Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-08-02
Father Cummings and the Maine Law.

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We ask the attention Of our readers,-says
the Portland Argus.--so the remarks Of Father
Cummings, which We copy below, from the
last number Of the Christian Mirror. They
deserve the serious and careful consideration
of every sincere friend Of temperance.
For ability and experience, for thorough
knowledge Of human nature, for purity ant
consistency of character, DIR. Cummings has
few equals. He has for nearly thirty year.
been editor Of the Christian Mirror, the able
organ Of the Congregational denomination in
Maine. Too sincere and conscientious friend
Of temperance, 10 allow it to be made the hob.
by of ambitious and fanatical zeal, withou,
raising warning voice against such pros,i-
tuition of holy cause, he has been assailed
with reckless bitterness, scarcely conceiva-
Bile in those professedly having the good Of
their fellow citizens at heart, and by them
| pursued with an unreenting vindictiveness,
that has few parallels we hope, this side the
internal regions.
These assaults, little short of deriEsh in
their character, have been in rain.
Father Cummings has stood firm as noun
tain of granite, every day winning more and
more the profound regards of all who respect
sincerity, and admire consistency of character
and mental independence. He has never de-
manded anything more for himself than that
liberation which is due in every sincere differ
ence of opinion, even if erroneous. This was
denied to him by those who, time and expert
ence are likely to demonstrate, were themselves
in error, while he was in the right
If people are not yet prepared TO believe it,
the time is not distant when they ,ciN believe,
that law containing elements like some OF
those existing in the present liquor law, will
tend to promote intemperance rather than tenn
perance, and that however sincere men may
be IN endeavoring TO aid good cause, by i'm
proper and unwise means, they are really do
ing it more serious injury, than its avowed
enemies could possibly accomplish. Truth is
every day suffering martyrdom at the hands
of her protested, but insncere, or indiscreet
friends. We think every sincere friend OF
temperance, after looking at the history and
results of legislation in reference 10 temper
ance for the last few years, can cordially unite
with Father Cummings in the wish ''thdt fit-
ture experiments in this Gne may be conducted By
,ciser heads and more skiItm hands than the op-
orators Of the past )" and will not be afraid to
express that wish by word and rote, even al
the expense of being called a "rummy," as
that truly venerable and good man (ifany are
| good) has basely been stigmatized
| 90 And as to the Maine Law, we were not
opposed TO it originally, and the accusation
| was false one, and, for aught we can see, a
malicious one, and without particle of found
alton, as we demonstrated at the proper time
| We did not think it right 10 be whipped into
I the traces by scourge of hes; and though
the alternative was TO be branded a rtm1n1y
| this was easier TO be borne than an accusing
conscience better men were in the same cat
egory; 1t was stroke of policy TO doom thus
every man who hesitated to shout the praises
Of the Maine Law, although he has been to-
tai abstinent for ten, twenty or more years, OF
from his birth; and no honest, reflective, up
right man can give countenance 10 such pol.
icy it is unjust and wicked. We saw ele-
ments introduced which in our opinion, an
opinion confirmed by the lapse of time, would
ultimately defeat the avowed object of the
| law. OF the three laws enacted within the
last five years, no one could express doub,
of the excellence without losing caste; and
yet the first was largely and essentially modi
fed, the second repealed, with the first, and
the existing law proves TO be defective. But
we have the promise of another: and oul
worst wish is, that future experiments in this
line may be conducted by wiser heads and
more skilful hands than the operators of the
| past. We are in favor Of restrictive laws on
this subiect-rigidly restrictive but we wish
they could take form, or operate in way
that a real Maine Law man would not feel
like fool or a culprit, in going after little
| liquor for medicine. We heard one such say,
not long since, that he sometimes had occasion
TO use spirits in his family, but did not like tC
| go after them himself, but always employed
another to procure them. This gentleman
was of reputable Christian character bu
did not his conscience need little more light
A system which is felt to demand covert
cowardly dealing, which robs man of his man
hood, can never elevate society. And law it
self, though it can punish transgressors, We
can never reform them it can therefore, rev
er be relied on, as the chief dependence, muci
less as the sole dependence. Try it in a:
many shapes and directions as you please
physical force can never accomplish moral re-
suits. II does not change human nature no
human appetites. There must be other appl
ances. 1t is dangerous heresy, which ha
been preached from high places within tn,
year, that moral suasion, (Which implies al
means besides legal or physical force) has ex
hausted its power. 1t is a libel on the trutl
of God, on the gospel of Christ:
1t Is very common mistake, that under dit
ierent laws, institutions, systems, or circum
stances, evils would disappear. So hav
thought the socialists, and tried the expert
ment and tailed. M. Guizot says there was
in the Revolutionists of 1880, one great delu
sion and fault; they thought that man ied
good; whereas the evil was in man more thai
in existing institutions We will make
longer quotation, in which he exhibits the tru
use and Office of human laws. The passage
SO far 0s it goes, is instructive, though fur
.her agency besides those which he has men
toned, is necessary TO the truest human wei
fare-,hat of the Holy Spirit.
The truth as to the nature of man is in tn
Christian faith; it is in man himself that evi
dwells man is inclined to evil. | do no
wish here to write theology, but | unhestat
L, Il. al.