Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-03-06
From the Now York Tribune.
THE MARCH OF PROHIBITION.

of MAINE, yielding to the reltrr-
ated and urgent representations OF Neal Dow,
the first act Of complete Prohibition
of ali Traffic in Intoxicating Beverages, ever
on an American statute-book. We
believe a similar act had been framed and
passed through both Houses in Maine at the
preceding session: but the then Governors
signature was withheld, and the bill thereby
nullifed.) The original Maine Law passed
in June, if we mistake not, to take effect on
t1e LIST of August, 1851.
The tidings that the Liquor Traffic bad
thus beon outlawed in Maine was received by
the Press generally with indifference or deri-
sion. There were very few Editors, appar-
emily, who believed that the act would or
should be sustained. Out of more than three
thousand periodicals then published within
the limits Of the Union, certainly less thln
one hundred approved promptly and heartily
the act of Maine; and when, sometlmn after
it had taken effect. Neal Pow was run out of
the Office Of Mayor of Portland, ths newspa-
per gratulation was general and unbounded.
Yet thousands waited in silence, with anx-
ious vet hopeful hearts, the early advices
from Maine as to the working Of the Prohib
tory Act; and when they were assured that
it could be and pds enforced-that Crime
and Pauperism were both diminished by its
operation that outrages were less frequent,
life and property more safe, than they had
been-they thanked God and took courage,
resolving that the example of the pioneer
Prohibition State should be generally imi
tated.
Since then, the States of MASSACHUSETTS,
VERMONT, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, Mich
IGAN, WISCONSIN, ILLINOIS and INDIANA, have
passed Prohibitory laws-all based on the
act of Maine, but some Of them surpassingi it
in stringency and effectiveness. In New
Hampshire, two successive Houses have de-
clared for Prohibition, but the Senate of that
State is so elected as to be usually the mer-
est tool of the central oligarchy, and has
thrown out the bill. This year.. if we do not
misread the signs of the times, the case will
be bravely altered. New York has passed a
bill through both branches of her legislature,
but the then Governor vetoed it, and the peo-
pie in turn vetoed him. New Jersey, after
repeated trials, has at length carried SINH
lar bill through the more popular branch of
here Legislature-its fate in lhe upper House
remains to be decided. Pennsylvania barely
failed to PASS an act of like import, and on
tppeal to the people, a small majority was
cast against it-cast by the farmers Of the
less intelligent counties, who feared that their
market for Hops, Barley, Rye, &C., would be
destroyed by Prohibition. Delaware is I'M
derstood t. have last fall chosen Legisla-
ture favorable to the principle. In Maryland,
Baltimore City chose full Prohibition tick
ct at the last Legislative election, and bill
fashioned upon the Maine Law was with diff
ticulty defeated last winter. Virg mia and
the Southern States are agitated by the pre-
monitions Of Anti-Liquor laws, and acts con-
sid rally restricting the traffic have been car
ried in Mississippi and Texas. Ohio-th ugh
her Corn, her Grapes, her small grains are
largely and proftably absorbed in the manu-
facture Of Whisky, Wine and Lager Beer,
has yet passed an act forbidding me sale Of
Distilled Liquors as bever, ge. and is be-
ginning to enforce it, under tie impetus of a
decision OF her Supreme Court, affirming its
constltutlona!.,y. Iowa may be confidently
expected 70 do better than this under the inn
pulse OF her Republican victory and her
temperance Governor. Oregon for some
years upheld feeble Prohibiory Law, but
the influx of immigration and the interest of
party Democracy at length broke it down.
10 Minnesota, Prohibitory act was passed
and went into operation, but U. S. Terri
torial Judge broke it down, resting his deci-
sion on the fact that it (the act, not his nul.
LITIGATION Of it) had been submitted to and
approved by the people In Tennessee and
Kentucky, the initial skirmish on the question
Of Prohibition took place at their last Legis-
lative elections respectively, when Shelby
Co.. Tenn. Gncluiing NJ mphis,) elected az
entire Prohibition ticket-proving that such
a ticket, properly placed in the field, can sue
coed anywhere. In Washington City, thc
question Of Prohibition or No Prohibition
was last year submitted to the people, who
decided against the Liquor Traffic by large
majority.
We have condensed these facts into a sin.
gle article, in the hope that they might nc
to disarm the futile yet mscievous resistance
offered in our Legislature TO the passage Of 4
stringent act of Prohibition What good
can be even hoped for from this course p
Prohibition is moral certainty in any Free
and many Slave States; it is at all events t.
be tried, and what good can result from sta
wing it off for year or two? To weaken Of
render imperative the act first passed serves
no purpose; for the Legislature of Maine
Massachusetts and Michigan, are this winter
devoting themselves to the strengthening anc
guarding of their respective laws Of Prohi
bition, so as to render evasion perilous anc
Improbable. Then why not, gentlemen OF
the contrary part! initiate the good sense Of
Capt. SCOTS coon. and come down at once
Let us have laws that ,ciH stop the traffic
stop it thoroughly and conclusively--
then, if the People love Quiet and Plenty toe
little or Liquor too much to uphold them
they will empower you to enact their repeal
Certainly, Alcoholic Beverages and the Lii.
ccnse system have had fair trial pow lei
Prohibition and Total Abstinence enjoy theil
turn. If they create more misery and desti
tuition than they supplant, we will speedily
and heartily join YOU in decreeiug and effect.
ing their overthrow.