Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-05-28
RnIlI.A OpInIon Of h. Naln. Llaupr bow.

lhe Maine Liquor Law was obtained oy
the simple determination Of the majority TO
abolish lnlsmpennce In the form Of drink.
They did 1t Ihrough the ballot boxes-by
elecling temperance men 10 the Legislature,
For MANY wears valuable experience had
been ucrruinv. The ordinary temperance
movement had been tivd there, Us elses
where In the UntOni and with the sumo
partial success. The success N never be
mere than partial where temptation and
conflict remain. As long us rum and gin
shops stand open, aud the smell Of spirits Is
In the air, the weak and waverlng will 'u[.
fer under cuntlict with temptation, and Of.
tan ialli phy'iciOnS will tell IN private Of the
increase OF solitary drinkmp-lhs worst OF
oil, and the "pledped" will he In n lower
state than ever-huvlng added perjury to
their first weakness, II appears, from ex.
prrience, that Il Is miserable mistake 10
expert SO serious and difficult process as
Selt.control llom such a stimulus as asset.
atiOn in temperance society, and thus IL
turned out In Maine, as elsewhere. So the
Legislature was looked to, not 10 limit and
regulate the sale &c intoxicating liQu0r>, not
to institute stringent licensing system,
but to prohibit utterly the sale OF inioxicS.
ting liquors Tor drink within the bounds Of
the State.
Every city and town is required or per.
mitu' to appoint annually, through It's mu.
nicipal officers, un agent, who Is licensed
for the year, and under responsibility tn the
mugislracy, 10 sell spirits Tor the purposes
Of the mechanic arts and medicine; aud, up
to this time, Il appears that n sufficient sup
~ Is obtained for VII such purposes by this
provision, And In every other way the
law appears I0 work "a well as n prohibilO.
ry law ever does, and cerMinl 10 the bene'
fl Of society within that State. A dram
shop may be opened here and there, just
outside ut the boundary line of the State;
and citizen here anl there may import u
cask Of spirits, and give away the contents
among lhuSe VIM will do him some favor
in return; but these ure small mUtterS,-
There is u general publication 1.-THE smell Is
not in the Oir--,he dram shops are not
open before the eycS-lhe temptation dues
not beSet the will-the struggle does not
perplex and weary the brain aud con Science.
The social results are so clear that tho TX.
ample has been followed. Rhode Island
has followed in the wake OF Maine, aud also
has Massachusetts, with the exception Ut
Boston, where the municipal authorities
strong in vested interests, still hold out
The doubt was, at first, whether law so
stringent could Sland--whslheT the second
year would not undo the work OF the first,
Il appears not Experienced American cit.
isenS believe that il would now be impossi.
bic to yet the law repealed.
Tho first sentiment Of ENglishmen on hearing
this story, seems to be amaE-d that the citizens
will submit to such law. They feel that there
would bs danger to our liberties il such a law
could pass mr Parliament and Throne to.mor.
row, M GUub'i but this Is because we do not
rs u people, desire il. II the Americans were
, not Sel'.govrrned, they would rebel sooner than
admit or legislation 80 stringent. But they are
sell governed, and therein, lies the chief inter.
est OF the whole matter They dsersed foV
themselves first, the universal education which
diSguSted them with drunkenness, and warned
: them to save the next generation from il; and
they next deereed, the exclusion Of what they
consider aPhysieal, moral and Soeiul poison. Il
: has been tho hot as OF u spirited man who, while
disposed 10 resent Cictalion as 10 his penonN
habit, imposes law on himself, and submit.
: thus to q discipline which he would Nnurn 10 !.
came upon him in any other way. Our fellow,
ei'isenS Gamma, but watch with deep interest tn,
development Of this very strong lrAnsaIlanti,
: experiment. II English Paper.