New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-02
Maine Law and The Tribune.

Maine Law and The Tribune.
The New. York Tribune is very strong
advocate of the Maine Law. 1t says The Hartford
Times sis greatly distressed al the fyrdnnicdt pro-
visions and moBstTous principles OF the law we
aye not so much distressed" as The Iribune mag
ines-not so much, probably, as TIE Tribune itself
is seeing the unjust principles Oh !ne Ia"
That paper does not attempt to defend the tyran-
njcel principles Of the law, which make man
criminal for demanding trial by Jury which de-
prive him OF introducing direct and ofhcia evidence
10 prove himsefiDnoeent, after the law has araisned
him as criminal and forces him TO prove himself IN
nocent. The Tribune does pot attempt to defend
these extraordinary provisions and DINERS tnat are
unjust and outrageous 1t does not attempt to de-
feEd the provision that will admit OF search In
every dwelling nor of that which will drag man
from his home to the remotest County In the STATE,
to answer 70 charge made on suspicion, and which
also makes him pay the costs even ii he IS found to
be innocent The Tribune does not attempt to de-
fend these monstrous principles 1t cannot. But,
shutting his eyes, the editor swaow the law entre,
with all of its bad provisions and attempts TO Justify
himself by saying that 1t cuts up the Liquor Traic
in Name lfit does, the reason is not sufficient to
Justify Connecticut IN adopting principles at war
with the provisions of her constitution and the
rights her citizens But it ye. to be proved that
any less quantity of liquor is used in Maine than
was the case before the adoption OF this law. We
have good authority for saying that ardent spirits
are used as generally and freely In Maine as ever.
The law has stopped some OF the shops and stores,
but still liquor is taken into families-it is procured
in huDdIe ways and Is as generally used as ever.
The law does not touch the consumer and this class
take their own course and time In getting and drink
ing ardent spirits. tdariiord Times.
~ The Hartford Times seems to US the
next thing to a very good paper-that is,
it is a frankly, boldly bad one. 1t does not
white, nor dodge, nor sneak, nor play mum,
on the great moral questions of our time,
like many journals of better principles but
less manliDess but meets them with the
gallant bearing of a dashiDg highwayman
of the olden time. 1t deserves liberal sup
port from the Rumsellers of Connecticut,
and they will be equally ungrateful and i'm
polite if they fail to afford it.
49, Now as to unjust principles" We
believe, and we understand The Times to
deny, that the sale of lntoxic eating Bever-
ages is pernicious and wrong that it is an
oflense against morality and the public we'll
being.
Believing this traffic to be not merely
wrong but vitality, flagrantiy, enormously
SO, and the existing cause Of more than
half of the crime and misery which exist
in our country, we hold it a primary, obvi-
Gus, imperative duty of the State to devise
and enact adequate measures for its sup
preston. To this end, many acts have
been tried, generally with partial or no sue
cess; but the Maine Law forms glorious
exception. That boards the monster in his
den, and serves him as Putnam did the
wolf
OF course, The Times, disliking the end,
cavils with the means. 1t accuses the law
Of all manner Of unjust and outrageous"
conduct But it cites no case in which it
has ever harmed yirtuous citizen or an
noyed any one but willful, deliberate law
breaker. It's vices are all vague abstrac-
tons, while its virtues are positive and
practical. We Judge it by its fruits, and
commend it accordingly.
The Times has no warrant for saying
that we cannot or will not defend the prin-
ciples Of this law. We approve them most
heartily. The search, which The Times
complains Of, we stand ready to submit to
whenever two good citizens shall swear that
they believe our dwelling to be used as
tipping house, or for any unlawful pur-
pose. We admit that some of the provisions
of the Maine Law are stringent and sum-
mary, but maintain that this is rendered
necessary by tina character of the Rum
traffic and its votaries. Case after case
of fragrant violation of Temperance laws
has been tried and lost through the gross
perjury of tipping witnesses and rum. SELL
ing OF rum-drinking jurors, until it has be-
come evident that We must cut our plasters
larger if we mean to cover the sore-which
the Maine Law does. Nobody has the
least fear of, or reason to fear, that law,
unless he means to sell Intoxicating Bev-
erages or wishes to screen those who do;
and We repeat that The Times is not one
whit afraid Of that law annoying anybody
but Rumsellers. Its groans are all uttered
IN their behalf, whatever il may pretend.
Our sympathies are rather for their victims,
and especially for the wives and children
OF the thousands ruined by Intoxicating
Liquors.
but The Tunes says:
US YET to be proved that any less Quantity of
hGuor is USED IN Maine than before the adoption of
ms Jaw; We RaTs good authority for saying that
Aiesn' sPuiss are used as generally and freely In
Now we Maine Law men are not content
with asserting the contrary of this-we
prors it by we'll known and responsible wit
Resses. Our "good authority" wears no