Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-18
END OF THE MAINE LIQUOR LAW.


The sudden rse rapid progress, brief elimination,
and final collapse OF the Maine Liquor Law, will form
an interesting and Instructive chapter in the history
| OF popular deusons.
II is just five years since Neal Dow was elected
Mayor of Portland and the law, with which his
name is iuseparably Associated was enacted by the
| Legislature Of Maine. In the meanwhile, with great
er or less modification, the measure has been adopt
ed by most OF the New England by several of the
North Western, and By some of the Middle Satss.--
The secret of this marvellous is not difficult
.: discovery. The popular mind OF the North irri-
tated and cnfeeblcd by ncessant agitation corrupted
by contact with every sort of poisonous heresy III
politics and religion, and supported By 10 heahul
principle OF conservatism readily appluuLcd and pro-
noted 80 startling an Innovation on time-honored
iRsasHqe Was" .aa hahits ,af th%"nts "h-
surLity aud its ncompntihty with the conditions {"
sell-guvernmenl. IL public opinion br not anchored
to some solid institution, and restrained from VAIN
and licen,ious speculation, it will be driven by the
laws of the human mind into every excess Of error
and delusion The triumph of the Maine Liquor
Law in the less conservative States OF the North
shows how completely public opinion may be de-
bauclled by corrupt indulgence, and how easily it is
perncious hereses
Politicians more intent upon personal anu party a."
grandizement than upon the public good haitcred
the delusion courted its alliance, aud impaired "id
tional impulse to its already rapid successes ETor
naturally unites with error; imPosture always aids
iul,osture; and Abolition, Acknowledgment ana
Maine Liquor Law soon bound together III
solemn league and covenant. We have already stated
the result.
The Maine Liquor Law has had fair trinl. The
experiment has been repeated for five years and IN
various States. In every instance 1t has proved Il
dead failure. In Maine, where its oppressive prov'-
siOns were most rigidy enforced, the sale of liquor
WAS not suppressed, and drunkenness reverd III unre-
strained riot. But the law excited universal dlsron-
tent and indignation, and destroyed all the rrp"se aud
security of society," In n mad mood the people hud
nut yoke upon their nccks, and for five years they
foarned and chaied under the burden.
It's every way proper that the State which invent
ed and propagaed the imposure, should be the first
to recant and to make atonement for ts error. The
monster ia strangIed in lts nest Tho Legislature OF
Maine, BY very decisive majority, have repealed
the Liquor Law and the city Of Portland has sgnl-
fed it's penense for past nllies by eecting Mayor
| and Common Council who sustain the action ol the
Legislature One could not want Il more radical and
oomur.hensve rtcantation Of an error.
In New York, the Liquor Law was notoriousy dis
regarded in private paror and public barrooln. The
most energetic administrative officer IN the country
Mayor Wood--dd not venture to enforce the measure
for fear of rebellion anil bloodshed And thus tho
dangerous spectacle of successful resistance to posi-
five law continued untR the Court of Appeals, after
elaborate argument and with singular unanIm'ty pro-
nounoed the Maino Liquor Law unconstitutional and
antagonistic to the principles OF republican govern
ment.
Thus by q double codemnation by the strong re-
probation of popular opinion and the authoritative
sentence of the judicial tribunas--the Maine Liquor
Law is repuliated and denounced Tor an "rrant 'n'
| postor and all enemy to the public veal.
The Temperance movement originated IN an sm'
puse of genuine benevoence; and the inen VINO con-
trolled it in the beginning had no other object than '
good of humanity. Soon, however vanity oi ora
torical display became passion with the apostles I"
the oauso, and young began TO pour forth on lie
horrors of drunkenness for other purpose than to
advertise their own abilities. Then from being mere
fancy work lecturing OH Temperance go' 10 be Il re-
ouar trade and, like aoher profitable trades II "as
very soon monopozed by Yankee enterprise. Al
tb; noint the Temperance rement paused, and haf
since gradually refrigerated until it has almost sunk
ou, of nublic notice TO this reaction the eAceases
of Northern fanatcism contributed the main mo
| menium.
We approve the Temperance movement so iar az u
nron,sas 70 attain legitimate and practicable endS-
Fvervbody deplofes drunkenness, and would rtloce
If men would stop milking brutes Of themselves 81"
M sensible and sober man countenance an attempt
to correct the infrnities Of nature by eHped'ehs VI
legislation. Republican government Is CONSTITUTED
not Oh the idea that are all idiots out 'nar ''es
are of sound mind and capable oi taxing care u
themselves Sober and sensible people can d'scr''
nate between moderation and excess, between 'e'i'
perance and ntemperance, between the e"n'f'i
the passions by reason aud the su9ugati'n o' reason
by the passions. Sober and sensible people perceive
a sradnton of evils, and will not be driven uy TIT
undeniable evils of drunkenness into the more '''ie'
able evils of al iuqusitoria and oppressive tyranny
They admit that temperance is good thns' p"t heS
so NOT prize j, above personal dignity security o' pro
rights of domestic sancuaryand al! tue ohef eS
.en,is safeguards ofrepubican society. They c'hten'
,bs, teperauce ceases to be virtue when II Is th'
rssult Of eompulsion; that man is robbed ol nS 10