Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-08-18
From the Cincinnati Atlas
THE MAINE LAW AND ITS ADVOCATES.

The Times of yesterday has the efTrontery TO
say that "not single paper of this city has
come out equvocally or unequivocay for or
against the Maine liquor law, except the Times"
Our readers know how false this declaration is.
The Atlas, for one, has repeatedly avowed its
convictions, that the highest welfare of our city
and State requires a prohbtory law. While
we make this declaration unequivocally from a
profound conviction of its necessity, we have
10 disposition TO conceal our belief that, in some
important respects the Maine law needs some
modification, in order 10 its immediate success,
and to the permanency Of the reform it may ef-
feet
We are in no way the organ Of the Maine
Law leaders; we express nobody's views bnt
our own; we see and are willing to acknowledge
the very grave objections which may be urged
against the proposed law; but at the same time,
so great, SO growing and overwhelming are
the evils attendant upon the manufacture and
sale of alcoholic drinks, and so useless have all
other modes Of stopping the evil proved that we
are constrained 20 say God speed" TO a law
which in other States has swept paupers from
thepoor house, left jails without inmates, re-
stored domestic peace TO the drunkards
freslde, and covered towns and cities
with unnuwbered blessings. Rather than have
prohbtory law fail in Ohio, we are willing
even TO forego our convictions of what principle
and policy seem TO US TO require in the details
of legislation.
OBJECT as we may TO theoretical defects in the
law, there stand out III all their horrible atrociv
murder, assassination, robbery, breaches OF
trust, domestic abuse, poverty, wretchedness,
and crime Of every sort, as the daily effect of
the sale of ardent spirits, and every humane and
every patriotic man is compelled to decide either
10 defend or oppose the only Law which, as yet,
has proved itself competent to destroy these
monstrous evils. We are no bgot to the Maine
Law. Show us better way, and one that has
any chance TO succeed, and we will give it our
hearty support. But in some way the traffic is
doomed TO be put down. The humanity of the
State stands pledged for its suppression. The
movement is no mere temperance one. Men of
all ways Of thinking upon that subject, will unite
in solemn determination that they and their
children shall net be met by temptation at every
corner and every turn, that they will not suffer
the further wreack Of the best hopes of parents
and friends, that no more colossal fortunes
shall be built up on the premature graves Of the
young and the promising, and that the common
mother of every crime which ruins individuals,
and burdens down the State, shall be banished
from society. We regret the position
he Times appears TO have taken-we re-
yret that it has no better remedy for the confess
ed evils Of the trade than the moral suasion,
whose absolute failure is borne witness TO by
hundreds upon hundreds of grog-shops in our
midst, and we still hope that it may yet be found
IN earnest advocate of the only treatment which
possesses the power eliectually TO cure the evil.