Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-04-16
Prohibitory Liquor Laws Testimony
Taken Before the Massachusetts Legis-
lature.


been able TO enforce it, an agitation
was started last winter fora new and
more stringent enactm ent. A COM
mittee of the Legislature took the
matter in hand, and are now making
a very thorough investigation of the
subject the bulk Of the testimony be
ing adverse to the law. We copy
the following from the Boston Adcer.
tisei of the 9th instant:
The hearings on the question of a
license law were continued Yesterday
forenoon and evening in the Repros-
entatives' Hall. Rev. DR.. Peabody,
Of Harvard College, was the first
witness at the forenoon session OF
4 the committee. He stated that one
time he bad been in favor of prohibit
tory legislation, but that he now be
lieved it had done little good and
much harm it had caused perjury,
hypocrisy, and a general adulteration
Of liquors. He thought the law had
been almost without effect in reduc-
ing the sale of liquors in Cambridge.
He said that in Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, where he had resided,
the prohbitory law had entirely dis
appointed the expectations Of its
/ friends also that the license law in
that State had not restrained the
sale Of liquor. The witness said he
expected but little good from legi> la
ton, and relied more upon moral in,
tiuence-particularly that Of parents
and teachers of the young. He con>
sidered distilled liquors worse than
useless, and would have them Danish
ed from the country; if. however
light, pure European wines could be
introduced, it would be beneficial to
the caused of temperance. The leg.
islation which he would deem most
equitable would be that which impos.
ed the whole cost resulting from pau
perism and crime, caused by intern
perance, on the liquor sellers.
Rev. Mr.. Jones, Of Pelhom, testified
that lie was strongly in favor Of the
Maine law at the time Of its enact
ment, and had reluctantly given up
his ideas in its favor when he was
obliged to admit that it had not ful>
filled the expectations Of its friends.
The witness sustained the evidence
that the law had driven the traffic
into secret places. He said the peo-
pie in Pelham had little to do with
the town agency, on account of the
unftness for medical purposes Of the
liquor there kept. He stated that
the majority Of Methodist clergymen
were in favor Of prohibitory law.
Hon. ID. w Waldo Lincoln, Of Wor.
cestor, testified that he had been
Mayor Of that city for two years, and
also an Alderman. He said that the
most energetic efforts had been made
in that place to enforce the prohibit
tory law, but that intemperance had
not decreased. The witness expires
sed himself in favor Of ENGRAVING a
license law on the present law.
Rev, DR. lde, Of Springfield, testi-
fed that he had resided in that city
fifteen years. He stated that he had
lived in Philadelphia previous to his
residence in the former place, and
and that under the license system
there intemperance was less prevail
ent than in Springfield when he came
to the latter. In Philadelphia, tenn
perance people accomplish much by
moral means. Ia Springfield, the
people seemed more intent on enfor
cling law than using moral influences.
Since his arrival in Springfield, the
witness said he thought intemperance
and the sale of liquor has increased,
especially among young men who
bad grown up under the prevalence
Of the prohibitory law. Every effort
had been made to enforce the present
law, but little effect h4l been made.
Rev. Dr. Bacon, oil New Haven,
Connecticut, professor Of didactic
philosophy in All ale College, testified
concerning the operations Of the pro
hibtory law III New Haven TIe
said that when it was first put into
effect gratifying decrease in crime
and pauperism rcsui;ed, though for
but short time. AT the present
time there was more intemperanoe
in the place than ever before, and
the interest OF temperance men in
the cause seemed TO have been dimin-
ished, Concerning Che basis Of legis-
Iatlon Oh the subject, DR.. Bacon
thought il should tee the suppression
to the utmost possible extent Of the
or linary use OF stimulating drinks
for purposes oi oonviviality and ex.
element. He thought wise legis~
lation wonld not NEEDLE with the
details of domes ie life. Concerning
the present law Dr. Bacon said he
believed it tended to popular demo.
ralization. lie did not think the
evil OF drinking could be entirely
suppressed, and he deemed the better
course in such cases to be regulation
Hon. J. c. Blaisdell, of Fall River,
testified that he was Mayor Of that
city in the years of 1853 and 1852
lie considered the very effort to en-
force the prohibitory law as demor~
alizing in its effects, on account OF
the sympathy which was felt for par
ties complained Of for keeping liquor
nuisances, causing good men to per
iure themselves also, on account Of
the extraordinary means which were
necessary to enforce the law, instead
OF heaving its operation to the judge
- A.,