Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1856-05-15
PORTLAND. April %, 1856.
Rev. DR.. MARSH

AepFt bhs A'AAhSh |
DEAR Sra. You have heard ere this, that our
Legislature at its session just closed, has re-
pealed Prohibition and inaugurated License once
more IN Maine The Legislature was controlled |
entirely by lawyers. and unfortunately, they |
were among the most inscriptions Of that pro- |
fessiep; and, as the continuance Of the rum traffic
is necessary to the prosperity Of the profession
these men exerted themselves to the utmost to
accomplish this result.
The law which they have given us instead of
the Maine law, appears to be very stringent in
its professions 1t prohibits "drinking houses !
and tipplias shops" under penalty Of two hun
dred dollars fne and one y.sr in prison 1t
limits the number of licenses which may be
granted in any town err city, and fofbids the
seeping of bar, or the selling to be drank upon
the premises and Furnishes by equal penalties
the owner of the business where liquors are I'M
lawfully sold, and the person who is the more
active agent in the violation Of the law. II also
holds the rum seller accountable personally for
the acts Of those who commit offences under the
influence Of liquor sold by him.
An interesting instance of the operation of
this feature OF the law, occurred in this city
last week. A man uproareusly drunk was ar.
rested in the street, having just smashed large
plate of glass iu the show window of 4 fancy
goods shop. After the poor wretch had recov-
the party of whom he got the liquor. A police
man walked into his shop, and demanded the
{. payment for the broken window, and received
the money
The temperance men in Maine arc not in the
slightest degree discouraged by the repeal of the
law, but on the contrary, they are stimulated by
il to renewed, and increased exertion. The law
was enacted at time when the OWLS Of intem.
perance we've seen by all men, and felt by most
| thrnup hout fhn State IL WIS ballad with INV
by the mass Of the people as an fundamentally
} for their redemption from the great curse Of
modern acknowledgements
Under the operation Of the law, the rum
traffic was very nearly annihilated, and IN many
parts of the State it was entirely driven out.
Iniemperance disappeared in the rural districts,
and was becoming comparatively rare in the
villages and larger towns and cities, so that the
evils ant dangers Of the liquor traffic had been
very much diminished, and in many parts Of
the State were no longer felt at all.
In tae mesh time, the corrupt clique Of olit
ical hacks, which had been driven from power
in the State by the temperance agitation, was
constantly watching for an opportunity to re-
cover its former position. For year or two,
no word was uttered Of hostility to the Maine
! law; but there was general acquescence in
: it, ard approval of its provisions But as tn,
. evils of intemperance were diminished, Their,
were Whispers put In circulation taat the laa
was arbitrary and unnecessarily severe; that al
: its advantages might be retained in a great,
!, modified and more humane enactment. Al
7 these whispers were listened to, the though
y y was expressed in louder tones, and reiterated
u until sone persons really thought 1t might b
% true, and were inductd TO consent to the exper
~ iment. When | tell you, that less than ig
. hundred votes against the experiment, distrib
TO ute6 over the State, would have changed tn
result, you will see that the new order Of thing
rests on a very preoarious foundation.
re Blu. we thank our enemies for the sanctio
10 which we will incorporate into che "MAINE LA'
70, REVIVED" to wit that the oiOner and keep er
ID grog shop shall be held actually and equal
rs responsible for the violation of the law commit
a tel upon the premises, AMI that both shall res
n pond in damages for injuries committed by me
intoxicated upon liquors unlawfully sold
on them, or their procurement or consent.
lei "A good time is coming wait little long
ew en-" Truly yours, NEAL Dow.