Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-08-12
Maine Law.

ANi"sioh w iueHiiS 10 De uSeu 10 secure the
adoption of the Maine Liquor Law in our
State. That such law is needed even the
rum-seler win not deny, and it is encour-
aging to temperance men to hear those who
have dealt in intoxicating liquor for long
years, assert that they will sign petition
for the Maine law. 1t is time something
progressive was done in this matter. 1t is
necessary to have the subject agitated
throughout the whole State before anything
effectual can be accomplished. Did the
legislature assemble next winter we would
not advise a single thing to be done toward
attempting to secure the passage of the
law then, for We would not have time to
make the necessary preparations, and to
suffer defeat in the onset would give our
enemies courage. 1t is Indispensable that
societies be formed throughout the whole
State, having for their only object the ad-
vocacy of the Maine liquor law. Let some
philanthropic citizen of each town take the
lead, draw up petitions, and obtain the sig
nature Of every man, women and child that
have sufficient Of their country's good at
heart to prompt them to put their names to
such paper. In this manner a full expires.
sion Of the people can be obtained, and
when the legislature of the State Of Iowa
shall assemble, we can roll upon the tables
OF the Senate and House of Representa-
sives, apyramid of names that they dare
not refuse to take notice Of. IL they should
80 far forget their God aud suffering hui
manity as to refuse to record their names on
the side of right and justice, and vote
against the enactment of such law, let it
be the signal for their immediate decapita.
ton. Here is where we find one of the
beauties OF republican system of gov
ernnont. The law makers are made by tho
peopie-the time of holding Office is brief
and If the legislators shall so demean them
selves as to deserve the censure Of their
constituents, the remedyis simple and in
the hands of the people.
Maine obtained her law in this manner.
Candidates for State Offices were not asked
are you Wing. a Democrat, Free Soiler.
Barnbarner, Hunkcr; are you in favor
of general system of internal improve
ment-are you opposed to slavery--in ia
yor OF free-trade or protection tariff-but
this SIMPLE question was to be answered BY
every candidate--ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THE
MAINE LleUoR Law? Should any candidate
for public favor be so injudicous as to an
swer in the negative. he was Immediately
furnished with birch canoe, a loaf of
bread and a small quantity of ierked beef,
with their hearty wishes for a safe journey
up salt river.
Now, who will take the lead? Have we
not an embryo NEAL Dow in our State p
Adopt this law, and will not the change
that must follow its enforcement he suffi-
eient reward to any body of philanthropic
men who shall take the lead. Do you ask
what will be that change? We turn to
Maine, hemmed in with cold and ice, and
proudly point you to her present condition.
She has taken the first grand step and
marched on to conquer and to conquest
and, like imperial Cesar, can exclam REM,
vidi, uici. Her onward march has been sub
aime aud gigantic; her potent voice has been
beard FROM the cold bleaks Of Mount Kata-
dan to the golden plaeers Of California; il
has crossed the foamiug pillows Of the At
atlantic, entered B.lttons stately halls, and
echoed and re- echoed throughout the vast
continent of the old world. Maine, heaven
bless her has taken step more lofty and
more enobling than ever any sovereignty
deigned before to claim. She has deckcd her
brow with wreath of garlands plucked
from the happy smiles of the wife of the
reclaimed inebriate; from the merry chatter
of thelittle happy urchins who once wan
dcred from door to door to beg bit of
hard bread to save themselves and sick
mother from starvation.
Her fertile fields now blossom as the
rose. Within her borders oil is happily
changed. She furnishes to the world one
greet asylum for the drunken inebriate.
What change is there! No longer does
tho cry of despair and woe ascend high
htaven from their humble cottages; no lon
ger does the husband and father spend his
earnings for ram, and returning to his poy
erty-stricken houe beat her whom he
had sworn before God and man to love and
protect; no longer do their penitentiaries
and iails groah with their crowded inmates;
No longer does the happy family circle fear
.he approach of this cruel tyrant to rob
them of their brightest gem; no longer does
the father with his locks blossoming for the
grave mourn the prospective ruin of an
only son; no longer does intemperapce stalk
abroad IN their midst. Maine has won
lauTels that reach from her lofty brow to
heaven. She has fulfilled a glorious mis-
sion; 90 thou and do likewise.
Friends of humanity, we repeat, il is
time something was done in our own State.
This abomniable and accursed traic has al
ready destroyed enough Of Gods hantii-
work. II has caused signs which heaped
together would deafcn the groans of the
inmates of perdition, and has caused tears
that would extin. the fires of hell. =
This is strong language, but 40 stronger
than the evil merits.
CO. Our correspondent upon Free Soil
ism is evidently somewhat grieved at the
course We have taken upon the subject.