New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-10-23
TI0TNR IN POLITICS.

LIQUOR IN POLITTCS.
The "Manc law or first State act whereby
the sale of intoxicating beverages was abso-
lutely prohibited was passed While Maine was
still Democratic State, and approved ny her
Democratic Governor: whereupOn the Liquor
men conSpircd and defeated his reelection, but
We're unable to repeal the law, which still
stands on the statute-book, and was consider
ably stiffened by the last Legislature, in an
act which required and received n ratification
by q direct vote Of the People.
In Massachusetts similar act was passed by
an "Amercan' Legislature, and signed by Gov.
Henry j. Gardner, now a Democrat.
The last Legislature of Massachusetts, insti
tuted thorough, exhaustive inquiry into the
effects of this law. Scores of men, eminent in
science. letters medicine, and jurisprudence,
were examined as witnesses-abOut IA many of
them summoned by one party as the other, and
ex- Gov. Andrew was counsel for the License
party; the Rev. DR.. Miner, President of Tufts
College and pastor of the SchOol-st Univer-
salist Church, led on the side of Prohibition.
Full reports were made and have been widely
disseminated Says the N. J. Times:
"The evidence was consequently most ample, and. in
many respects, OF exceeding value.
"The weight Of the testimony and the weight OF
sqn Mere N i nS.ou Si Proon Te
most eminent scientific men examined; men OF the stand
ing Of Agassz and Holmes joined with many Of the lead
ing clergy OF the State in the opinion shat legislative
prohibition cure for ntcmperancc; that the siln
gcncy Of the law became excuse to many 10 violate its
provisions; that 1t was ana Is notouou'y violated IN
every form and by device and that the convictions
unSn0ys 10 fbe constitution do not cover ore 1.-THE per
haps not in hundred of the cases wherein violations
"The majority Of the Committee in their report pre-
sened ne strongest points on dnd anu t o.
should 20 before the Ieope II Is before man now, and
will be shortly decided"
The Times fails to add the material fact that
the late Republican State Convention expressly
resolved that each Republican is ut perfect lib
erty to favor or oppose Prohibition as to him
shall seem proper. And if the evidence
whereof The Times notices only 80 much as
was given on one sidc) is so decidedly favora
be to License as that paper represents it,
surely the Liquor men should DC satisfied.
They are not, however. They are trying to
win by underhand means. They arc banded in
q secret league or order, known rs the p. l..
L. and expect to win by nominating their
pledged cOnfederates as Republicans whenever
they can, and by beating anyhow all who are
not of their sort. II they can nominate the
Republican candidates, they will do So if not,
they will bolt and support Democratic candi-
dates, or get up independent or mixed tickets
anything for success. Yet The Times says:
at is the introduction of just such eXtraneous issues
into contest involving National interests Of the deepest
and most vital 70 the whole people, that creates
what appears a reaction in political sentiment"
WHO is responsible for the introduction
" of Just such extraneous issues into politics 7"
Why will not The Times speak out? What
should the Republicans have done in the prem
ises that they have not done? We know that
they are to suffer heavily by "the introduction
aforesaid; but how could they have avoided
itf
DO you say that they might have stined their
individual convictions, and gone altogether for
q good License law? That would not have
mended the matter. We have such law here /;
but the Liquor men here hate us as bitterly
and will damage us as heavily as in Massa-
chusetts. Let the Bay State pass just such an
act rs Gov. Andrew proposed last Winter, and
the Liquor dealers will insist that it be either
repealed or dsregarded. 1t presented its ulti-
matum, through certain citizens of German
birth, to our Constitutional State Convention,
in these words:
"No person shall by law be deprived OF the right to
,oeek provided that no person in exercising this right
shall violate public order and decorum the proper
spect due to religious worship"
Substantially the same proposition was sub
mitted by the German interest to the Platform
Committee of our late Republican State Con-
vention, and, being there rejected, it was
sprung upon the Convention as it was about
dissolving, and agreed to by majority of the
members present.
Did that satisfy the Germans7 Not at all !!
They at once set to inteuogating our candi-
dates, requiring them to indOrse their PROPOSE
ton as binding upon the party; and, if they
had indorsed there would have been still fur
tler exactions. The mass of those who put
Lager first and Patriotism after it will, after
doing us all other harm they can, vote the
Democratic ticket. We cannot go SO far in
humOring them that our adversaiies will not
go still further. Better not run race wherein
we are snfe to be distanced.
The German Committee say'
Third; The present Excise law absolutely prohibiting
tho sale OF fermented sptu0us liquors on Sunday In
fact creates privilege In favor Of the Weather classes
for they can In their spacious and comfortable dwellings,
Sunday enjoy the company OF their friends and satisfy
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