The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-17
The Maine Law XII ell I'm Mainc--Tempcr-
ance Movements Elsewhere.

The result Of the Maine election is the
most severe blow that the temperance
fanatics have yet experienced. II destroys
at once their PEI argument that the PEG
pie are in favor Of Prohibitory law.
The canvass in Maine was conducted on |
this issue alone. All other questions were |
for the time laid aside, and the ma
jori.y Of the democratic party rested
its hopes Of success upon the unpopularity Of
the Liquor law. Tho result must have been
most gratifying to them. Their gahernato-
rial candidate has plurality Oh lie gene
raj ticket, and the Legislature is strongly IN
their favor.
1t cannot be said that the law has not had
fair trial in Maine, the State wherein it ori-
ginated four years ago 1t has been thorough
" tested, and found wanting. In Maine we
have positive result, and in other States We
perceive signs of revolution no less fattering.
In Illinois, where the law was presented TO the
people, it was rejected by decisive majority
and @ strong effort is now being made in Nassa-
chusetts TO shake il off altogether. Too many
veyed questions enter into the Massachusetts
election for US to predict, safely, lis result; bat
we have no hesitation in saying that, could the
liquor question be presented to the people Of
that State on its own merits, the end Of the
canvass would be the total route of The pro-
hibi.ionists
In our own State the law exists, but It is
never executed. We occasionally hear Of the
prosecution Of some poor German in the coun-
try, for the odious offence OF selling glass of
beer and there have been one or two cases in
this city, where the courts have made such ter
rble leaks in the law that it cannot hold
either rum or water. Public opinion is de-
cidedly against prohibition.
In the meantime The temperance people are
not idle The ultra-Maine law party here is
led by the Seward politicians, who care nothing
about temperance, except as means by which
they can more easily humbug the people
ana keep the spoils IN their own hands. The
Sewardites have coquetted with both Sides
and managed last year to concilate Auburn
without offending the Aston House. The friends
OF Seward controlled The Temperance Conyen-
ton at Auburn, lastyear, and succeeded in hum
bugging great many honest adherents Of pro-
hibition into voting the ticket These persons
are now aware that they wore bamboozlcd by
Greeley, Raymond and the rest Of Seward and
Fred Douglass's adberents. \ movement has
already commenced among the real tenn
perance men in this city; It's OBJECT is 10 put
down coeTciye legislation and to procure The
passage Of excise laws which shall protect the
buyer ana respect the rights Of the seller. The
temperance men have found out that what we
said long ago was strictly true: That the Pro-
hibitory law never can be generally applied
and that the old excise law, strictly enforced,
was amply sufficient for all practical purposes.
1t is unnecessary for US to prove either Ct cur
positions by words. The Maine law men have
done it for US by deeds. The organization
formed ny the moderate temperance men in
this city on Saturday, can do much good.
Every good citizen will join with il in asking
the next Legislature to give Us wholesome
excise law-proviling foI licenses to be Issued
to responsiblo persons, and guarding against
the adulteration OF liquors with deleterious
substances
The political Maine law men have called
another State convention at Utica On the 81
OF October, probably with the idea that they
can force the striped Syracuse republican
ticket upon the temperance people of the
State. They have been Lunbugged n hat
way too often.