The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-21
The LIQUOR Bill.

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The Liquor Bill.
We published last week the Liquor Bill
reported from the Committee on the Judi
ciary, by Senator Barnes, of Cumberland.
The Bill and accompanying remarks discuss
ing the general question of the sale and
drinking of liquors, arc by Mr.. Barnes
Two other Bills are before the Legislature,
one prepared by Mr.. Wcdgwood, of Cor
nish, kind of Maine law affair, and the
other by Mr.. Irish, of Union, which is as
liberal in its provisions as the most ardent
drinkcr or seller could desire. There is lit
tie probability that either bill will find favor
with even the majority Of the Legislature.
Mr.. Barnes bill as our readers probably
observed, is license bill; 80 arranged as to
create monopoly in the traffic, in favor of a
few individuals in theseveral citiesand towns
of our State. The provisions of the Bill are
all arranged upon the aristocatic idea OF
easy rum for the "respcctables," and more
difficult rum for the masses. The principle
of equality does not seem to have been
thought of at all in the preparation of the
Bill. Its provisions allowing liquor to be
sold by Gov. Wells heads of families, the
landlords, to their guests and travellers, are
as fragrant outrage upon common sense III
can well be conceived. Indeed the whole
bill-herc asserting the natural right to
drink 4" like FISH," and there taking away
these same natural rights,-now recognizing
those features of the Maine Law which have
been denounced by its opponents as mos'
tyrannical and cruel, and then again slip
ping of into the extreme of looseness stands
forth specimen, of inconsistent and contra
dictory principles endeavorcd to be embo'
died into legislative action, Of surprising
richness.
Senator Barnes, in the preparation of THU
Bill, cvinces no knowledge of the extent Of
the great evil sought to be remcdicd, and We
may say shows love for aristocratic no.
tions, hardly compatible with democratic
principles.
1t is altogether too late, to defend any
law which would establish a monopoly in the
liquor traffic, or which would give the higher
classes an advantage in the means Of graft
flying their appetites, over the masses. Lii.
quor selling is either right or wrons-iI
right every man who chooses should have
the right to pursue the traffic, If wrong,
none should have the opportunity to SELL
The distinction between respectable drink
ers, respectable sellers, and low groggcrios,
is absurd. The most dcleterious influences
proceed from the places where it is sold,
" respectfully" as it is called. Low grog-
gcries" only receive the students who have
learned the science of drinking at the so
called respectable places. If there were no
so called respectable Places such as our
hotels, for the sale Of liquors, there would
be few groggcries.
Mr.. Barnes undoubtedly thinks ii is a
very bright idea, to prevent the drinking OF
liquor in the places where sold. The idea
Of this part of the bill, is that it is better for
the inebriatc to get drunk at home, and
with his family, than at the dram shop
He says to the drinkcr take your liquor
home, if you drink it ON the premises you
may get noisy, disturb the public peace and
perhaps find quarters in the lock.up-but
take it home, learn your children to love
rum, your wife to become as brutifcd as
yourself, and thus help on the great cause
of temperance. If men must drink rum,
we should prefer that every man who is
allowed to sell, should be required to keepa
sign up upon which should DO painted in
large chancters-'' Clean Straw for the use
of all made drunk OH these premises
MIR. Barnes, has had the reputation Of
being something of a scholar, and as a law
yer somewhat celebrated for hair splitting.
He can see minute things great deal bet
ter than large ones. He mayb DO honest, but
by education, habits of life, and original
character, he has no sympathy with the
masses-his conservatism is rickety with
age, and practicability is something he never
could understand. His bill is magni6.
cent failure to every body but himself, a
montrosity of attempted statutory wisdom,
full of contradictory and absurd provisions.