Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-09-16

Ecly defended and approved "The Liquor Law
q Maine" What has led hun TO change his opin-
ions or his position, he does not state.
The only statement OF his in regard 10 the
working OF the law, which seems 10 require
reply, is contained in the following words:
"At this moment-snd il has been growing
worse and worse every day since the FIRST three
months were over, when people were blinded
by its presumption, or frightened by its rash
ness-there is more iniemperance and more
drinking in this city and neighbOrhood, and prob
ably throughout the whole State of Maine, with
here and there doubtful exception, than there
has been at any other time for twenty years"
The remainder Of the paragraph is in the fol-
lowing words:
"Young men have banded together 10 evade
the law. Rum sellers have brought liquor with
them TO our public houses. Children carry Ii
Quor TASKS about with them; and bottles are
made in the shape OF Bibles, so bound as TO de-
eeive the eye"
Mr.. Neal seems not TO have perceived, that
90 far as tins statement is true at all il oveTturns
completely his whole declaration 10 the fall
ure Of the law 10 suppress grog-shops.
Mr.. Meals statements, then, as TO the actual
results Of the "Liquor Law OF Maine" stripped
Of its guise, may be reduced to this--that it has
failed entirely oil its objects; that there is more
LIQUOR now sold and drank IN Maine, under the
operation Of the Law, than at any time before for
twenty years. His declaration Is by no means
new. 1t has been made often by the enemies
Of the Law, for the last two years. Often have
similar statements been published by Ant-icm-
persnce newspapers OUT of Maine, but always
BY anonymous writers.
Such declarations are so VIGOROUSLY false,
that never has any one been bold enough 10 pub
hsh them over his own signature, until Mr..
Neal did il; and the wonder among the people Of
Portland is excited, not more by the untruthlul-
ness Of his statements than by his bold efironie-
~ in making them. have no hesitation in APP
peaing TO Rev. Mr.. Chickering, and every
other member of the High ST. Church, TO which
Mr.. Neal belongs upon the declaration that his
statements upon this subject are entirely, I'M
qualifedy, and VIGOROUSLY untrue.
The facts in relation 10 the working OF the
Maine Liquor Law in Portland and through
Maine have been published often for ih- last two
years, in most Of the papers of tue State, and
never has any attempt been made 10y any respon'
sible person 10 disprove them.
Al the time Of the enactment Of the law, rum
selling was carried on openly in all paris Of the
State In Portland there were between three
ately after the enactment of the law not one
The wholesale trade in liquors " las at once an,
initiated throughout the State, and the retail
trade, so far as it existed at all, was carried on
with greet secrecy and caution.
In Portland, inlemperance almost disappeared
and large numbers OF men were reformed. 81
thoroughly did the law accomplish lis objects
that temptations TO inlemperance were IN grea
measurs,removed out OF the path Of the young
and inexperienced. In proof Of this cite fact
A MIR. Carlton came 10 Portland TO attend
Law suit and brought witness, who was a yer!
intemperate man. Mr.. c. feared his witness
would become in oxicaied, and lie o. no use {,
him, They arrived in town at o'clock T. Nj.
and from that time until IL at night, Mr.. c. saw
nothing Of him. AT that hour, the witness cam
to the hotel, perfectly sober, and said 10 Mr.
C. that he had travelled more than hive mile
and couldn't gst a drop" And the reformation
Of more or less, incorporate men oil Portland
Is Thin the knowledge Of almost every citizen
ITO be continued.
WARLkE.-A battery OF six POnnders an
ether engines of destruction, tits said, are pre-
~ /. lad from fl