The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-11-16

,,l maine Law at Aome'
Tho time has passed when candid men de-
~ that .be principle of prohibition has prov
- an effective agency in restricting the sale
q, liouor and in setting bounds to intempeI-
snse. While all reasonable men ADMIT 50
much. none but the most extravagant advo-
oates of temperance legislation believe that II
cen work a perfect cure of the evil at when II
II aimed, or that il can eye.i effect much u
importance unless it is based on prevailing
public sentiment in its favor. But uhder
great disadvantages it is worth something. In
this city, where the prevailing opinion 10 81
.ther doubtful or positively hostile 10 prohlDi-
son. we have seen that a little vigor used IN |
prssecuting liquor-dealers for few weeks has
prod sesd q marked effect, and last week no
fscoueLter of the streets could help noticing
the Improvement. For a long time the fines
paid in the municipal court have averaged
one hundred dollars day-a gain to the
Treasury, certainly, but one which we believe
70 be most dearly bought. and when Inc
county could we'll afford to re'inquish 'n0
traffic that feeds the fund could be stoppeu'
We are not of those who believe that our
Honor law. as it stands, is too stringent or us
penalties too severe. The case OF fortianu-
q most unlavorable one to cite in proof OF the
,lgor OF the iaw-shows what its capabilities
are. But notwithstanding the means for
checking lquor-seiug afforded by our laws it
must be confessed that the temperance cause
throughout the State is in a lamentable con-
= ditlon. Spasmodic efforts are made from time
tonns Ia Ia the large cities as well as in smaller
comes such dectthAse~law law but there soon So
among the inhabitants that 'ttG26 oy 'ee ''
are compelled, as it were, to desist. The Wan,
OF an adequate popular support for the Law
has been many times proved by the coulse O
political events. Two years ago, in this city
which is strongly Republican, the Democrats
elected the municipal officers by reason OF the
ecesssions to -thei numbers that
from widespread impression that the Re-
.biican candidates, il elected. would enforce
the liquor law. This year the operation Of
The same causes can be traced still
more clearly. There were several circum
saacss of minor Importance that had some
effect in reducing the Republican major
ity in some places last fail, but the lear of Re
publican enforcement of the liquor law hat
more influence than everything else. In Ban
sor, where vigorous attempt had been made
10 stop the sale OF liquor, the result of th'
election was astounding to those who did no
understand the cause. In that Reprbical
stronghold, where few years ago Marcellu
Emery's printing establishment was destroye
hya mob which was ready TO hang the propr
stor to the nearest lamp-post as a traitor {
his country, that very gentleman receive
more votes for Congress than his Republican
competitor, while the Democratic candidate
Or Governor and for Representatives to TIL
Legislature received handsome majority
The voters of Bangor had net forgotten tina
Emery was in urdissuised sympathy with th'
Rebels during the aLlsft pipposed u any re
- ~es4ctton upon Che sale of liquor that they re
oRrded treason as a venial ofTense not worthy
Of much attention. In Lewiston the only
city m the State where well sustained anG
successful Effort to enforce the law has been
nade-the result was equally surprising We
have an impression that in Androscoggin
county larger proportion of the inhabitants
are sincerely opposed to the traffic in intoxi
eating liquors than in any other territory o
equal extent and equally populous in thu
world. II is probable that in Apdroscoggil
county the law has been enforced to NOR
purpose than in any place in the world. Ye
confidence in the law is not even there S
firmly established as to be beyond the 1eac
At etor linn II
at the last election, L. A. Emery, the Republ
can candidate for County-attorney, thoue
one of the most worthy and efficient prose
suting officers in the State, failed of a le.elec
ton and gave place to his Democratic com
petitor solely because he was active and faith
full in prosecuting liquor sellers.
In consequence Of this unsatisfactory stat
OF pubic feeling it must be confess I'd that til
sale of liquor is now practically unrestraine,
mthis State. A lady who recently came I,
Maine with an Incorporate son whom sh,
had hoped to surround with good influence,
here has published letter IN the Aduerttse,
In which she describes the terrible disap
pontment which she experienced. She found
the Maine law inopel alive in its very home
and 1t was not TIL her sons better nature was
aroused by bearing Coughs incidental allu.
aion 10 the subject OF temperance in his late
lecture here that he made any progress to-
ward reform.
The moial is plain. 1t has become abso
mtely necessary not only for proiessed TEN.
perance re!ormels but tor the Republican par
~ 70 enter earnestly upon an o!d-fashioned
campaign ior the purpose Of enisting the in
teles OF the people in the Temperance cause.
In Massachusetts, the neglect of moral agen-
cies and too exclusive reliance upon law has
cut down the Republican majority from fifty
Thousand almost to nothing. We fear that
The effect in this State will be similar if
change of plan is not decided upon. Policy
~ well as principle demand that prohibitoru
legislation and moral agencies should be made
supplementary 10 each other. and that one
should not be Iel.ed Upon to the exclusion OF
the other.