Thousands Of dollars have
been ioolshly, aye, wickedly thrown away, pre-
i'sselly in support Of temperance measures, I'LL
men have grown sick Of bleeding at the purse,
and weary oflhe jugglery that has been prac-
tic"d, rs if to ptopitlatc the god Oitemperance.
Let but 1.-THE of that money which has been
wasted, be applied to the procurement of etli-
cent speakers to canvas the State in support OF
law to prohibit the sale Of liquor at every
cross road, street, and alley in country and city.
II this plan were pnrsued-tor what has been
done once BY the power Of justice and truth can
be accomplished again by the same means
and petitions circulated at the same time 10 be
presented to the Legislature, praying the enact
ment of such law; the thing could Immediately
be accomplished, and without making party
measure of ii either. Legislators are willing
to pass any law, that they know the people will
sanction, but when this all important point re-
mains in doubt they move with extreme caution
in any measure.
But let the majority make known their wishes
By petitions with autographs affixed, and their
humble servants at the capitol will move with
brought fresh before the people and their minds
opened to contemplate them in their true light
and magnitude, there would be few, compare
lively speaking, who would refuse TO sign q
petition praying the legislature to suppress the
odious traffic; and every name thus registered
would represent an individual pledge 10 sup
port and carry out the requirements of such a
law; hence it would serve the double purpose
of urging the legislature on to the performa nee
of its duty, and of curing the people of luke
warmness in the temperance cause, and deter
mining them at once to take firm stand in its
support.
word to the specially to the young
er portion of the sex-and | will close. In
speaking TO you | will not do it in "movng
tropes," but am bound to rell you some plain
truths. great many Of you are exceedingly
imhecile in support of measure that vitality
concerns you.
There is a certain class of young men grow
ing up in the odor of the multitude of crog shops
which pollute the land, and like the tabled
Upas tree deal death to all that approach them,
who fear neither God or man. and yet yow can
control ahem by nod. But instead of e1cr-
cisnc yoUr influence on the side of virtue, you
seldom erea slightly rebuke them when they reel
into yoaIr company respring the fe,ed fumes of
alcohol an when sober you make haste to for
get the epsa insult you have received if in