The Portland daily press., 1867-08-28


- II - -------
The Amended Maine Law. l#
If the ratification of the amendments 10
the Maine law, submitted to the people last
June, was really, as the Democratic papers
now pretend, an outrage, a wicked vasion OF
the rights Of the citizen, and all that, then
the Democratic party in this State is parti-
ceps criminis. This proposition admits of
mathematical proof The vote in favor of
the amendments was, in round numbers twen-
ty thousand the vote against them, five thou
sand. But the Democratic vote a year ago
was about forty Thousand, and 40 900 plus 5000
is greater than 10000, whence it appears that
the Democratic party, with half an effort,
might have defeated the amendments. @. E.
d. 1t follows of course, either that the
amended law is not so terrible an affair as
Democratic politicians would have us think.
or that these same politicians, who might
have prevented its ratilicati on, were wilfully
neglectlul Of their duty.
The truth is, they have been playing here
'little game" which has been exposed so
often that it is becoming tiresome. "Thimble-
rig" and the "drop game" are no more fami-
iar to the reading public than this Democrat
ic game ofpromoting the success OF measure
which they hope may prove unpopular, with
the intention Of subsequently disclaiming all
responsibility for it and avaiIing themselves
of its unpopularity to regain portion OF their
lost influence. In this way, Democratic Con-
gressmen helped Thaddeus Stevens carry mea-
sures which they believed would be peculiarly
obnoxious to the rebellious South. In the
same way Democratic Representative NOV
ed to lay on the table the resolution declaring
money on hand in the form of United States
notes not exempt from taxation. In the same
way, the whole strength of the Democratic
party was employed to defeat bill contain
ing wise and just provision for the relief of
our shipbuilders. Having absolutely no pol
icy of their own ii has been of late the only
aim of Democratic politicians, to cooperate
with sections and fragments of The dominant
party in order to procure the adoption of
measures which they imagine may prove in
furious, OF what is the same thing, to prevent
the adoption of measures which they regard
as beneficial i,.s, f...a ,...l...... ..s.,
But it is impossible for party to succeed
BY playing fast and loose with great measures
in this way. The Democrats who voted with
Thaddeus Stevens last winter cannot escape
the responsibility of that act. At the South
as well as at the North, it is understood that
what Thaddeus Stevens did as a sacred duty
that the Democrats who supported him did
fooishly thinking thereby to advance their
partisan interests. 1t is well enough under
stood in the State of Maine that the Demo-
cratic managers here desired the adoption of
the amendments to the Maine law and used
their influence to keep their followers from
the polls. They did all they could to pro-
mote the success of the movement, and they
cannot now claim to have been sincerely and
consistently opposed to it. a ia
The attitude of the Republican party is
more honorable. There were many Republi-
cans as well as Democrats, who doubted the
eXpediency Of the amendments. There were
a few Republicans and more Democrats who
were distinctly opposed to them. Those Re-
publicans who were so opposed, went to the
polls and honestly voted ''No." The party, as
party, simply acquiesced in a modification
Of the law which it was claimed would render
it still more efficacious for good. The essen
tial principle of the Maine law, the right to
suppress drinking houses and tipping shops
by law, may now be regarded az established.
Even the unsuccessful movement for a Ii
cense law in Massachusetts last winter, did
houses. The right to put down grog shops,
properly so called, is not likely hereafter to be
called seriously in question. But there are
many matters of detail which are still to be
settled. Cider is sold freely in Portland, but
not in Bangor. 1t is question on which
opinions differ, whether both ale and cider
may not properly be sold by victuallers. 1t is
a question, whether home made wines are to
be classed among intoxicating drinks. 1t is a
question, whether the law shall be treated as
exceptional and executed by special police
appointed by the State, or left to the local
authorities. t,., ..4
There is no way to settle these questions
and others like them, except by experiment.
The practical operation of the law Will in time
bring about substantial unanimity. The ex
pertinent which is now in progress is doing
more to satisfy the public ON several mooted
questions than century of discussion could
have accomplished. The practical difficulty
found in procuring convictions under the law
- lie ;s off
tive of our Temperance men to revise their
opinions on the subject of penalties, and the
same men are not altogether satisfied with
the working of the constabulary law. The
Indications are now that the constabulary
law, at least, will be considerably modified
next winter, if not altogether abolished, and
that the action taken will meet the full ap-
probation of many of the leaders In the Tenn
peraDce reform.
It is thl ough the Republican party, of
course, that all notifications of the law must
be brought about. There were few of our
friends, who were so desperate two or three
weeks ago in their opposition to what the
Belfast Journal calls "this new tangled cider
law" that they threatened to invoke the pow
erful aid Of the party which had in the last
Legislature thirteen Representatives and not
a single Senatorl They have thought better
OF it. The Republican party says now as it
has said heretofore, Fellow citizens, this law
must be fairly tried at every step; whatever /
features of it are proved unwise, we propose
to change; but we shall neither meddle with
it rashly ourselves nor allow anybody else to
meddle with provisions which are not salts
factorily shown to, be injurious" So saying
we speak for seventy thousand voters, and
probably more.
The AFFAIRS OF THE TREASURY DEPART-
MENT.-A Washington dispatch to the New
York Herald says; ue t-4r
The pressure against Mr.. McCullocn anu so
his investigating committee has pecolue % so
strong that learn he has determinMed M upom % .ne .
publication of a report, in detail, tina! VIII set
at rest completely the random assertions Sc ions that
are afioat- and show the affairs OF the treasury
70 he in ~ sound and healthful condition. The