Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-08-06
CHE polpnesiam.
The Maine Liquor Law.

\ AOeu, COutoIuS SuO lOtOWlu& uiSSCTt0tOu Ou
the history and success Of the Maine Liquor
Law in this country. 1t is specially interest
ing, as presenting view Of the moral eff
cheney of our popular institutions Of govern
ment, which ever strikes foreign observer
with admiration. To US, also, it suggests
| the great responsibility Of every organ of in
telligence and influence, among free, self
governing people, by which right direction
may be given to the public sentiment and
will
1t is very interesting to US who sit in old
Europe, following old methods of govern
ment as matter Of course, to see what can
be attempted and done by a people really and
Immediately selfgoverning. We may doubt
and disapprove Of some things, done by our
Republican brethren across the Atlantic, and
think that we should not like this, or that or
the other liability or custom of theirs; but it
is to be hoped that we can cordially admire
and honor certain occasional achievements Of
theirs, which are quite beyond anything we
can effect or dream Of effecting. We really
hardly know anything more striking than the
history Of the rapid abolition of the vice Of
drunkenness in several Of the states of the
American Union: and it is with feelings Of
the deepest respect that we desire to direct
the attention Of our countrymen to the action
Of the State of Maine with regard to that
vice. That curse, which is fatal wherever it
appears, used to be more deadly in the State
Of Maine than in many other places. Bor-
dering on our colonies, and thickiy wooded,
and in part scantiy settled. it has retained a
semi-barbarous character, in some respects
to this day. At some seasons, the streets of
tho fo NTH ,u:IA addition 10 fho
ordinary population-with lumberers from the
woods, Irish immigrants, and Indian wander
ers. Till last year these visitations were a
subject Of dread to the sober inhabitants
BY day the streets we're hardly safe among
SO many reelng drunkards; and at night the
reeling drunkards murdered sleep. Last
May, when the towns filled with these stran-
gers. all was safe and orderly The Houses
of Correction were nearly empty throughout
1852. There were very few paupers; and
such was the social peace, that lawyers had
little to do in criminal cases. Such were the
immediate results Of the Maine Liquor Law
What was that law itself the result of: This
is the question that interests us, for there can
be few or none who would dispute the conse-
qaences Of an abolition Of intemperance.
The doubt is about the possibility of such
abolition u; all, or otherwise than by the
sacrifice of something more important than
the benefit to be gained.
The Maine Liquor Law was obtained by
the simple determination of the majority to
abolish intemperance in the form of drink
They did it through the ballot boxes-by
electing temperance men to the Legislature.
For many years valuable experience had
been accruing. The ordinary temperance
movements had been tried there, as else
where in the Union: and with the same par
tial success. The success can never be more
than partial where temptation and conflict re-
main. As long as rum and gin shops, and
the smell Of spirits is in the air, the weak
and wavering will suffer under conflict with
Temptation, and often fall; physicians will tell
in private Of the increase Of solitary drinking
the worst of all; and the pledged " will be
in a lower state than ever-having added
perjury to their first weakness. 1t appears,
from experience, that it is a terrible mistake
to expect so serious and difficult process as
self control from such stimulus as associ-
alton in a temperance society; and thus it
turned out in Maine, as elsewhere. So the
legislature was looked to, not to limit and re-
gulate the sale of intoxicating liquors; not to
institute stringent licensing system, but to
prohibit utterly the sale of intoxicating
liquors for drink within the bounds Of the
state. Such law was passed in 1876, by
large majorites in both houses. But it failed.
The great majority of the citizens who had
procured the law remained in favor of it; and
among the rest, the weak drunkards who de-
sired to be aided in saving themselves, and
in securing their children from the vice. 1t
is observed in our large towns, in Liverpool
among others, that the strongest eagerness
to petition Parliament for public house re-
form, is shown by the laboring class; and the
intensest of all by the drunkards among them
and very touching spectacle it is to see
them thronging to sign petition like that
lust got up at Liverpool. OF the ten thou
sand sgners, nearly all are working men
and, if they had the franchise and the ballot,
like the men Of Maine, they would, like the
| men of Maine, doubtless do something more
than petition.
1 The Maine Law Of 1876 was failure
The rum sellers went on selling-secretly il
they could, aud openly rather than not at all
paying the penalties, and going on again
While the rum was there It was sold; and in
dividuals who bastirred themselves to get the
law enforced suffered from the malice Of the
rum interest. Some citizens dwellings were
marked; some we're even burned; and the
magistrates and Witnesses were assaulted
Still there was good enough obtained to in
duce tho citizens to 60 forwards and not slide
backwards. 1t was very hard work; for all
the strength of the spirituous party was put
forth in last desperate effort in the elections
of lS49. After long and arduous struggle
the sober party trlumphed; and the result
was the celebrated Maine Liquor Law, which
passed on the I'd of June, 1851, by major