Polynesian., 1854-02-25
Experience is the best schoolm master,


Experience is the best Schoolmaster,
The above truism was uttered by the editor OF
the New Era and Argus in his last weeks paper,
and is worthy of consideration. Let US see how
experience teaches, in regard to the operation of
the Maine liquor law. Neal Dow, Mayor of Port
land, in his report to the Board of Aldermen and
Common Council, uses the following language,
which is that of 3" experience"
"The 'Act for the suppression of Drinking
Houses and Tippling shops passed at the last
session of the Legislature, has been now but
about six months in full operation in this city, and
| think it proper to lay before the City Council
statement of its results. There has been no act
of any State Legislature, which has attracted so
much of the attention of the people of New En-
gland, and the whole country -, because it Is
well understood that the operation of it upon
the various interests of the State, must be in the
highest degree salutary, and it the first efec-
tual Legislative measure in line of policy, which
there Is reason to suppose, will be speedily follow
ed by many. and eventually by all our sister
States.
For many years it has been we'll established,
that The traffic in intoxicating drinks, has been the
cause of large amount of poverty, pauperism,
suffering and crime and Maine has undertaken
BY the enactment of this Law, TO free herself from
much of these evils as flow from that source.
From the first, the prompt and energetic execution
of the law in this city, was submitted to, cheeruy
and quietly; the wholesale dealers in spirits,
promptly abandoned the business, which it was i'm
possible to carry on a single day under this law;
and all those retail dealers who had any self re-
spect, pursued the same course, without waiting
for the execution of the statute which regards and
treats the keeper of grog-shop, as crimin1l Of
the lowest grade. The few persons who contln-
ued to sell intoxicating liquors after the enactment
of this law, did so secretly; the sales were
very limited scale, and principally to foreigners,
and to such as could be trusted not TO betray the
venders to the authorities. Many persons who
were habitually incorporate abandoned the use Of
strong drinks at first, from the difficulty in pro-
curing them-and afterward they were much bet
ter without them. have reason to believe that
the law is every day becoming more firmly fixed in
the favorable regards of the people of this city and
State, and am confident that no retrosrade step
will be taken here in relation to this subject.
The sautary effects of this Law are more imme-
diately seen all those departments of our affairs,
which fall under the care of the Police, and the
returns of commitments TO the Watch House and
House of Correction, will show something OF the
difference in this department between the present
and past years, but these returns will not exhibit
the actual difference, because the police and watch
during the present year have been more strict than
they formerly were, in arrestIng persons found IN
a state of intoxication. Our streets are now SO
much more quiet, particularly at night than they
were the last year, or any year before, that the
difference cannot be understood very clearly, ex-
cept by those connected with the night police and
watch.
This is a,tes,ed by the City Marshal, the Cap
tain of the Watch, and by Mr.. Curtis Meserve,
bank watchman, who is in the streets every night.
and in those parts of the city where disturbances
would be most likely to occur, and he speaks
strongly of the great improvement In this respect;
street disturbances of any kind no longer occur
in the city. Fore street from Union to Centre
street, frequently required during the last year the
services of four ollcemen,-particularly on Sat
urday and Sunday nights-and they were often too
few. but now that locality is quiet at all times.
as any other part ofthe city, and receives no extra
attendance from the police. The number of per-
sons who continue to sell strong drinks in the city
is now very small, they are most all foreigners, and
sell with great secrecy and caution /; an open rum
shop or bar of any kind, IS entirely unknown ; a
barrc keg or other vessel of liquors IS not to be
seen in the CITY at ALL except at the City Agencys
the Law has executed its mission with more ease,
certainty and Dispatch than was anticipated by ita
most ardent friends-it has been most triumphant
| ly successful.
think it not an exaggeration to say, that the
quantity of intoxicating liquors now sold IN this
city, except by the city agent, IS not one fifteenth
part SO great as it was seven months ago, and the
salutary effects of this great improvement are ap-
parent amoug the people in all parts OF the CITY,
| The amount of liquors consumed in the State,
think is not one quarter great as 1t was seven
months 60 and it will become less very rapidly, as
the people in the country towns are enforcing tnc
law more extensively and vigorously every day !;
from many towns in the State, the illegal traffic Is
entirely banlshed.
! Before the operation Of the Law, the average
i ,f,o aofC "a I(l6 After
il had been in force six months, the House Of Cor
! rection tcas empty.
/ Mr.. Hadey says that his intercourse IS chiefly
with the poorest part Of the population, who are
ont of the Aims House, and especially with the IN
temperate. For the quarter just ended. compares
with the corresponding period ending Dec: 81,
| 1885, the calls upon him for assistance have oeen
1 less than one serenM, and the cases where relief
was actually afforded were just one-ssrfh as many
as they were during the same months OF 1880, and
the amount given in the three months OF 1901, wa =
al to S5.H l-2 given in the corresponding period
of 1850 these results he obtains from careful
examination Of his books, and attributes the dii-
ference entirely TO the favorable operation OF TINS
law upon the habits and domestic economy Of the
people.
;. These statements collected from various sources
all pointing significantly in one direction cannot
fail to satisfy the most casual observer tnat inc
operation of sthe MAINE Law If steadily enforced
will sweep away large proportion OF the poverty.
pauperism, crime and suffering with which we
have been afflicted, the result Of the traffic IN
strong drink. consider the success of this law
of the highest importance to the interests of the
city, and to the prosperity and happiness OF the
people-and have not hesitated to exert for the
ACCOMPLISHMENT of that object, all the power con-
;. ferred upon me by the City Charter and the City
! Council"
: With such facts before US, VIC can most coz
daily echo the sentiment, that " Experience after
all, is the best schoolmaster."