Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-03-02
Gorrtsyonosam.



The news Of the passage Of the
Temperance Law was received here
with very different feelings by differ
ent classes of our citizens. l believe
a majority of the people in this city.
Notwithstanding the large proportion
Of foreigners we have. approve the
law most heartily. But many of
them are greatly enraged. Those in
terested in the breweries, especially.
seem to feel most keenly. It is said
that family in this city sent to one
of our breweries for yeast, the day
the news was received of the passage
of the bill. The person who was sent
found the whole family at the brewery
crying most bitterly. and saying that
they were ruined.
II is somewhat amusing to see the
attempts to produce arguments against
this law, by its enemies. The neces-
sity for Legislative enactment on the
subject is so perfectly obvious that
they have ceased to oppose it. Now
their policy is to oppose the law on
the ground of expediency, and the
natural rights Of The dear people. The
right kind of law they are very
much in favor Of, but what the right
kind Of a law is, leaving them to Judge,
would be difficult 70 tell.
But commenced TO speak of sorae
Of their arguments against the present
law. One Of them is that it will null
tiply liquor shops. They reason in
this way: In Spencer county, forex-
ample. there is not a single liquor shop;
this law will establish one or more in
this and all the other counties Of the
Slate. Wise reasoning, thisl ! sup
pose there is at least one drug store in
Spencer county where liquor is kept
for medicinal and mechanical purpo-
ses. Under the new law there would
be nothing more, except that the
druggistst, or whoever may be ap-
pointed to keep 1t, would be under
such restrictions. as that he could not
sell TO men, nor they buy Of him od
ii6itum; but only for the purposes
specified in the law.
Another argument, conceived by
the State Sentinel, is, that the people
will be taxed to buy hquor. and that
they will revolt at it. Monstrous! tt
is small thing that they are taxed by
thousands to support dramshops, thro'
the pauperism and crime which they
make: but a terrible thing II the peo-
pies money is taken to supply their
own agents with ardent spirits only to
be used for necessary purposes. But
will it amount to a tax? The agents
are to charge twenty-five per cent. on
the cost Of the liquor; win not that
meet the expenses? II not, only re-
feet what will be saved in the way OF
taxes, when the wholesale drunksrd-
making is stopped. with all its horrid
concomitants. A tax indeed! The
law is intended to save the people from
tax. -
But still it is said liquor viii be sold
and people will drink-that in Maine
there is more drinking than before the
passage Of the law. In regard to the
workings Of the Maine law, ] heard,
few days ago. the testimony of two
liquor dealers which speaks a volume.
One Of them from this State, had
passed through Maine, and after his
return it was triumphantly asserted
that his testimony was that more liq-
uor was consumed in that state than
ever. The question was asked him
one day directly. and he was request
ed to give, candidly, the result Of his
observations. "Well. said he, "to be |
candid. / did not see liquor shop in
Maine. / could find no liquor to
drink, but once, though / often inquir-
ed for it. When / did find il, / had
first to buy the stage-driver; then was
taken by him round through a dark
alley, into dismal looking back
building, where got hold Of q bottle,
took drink. and paid Iifty cents for il:
and I would have given ten dollars TO
have had it out of me after / drank it.
The other. from another state, said
he Jared little better. He got some
liquor in Bangor, but not until II was
known that he was a liquor dealer. Ii
was kept in q serpent, (very appropri-
ate. certainly!) and drawn out by q
woman; he paid dollar for il, but
Il was good liquor.
Now. sir. the very difficulty Of get.
ting the article will. of itself, effoctu-
ally put stop to drunkenness. When
men must be 50 cautious, search 90
hard. and then pay from five to ten
prices for one drink. the effect must be
to cure those who are already inebri-
ates, and prevent the making Of now
ones. Do not inebriates feelthe curse
more sensibly than any body else s----
and do they not earnestly wish 10 cast
of their chains? Many Of them would
give world 10 BE- able TO break of;
but alasl they meet the temptation at
every turn. While struggling against
the terrible appetite. their necessary
walks often lead them BY the places