The national Republican., 1867-11-11
LICENSE vs.. PRoHIBITIoN.

In 1854 Massaohusetts placed on her ttatuts
book the &C; known as tho "MAine Law" POI
= time 1t was quite popular and as long as l,
was not very rigdy enforced, and tho people
who desired. to drink liquors found but little
difficulty in getting all they wanted, there va,
after brief time but little opposition to the
law and besides, 1t was with many people
even with those who drank rather freely sort
Of satisfactory way Of dealing with the liquor
trafe, inasmuch as 1t set the seal Of legal repro.
baton upon q business not the most reputable
In the community. To this extent the law had
. kind Of moral power: II withdrew the sane.
tlons Of law from q trade which Is known to DO
the prolific source Of a large portion Of the
crimes, p,uperism, and debauchory which exists
In the community. Very many of tho Maine
law people entertained views similar to those
expressed by our old friend Ethan Spike
NaIby, who, when as a candidate for the Maine
Legislature, and being asked hi, opinion Of the
liquor law, said that he was in favor Of the law
but opposed to Its enforcement.
For several years the people Of MaHsaehu.
Ietts got along, believing in the law as a great
moral and legal bearer against the vice Of in
temperance. At length the temperance people
awoke to observe the mastery inactivity" with
which the officers Of the law enforced this pro.
hibitOry statute, and they set to work to put 1t
through in more vigorous style. A State con-
stabulatory force was brought into requisition,
and vigorous regime was adopted to put the
law into effective operation. This aroused or
position, aud has led to the overthrow Of the
law. There are differences Of opinion expressed
respecting these new efforts in behalf Of TEN.
psrance. Some assert that there was very
pero,publs diminution Of in,emperancs in
the State, and consequently, very decided
falling Of of all its coneomitsnt vices. On the
other hand, there aro many who declare that
this attempt to enforce the law greatly increased
the evil which was sought to be removed; that
In private clubs, in out Of way places, and
everywhere in secret, much moro liquor was
drank, and the pornicious fruits Of intemper
ance everywhere increased. However this may
be. or which party Is the nearest right in its
conclusions, we will not now undertake to de.
tsrmine We know that the law, and the man.
ner Of Its endorsement, has become exceedingly
unpopular, so much 40, that the people have
Just decided at tho poll, against the law and
in favor Of its repeal by an overwhelming ma.
jOrity.
stringent license law will now be placed
upon the statute. book Of the old Bay State, and
under 1t, in contradistinction to the prohibitor,
policy. we shall have the opportunity to SOC tn
comparative merits Of each method Of dealin
with this great evil.
In connection with this subject We may re
mark that we regret to see that some Of the pro
hibitionists ara very much disturbed, and declar
substantially that they will do no more in th,
cause of temperance that they will not regre
to see intemperanco and its train Of evils foot
the State, 10. We trust that this feeling Is rare
aad that it does not prevail to any considerable
extent among the temperance men.
There is to those who desire to labor In th
temperance cause all the moral influences an
agencies which have been heretofore, as now, q
potential for good. No moral enterprise cal
safely rely upon law to carry 1t forward. Ever.
law-sspecislly is this true in this county,
the exponent Of public opinion, and no furthe
than publio opinion sanctions the statute will l
be operative for good But moral instrumental
tiles and agencies remain in force always, and
daily do these moral powers win successes ant
triumphs.
Whatever may be the law fos the regulation 0
the traffic in liquors, one thing is certain: tha
associated effort in behalf of temperance viii
continue to be put forth, and organizations o.
the basis of the pledge will not cease to labor i
aid Of the cause.