The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-19
TEs r PRESS,
4pesday Morning, March 70, 1867.


temperance Do A .ta
Be not deceived. We are to have the whole
question re-opened. The champions of prohi-
bilion, believing in their own infallibility, are
assuming to be wiser and more conscientious
than other people; and most of them are resort
ing to the old arguments of misrepresentation
exaggeration and downright Islander. Aireauy
they rank men who sell sound, wholesome
liquors with the keepers of bawdy nou'.'
thieves, burglars and murderers, anu "oA W "
listened to natientIy. Some of the pesV men
to he found in society, clergymen, lawyers,
chemists nbvsicians. Judges police officers, and
tba navo-s large cities are classed with rum
mic, % because they are in favor of a license
law Is not this shameful-pitiful-an sure
to react against them before long?
Some people seem to have notion that lac,
enforced by heavy penalties. confiscaton, i'm
prisonment, or if need be hanging, is a sure
remedy for any evil, if the ministers of law are
faithful. There cannot be greater delusiop
Such lawsrepeal themselves, or die of sheer in
anition. The moment a penalty is thought
disproportioned, or ill-adapted to the offence,
men are unwilling to prosecute, witnesses re-
fuse to testify or peEjure themselves, and juries
Will not convict. And then what becomes of
the law? and what of the evil?
In all the larger cities of Europe, after ages
OF experience, they license brothels. Why?
10 encourage lcentiousness? No indeed, but
to restrain it, to protect their wives and daugh-
tiers from outrage, and the whole community
from disease and death. ltf fi-
Men will drink, as they will eat; and no hui
man legislation ever did, OF ever can avail to
stop drinking, though it may restrain it. The
appetite for intoxicating beverages is natural
appetite, as much as that for roast mutton or
beef or yenison or turkeys. Men ruin their
families by INDUCING their appetites. Will
you cure them by prohibition? Have not
suInptuary laws been established everywhere?
And everywhere without advantage to the
State. How would you, the friends of prohibit
ton, like to have roast beef, and gold watches
and mahogany furniture, and costly broad
CLOTH and velvet and silks and laces, prohibit
ed, because the example may be Injurious to
others who cannot afford such indulgences, or
because what you may call extravaganza leads
to poverty and crime? Ask yourselves, and
then ask your neighbors. ...s..l ,... ....-t p.
Mr.. Huntingdon says that, by prohibition, he
has no idea that the sale of liquor can be stop
ped-but that the of it, beverage may
be stopped. do not give his words, not hav-
ing been able to refer to them. But how on
earth can you stop the use of liquor as beuer-
age, with thousands of miles along our frontier
unguarded by sea and land, and people hurry
ing hither and thither in all directions with
trunks and parcels, which are never meddled
with by police officers custom house officers?
Not long ago, young men would club together
and take room for mutual Improvement"
in singing, reading, defamation and card play
ing. They would supply themselves with liquor,
and keep it always within reach. Others went
about selling religious books made of tin and
containing sometimes quart of brandy. 9th
ers had hollow canes and artificial eggs and
both containing liquor for sale; and thousands
drank, not SO much because they loved liquor,
as to show that lawgivers and zealots were cas-
lily outwitted. Shall we have such things re-
peated? Coon with your prohibition and con-
fiscations, and what shall hinder, since men
soN drink, and cannot be prevented by legisla-
ton? John MEAL.