The Portland daily press., 1867-11-02

Mr.. EDIToR,-I should he ungratcful not
to acknowledge the courtesy of your sRe-
publican" correspondent, though he has not
given me the means Of knowing TO whom /
am indebted. But he must excuse me for de-
clining to enter into the proposed discussion.
Neither my time, your space, nor the patience
of your readers would allow it. i viii, how
ever, avail myself of the occasion TO say a
few things OF a general nature, instead Of
answering the numerous questions presented.
Though most of them are matters of opin-
ion, merely. their correctness win generally
be conceded. 9
/. There has never been a time when the
quantity of liquors sold in this State was so
small as it is now. Well-intormed men every
where admit this. There is some drunken
ness, as there always will be. But from all
parts of the State, and from all popular
gatherings, agricultural, and others, the tes-
timony is uniform, that there has never been
so little disorder or intoxication.
2. The State Constabulary has proved a
valuable auxiliary in enforcing the law.
Some of us doubted the expediency of its
enactment, because we feared that cry
would be raised against it, And we knew
that to enact such law, and afterwards to
repeal it, would injure the temperance
cause instead of aiding it. We advised the
egi ,lative committee last winter to wait, and
let us take one step at time, so that we
should never step back. But it was said i'm
reply, that in many towns, controlled by the
Democratic party, the local authorities
,oould not enforce the lao, and that State
Constables would do it. One such town
would supply all surrounding towns. That
there was such a difficulty, and that the Con
stabulary is reaching it, and that this is
"what is the matter" is now evident. Ii the
law is repealed, not only will the traffic he
opened again in all such towns, but the cry
will be raised throughout the country, that
Maine has repudiated prohibition.
3. The amendments made last winter
which were adopted by the people by
vote of tour to one, were absolutely neces-
sary TO the efficiency of the law. Fines would
increase the price of liquors, but would not
prevent the sale. Imprisonment is stoppiao
the sale, and this also is "what is the matter y
1t is closing up all drinking houses and tin
pling shops, except such as are kept by per-
sons OF the lowest class, who sell in the small
est quantities. When those who purchase
liquor must obtain it in an Irish cellar, from
one who carries the bottle i'm his pocket, or
Else join club OF which they are ashamed to
be known as members, the evil is driven into
close corner The club room may be bad
enough; but its very secrecy, like that Of the
| brothel. is evidence of healthy state OF pub
| lie sentiment, that will not tolerate such
! things in open day. I.t
A The Democratic party in this State
| takes open ground against prohibition. 1t is
| to their credit, il they carry the question into
politics at all, that they meet it thus squarely.
And il they are not altogether wrong, they
are altogether right. There can be no middle
ground. II the use Of liquors as beverage
is good thing then prohibition is wrong;
but if it is bad thing, then prohibition is not
| only right, but ii should be enforced by dde-
quate penalties. Prohibition which does not
prerent the sale, so far az any law can, is no
better than license. A liquor law that pur-
ports to be prohibitory, and yet is acceptable
| to rumsellers and rumdrinkTs, is manifest
absurdity. As well have a law against steal