Polynesian., 1854-04-01

nonc beverages. Inc mlschlefS arising from gun
powder are simply the results of accidents against
which sufficient amount of caution would COM
petely protect us; and the injurious consequences
are generally most severely felt by the cupaple
party, who knows that he will be punished with
death the moment his carelessness produces an
explosion. But the mischiefs resulting from aIco-
hol, are not the result of accidents-universal ex-
with freedom? Simply upon the ground that eve.
ry community has the right to protect itself against
dangerous pursuits and practices.
| This case is strictly analogous to the Maine Lii
quor Law. If hundred families, residing in a
village, have right to prevent the erection Of a
gazine of gun powder in their midst, have they
not as clearly right to prevent the erection of a
grog-shop-since all experience shows that even a
single grog-shop is far dangerous to the life,
health and happiness of the community, than a
magazine of gunpowder. Indeed, if we prosecute
the argument fairly, shall find that the gunpow-
der dealer has far better pretext for complaining of
the violation of his ghts than the retailer of aco-
perience proves that they are inevitable, and that
it is impossible for any community to license the
sale of ardent spirits without thereby licensing the
production Of pauperism, crime, disease and death.
A powder magazine, conducted with sufficient care
may stand for century, in the midst of city,
without injuring single life; but grog-shop can.
not stand single year without injurng the health
of the neighboring community, and contributing
very materially to swell the amount of pauperism
and crime-falling with terrible force upon unpro-
tected victims, while the guilty escape all punish
ment. The dram-seller who has tempted youths
and nebriates, and led them on until they have
filled drunkards grave, to the ruin of themselves
and families, fourishes upon his gains, while the
powder dealer, whose recklessnes5 produces an ex-
plosion. perlshes at the moment of his crime. II
| there were any great law of nature, by which the
wbskey seller should also perish in the act OF
crime, our grog-shops would become comparative
ly harmless; yet still they would be more danger
Gus than powder magazines, and more justly sub
ject to restrictive legislation.
! While abhOr unnecessary governmental inter
ference and respect the rights of every individual
| cannot perceive how any one who recognizes the
right of government to repress intolerable nul
sances, and abolish whatever is dangerous to hui
man life can entertain the least doubt of our right
to suppress thesale of ardent spirits. Granting all
that possibly be said in favor OF the consuH p
ton Of alcoholic drinks-granting that they are
luxurious, delightful, exhilarating, social cordial
notwithstanding all that poet can say il
their BEHALF what has all this to do with the plaiI
and obvious right of the community to protect it
| self from pauperism, crime and death
When we come to the naked question, whether
society has or has not the right to protect itsel
against the dangerous and destructive practice o.
retailing ardent spirits, every one must acknow'
Hedge the existence of such right But the ultra
icised by some other mode than the restriction mp
on the general sale of liquors-that intoxicatior
should be prevented by adequate penalties. and
the sale tn minors and other dependents be forbid
den. These suggestions would do very well il
Ithey were practicable; but the undoubted fact tha
with such an Incorporate, whiskey drinking, bran
dy bibing population we have, such measures
prove almost entirely futilethe fact that whereve
liiquor is freely sold the drunkards thirst arlse
and leads its victim to ruin, in spite OF the law
against intoxication, proves TIE futlity of ever.
other measure, except the positive prohibition o
liquor-selling. cannot, therefore. doubt that eve
ry community in which habits of intoxica.ion have
prevailed, is morally bound to suppress the sale
ardent spirits by an efficient law; and the trium
phant success of this law, wherever it has been IL
force gives the sanction of experience to the die
tates of conscience.
We are therefore driven, by necessity and b.
duty, to surrender all scruples and reserve on &C
:. count of partial inconvenience, and to acknow
ledge the paramount necessity for Maine Law
) to protect ourselves and the thousand million
who are hereafter to fill our Republic from tn
ocean of disease and crime which is swelling an
spreading over the land.-Journal Of Man.