The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-11-30
A Voice from Por tland.


the most foolish falsehoods, and swear
to them again, when they have been
exploded Tor the dozcnth time BY in-
disputable statistics, it shows sufhclen'-
ly well that the contest on their pars
is not kept up with the hope Of ult..
mate victory, but only for spc''s eltl'er
political or pecuniary.
We published some clear ans deci.
sive statistics a few weeks since, fur
nished by the Minister at large to tho
Poor Of Portland, showing that tho
consumption Of spirits in that state and
city had diminished three fourths il,
consequence Of the action Ct their liq-
uor law, and pauperism aud crime 70.
su'trs from the use Of intoxicating
drinks had diminished in an equal
ratio. There are however found III
Portland two creatures-JohD Neal
and Rev. MIR. Odonnell, catholic
Priest, who either from innate love Of
mischief or for - substantial considers-
tons furnished by interested parties
are willing to testify, over their own
signatures, that there is just as much
drinking and dranselling since the law
was passsd as before. Then there are
not wanting in Boston, respectable
journals, which for the sake Of Hun
kcrism, Conservatism or Gold will pro-
long the dolorous howl 70 bs yelped
out in echo by the country news and
the rum orators.
At last, tho men Of wealth and
standing in Portland, en- massc, are
compelled without distinction Of party
or sect to come out iu denial Of tho
miserable falsehood. Over four hun
drcd names, headed BY those Of pres
ent, and several former mayors, b.,
the clergy [excepting Mr.. Odonnell,)
by the Presidents and Directors Of
Banks and Rail Road Companies, by
the commercial men and wealthy ciu-
zcns, widely known-are attached to
a paper, stating that the injurious as.
sertions alluded 10 are wholly withous
foundation, and contrary to facts.
1t is fact, then, that indescribablo
suffering and loss is saved to the State
Of Maine by her restrictive law IL
is fact 4; and that fact is worth moro
than all the constitutional arguments.
whether i'll newspapers, the forum,
upon the Judicial bench or in gubena-
torial messages with which the present
aye has been afflicted. Without any
such facts, the arguments might DO
very conclusive, but with them, they
become dead. If nothing were known
in the premises, ingenious medical men
might get up very satisfactory argu-
ments to show that innoculation could
be no defence against the small poI,
but if the whole profession werc to
study and write for Ave years, their
united labors would be of less weight
than single instance on the other
side.
There is not great deal Of uLmixed
good in the world. The rose general
y secretcs thorn. But what evils
can come from diminishing the use Of
intoxicating drinks as a beverage, vo
are unable to conceive. But the ben.
efts +; no tongue nor pen can portray
them The evidence that they arc
real, no sane, Nell-iniormed, honest
man will deny. We have it in tho
statistics, testified to BY the great mass
of men, Of truth and character in
Maine, and i'll the constantly decrcas-
ing opposition to the measure in that
State. And yet the wish in many
minds that it may be Intellectual, is 80
strong, that they vii! 20 on denying its
utility in all places. When thcro shall
no longer be any dram drinking in
Maine, and her ciIizens shall be cclc-
bratipg her emancipation as state
from the tyranny Of alcohol, still wo
shall be able to fnd men enough in
our midst, and men in official posi-
tions too, who will stand ready to tes-
tiiy that the State of Maine is cursed
BY her liquor Law, and that there is
more mtempcrancc there than former
ly. These are good tacticians. They
understand perfectly that a lie we'll
stuck to, is almost as good as the truth
in political point of view. With
them il is small matter that thcro
are thousand hell-gates in our midst.
through which the young arc entering.
to the pcrdition of their temporal aud
eternal hopes ; it i, a small matter
that the fountains of health and moral
and manly visor are being poisoned
throughout the State, but very imnor-
tant that they get into Office, and that
"the dwellings o; our citizers be pro.
tectcd from Nan.on and malicious in
tIusion ~
All the instances Of wanton and
malicious intrusions" " # which .s
have learned during the past year
in Vermont, have cUne from The vio-
lators aud opposers Of the Law, in their
attempts TO prosecute and iutimidats
well known temperance men. Never
theless, il we continue to possess our
souls in patience. 10 labor and to wait y