Smyrna times., 1856-01-02
Onward.

The doctrine of Prohibition continues to
work we'll in Eastern Connecticut. There Is
no open sale of intoxicating drinks, and the
secret sales must be very secret, or, suddenly
some vigilant eye is upon them, and moose OF
the law is around the rogue's neck. Quite
number have recently been marched up to the
captains Office TO settle. One court has just
disposed ef aSout score of complaints for lie
gal sale and intoxication. About dozen per-
sons have been convicted by jury, or settled up,
paying fine and costs without coming to trial
Others failed to appear and forfeited their
bonds. Some hundreds of dollars are thus put
into the public treasury-most of it paid over
! BY those who were not wont to be heavy tax
| payers. They make our taxes, but do not bear
large proportion of the burden of public ex-
| pense. But the court has new way Of levy
ing taxes-attemptlng to equaIlZe that which
was very unequal before. 1t ia better than
nothing. One fellow, however, after manutac-
turing pauperism and crime to order as long
as he could, was brought into cour; plas-
tered all over with complaints. He was con-
victed OH two, confessed judgment on two
more, OH fifth the jury could not agree and it
was understood that some others were dismiss
ed, as these were thought to be enough at once.
And then, as he found the bill of all his fines
larger than his purse, he was marched off and
lodged in the strong house at public expense.
II is now understood in Eastern Connecticut
that rumselling is 10 be treated as other crimes
are. 1t is no more difficult now to convict un'
; der the Temperance la Nv than under other la VS.
This presents a new and hopeful era for oul
{ cause. At first iuries could not agree. Some
| fhaIr inf h0
they had wonderful qualms both about law anC
evidence. Old Alcohol thought he was going
to have it all his own way after all, and tht
J, friends of reform were sorely tried for time
= But all has come right now. Both lawyers ant
. Jurors have received some new ideas from th
suggestions of clear-headed and honest Judges
and have found out that this is indeed one Q
II the laws of the land and is not TO be trlhe
It with.
"a The working of the law has developed som
new tricks" of the rum trade hardly equale
D" by anything of all its former meannesses. w
& have long known that the rumseller would GO
his victim drunk and then kick him out {
" doors. But now he gets him drunk and the
70 blasts hia character, that he may destroy b
testimony. If drunken person is arreste
W and discloses, all the rumseler has to do is
prove by other drunkards that this man is "nC
I to be believed under oath" Thisis the rumse
Ia ler's gratitude to a devoted customer. He ws
=, fine fellow and an honest man when he bougl
ei the liouor, but he is larand a vagabond whG
LII he says he bought it! But this will not la
Id LONG. The courts will search this matter
III the bottom 1t will not be difficult to sift th
- evidence as we'll as other, and see who inter
to tell the truth and who do not, who are real
'io bad and who are so only as regards the vice
intemperance A better future is before u.s.
en- The Temperance law is growing stronger a
nd stronger, the opposition weaker and weaker
j.. the time, in spite of all the boasts to the co
lS' trary. Nothing can disturb it in Connecticl
On 1t is the fixed policy of the State. This lit
er. State was slow in adopting the measure; S
aft will be slower still in giving it up.-N.
,be Tribune.