Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-05-24
PROHIBITION IN MAINE.

So far as we have returns, the late town cleo
tons in Maine resulted almost unanimously in
favor of rigorous enforcement of Liquor Pro-
hibition. The Maine Law is fixed fact in that
State, and cannot be shaken.
An Indiana paper, misled by a statement in
the Herald, lately asserted that there were fifty
open grog-shops In Portland! A temperance
man in indianapolis cut out the statement and
sent it to Neal Dow for explanation, who re-
turned the following response:
Portland, Friday, April 7, 1854.
DEAR SIR:--Your letter of the 3lst is just re-
ceived-asking for information in relation to the
working of the Maine Law in the State. have
necticut, and find many letters on my table--ac-
swered and cannot, therefore, give you as
much detail in regard to the subject of your in
quiry, as would like to do.
The Maine Law has been in operation in the
State less than three years having been approx
ed by the Governor, June 2, 1851; and now it
will be unanimously agreed by all dsinterested
persons, that the quantity of liquor sold or con.
sumed in the State is not one-tenth SO much as
it was before that time. If were to say one.
twentieth, think it would be very far within the
truth.
The accounts given by letter writer's from this
State, like that contained in the slips inclosed
by you, are false in every particular, except so far
as they speak of secret liquor selling in Maine
Liquors, in small quantities, are struggled into
the State and sold secretly, and only in that man.
ner.
Neither in Portland, Bangor, or any other city
or town in Maine, are there any open grog-shops
as there were all over the State before the Maine
Law; while in MANY of the towns the rum traf-
fc has been entirely annihilated. A system like
the rum traffic, the growth of centuries, and in
terwoyen with the appettes, passions, and inter-
ests of all bad men--is not to be overthrown in
a day or year, but will pass away with time and
effort.
The friends of Temperance in this State are
quite satisfied with the result of the law, so far
as being more favorable than they had any right
to expect within so short time while enemies
OF our cause hate the law as they would not il
it were failure, as they pretend that it is. II
the latter was true, our enemies would make no
opposition to the measure; but, as it is, their
hostility is the best evidence of its efficiency.
The Maine Law as it now stands is no inali-
ty with US. 1t was thought to be as much as
the public opinion of the time would sustain
but now the people are fully committed to the
system which was naugurated by it, and will
follow up the measure by additional provisions
and penalties, until there shall BIO no grog-shoE
in Maine, either open or secret. Paragraphs
like that which you enclosed to me, are con.
stantly going the rounds Of the partisan and mer.
cenary press, while we cannot get the :ontradic.
tons into their columns, either for money or as
matter of favor. But we have always this abd
ing conviction in our hearts, that if this move
ment be indeed unwise and unsuited to the needs
of society and of the time, it will fail but il il
be in accordance with the will Of God, as be-
lieve it is, and calculated to benefit and bless
mankind, as it proves itself to be, it cannot be
overthrow or resisted, but will pass on to exc.
cute its mission
Very respectfully yours,
NEAL Dow.
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