New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-22
THE MAINE LIQUOR LAW IN ENGLAND.

From the London Times, MAY n.
The Maine Liquor law has been a signal failure in
the province from which il derives its name. The
moist climate in which our lot is cast and artificial
our habits of life undoubtedly are, we fully believe
that an artificial stimulus, if used in moderation, 50
far from being productive of evil OF positive advan-
tage to the constitution. Almost every individual in
these islands, perhaps the agricultural laborer
leads a highly artificial existence. 1t is the same
thing with the artisan, the mechanic, and the manuac-
turing operative, rs with the overworked barrster OF
merchant or authOr In the nearly the whole
of n mans waking hours are spent in heated and
unwhoesome atmosphere, over labor OF an unceaslns
and sonotonous kind In the other there is perpet-
nal strain upon the BRAIN perpetual wear ana year
of the nervous system. When the time for relaxation
arrives the man whose lot it is 10 live like hermit
and work like a horse is not capable OF the exert0n
which wOsld refresh the energies of the savage he
sts down 10 his meal with great craving for food,
rather than with wholesome hunger, and thei0od set
before him is rich and heavy. Water is not the apt
solvent for such meal nor will few glasses OF cold
water supply that stimulus which the langud stomach
absolutely requires to enable 1t to perform It's task
The Maine Liquor law enthusiasts may talk as they
will about the delights Of the pure fountains We are Of
those who believe that glass or two OF good sherry,
or other wholesome wine, far from being injurious
in the case described, will rather act as cordial and
restore the faded energies of exhausted nature.
Now when we claim this privilege for ourselves, we
have wish TO dissocate our cause from that OF our
poorer fellOw.shbects who may be engaged IN the
various operations of handcraft. What the glass OF
sherry is 10 the overworked brainlaborer is the glass
OF beer to the mechanic artisan. Ii all Exeter Hal,
ar all the platforms in Maine to rise up III plous
indignation at startling an expression OF opinion,
we would still say that the poor is not the worse
but much the better for his glass of beer However
translucent may be the aqueous theories of the par
of total abstinence the experience OF mankind is
against them The human broadly, by their prac-
lice maintain the principle that in one form or another
they will have stimulating drink of some KIND. IL 10
false position however to assert that the decision OF
mankind therefore is for drunkenness. In this as in
all other things reason should be guide, and it il
So The enormous majority of the inhabant5 OF these
islands make use of ferneuted liquors, but very
small minority are habitual drunkards. OF the 400 900
persons whom we assume at a rough calculation to
represent the adult male population OF Great britain
and Ireland how many are habltual drunkardS-h0w
many are even drunk" in the course of any gwen
twentyfour hours Are we therefore, TO be told that,
because few weak deprayed people deliberately
choose TO make beasts Of themselves, and to bring
ruin upon all about Them the reasonable liberty OF the
great bulk of their fellow subjects is to be restrained
by restrictive sumpuary law to enforce Temperance
We can assure the Hon. Neal Dow of Portland, United
States who is to lecture us at Exeter-Ha TINS day,
that he is wasting his labor and eoquence in England
We know as well he tell US, that drunkenness
here as in other cvz countries is fruitful source
of crime. We cannot, however compare our own, or
tsy other country with nation of water-drinkers--
or rather with nation which uses no artificial sm1-
lus-and for the simple reason that no such commu-
nifty exists or has existed in the annals OF the
world This world is of some standing IN the
Universe and the inference would seem 10 be pretty
clear one. As matter of abstract speculation 1t
might be curious to inquire what vices and crimes
would most prevail among a nation of pure water
drinkers unless influences far more potent than their
habiiual beverage were at work among them. But
even the State OF Maine will not supply US with the
means of insttuting any such comparison