Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-09-26
0tfor0 4tmotrat.
MAINE LIW IN MAINE.
Justin McCarthy's Observations I'm Port
land.

Maine for the purpose OF observing the
operation of the Maine law. The full
text OF The article has since come to hand,
and rs it differs somewhat from the ABB
stracl, We copy below those portions re-
lating particularly to the writer's visit to
this city. After speaking ofthe open dis
play of liquors in shop windows and at
bars, and the undiSguised sale at the
hotels, the grocers' shops and apothe-
carries shops, Mr.. Mccarthy proceeds as
follows:
certainly saw nothing particularly
liOtous-nothiug to astonish anybody eX-
cept profound believer in the Maine
LIQUOR law | saw that anybody who
wanted drink could go and have it when
ever and whereSoever he pleased. The
thing that puzzled me thoroughly was
how the authorities OF Portland could
possibly come to suppose that the represS-
i've law really, in American phrase,
amounted to anything" Say, if You
like, that there is arepreSsive law in force
in FiSsbury to-day, and, if it pleascs you
to think SO. you will have pretty much the
same foundation for the belief that the
authorities of Portland have.
| had some little talk with some of the
authorities. too was introduced 10 the
mayor, Mr. Kingsbury. have no hest,
tation in repeating the substance Of his
remarks, because told him exactly what
had come for. and that meant 70 pub
lish the result of my observation in some
English periodical Mr.. Kingsbury, the
mayor. told me that he is in favor OF the
principle ofrepression, and he thinks that
the present repressive law Is about As
good IS could well be devised But he
frankly admitted that he never could
make up his mind as TO whether there Is
less drinking in Portland under the re-
preSSive law than there would be with
out il. He was tor several years the
Judge Of the veIy cases 10 which the law
applies. He began IS an ardent repres-
sonist. and was convinced that the laws
could be made reality but for the lack
of zeal on the part of the executive.
But he owned 10 me that experience had
changed his views on that head. He had
done his very best 10 enforce the law,
but he WINS not now convinced that he had
really diminished by one the number OF
grog-shops in Portland He had indeed
driven out Of the trade this or that grog-
seller; but some new and euterprising
successor was sure 10 take the vacant
place Tim Flaherty being torn away,
Mick Doolan was not wanting 10 succeed
him. could not understand that any OF
the better. class sellers of drink had been
driven out OF trade. Those against
whom the crusade became in any sense
effective were usually persons who COM
bined plumber with the liquor business
the wretched class who sold few pints
of rum under their jackets, and robbed
their customers likewise. Even OF these
| could not learn that the number had
been diminished. although the Personnel
might now and then have been somewhat
changed.
should say that the mayo. OF Portland
agreed with the great majority of those
with whom conversed on the subject in
Maine, in thinking the present law about
rs good as can be had, and approving OF
it on principle Many who frankly al.
mitted that the law was virtually inoPera-
tive. still wished to have it retained. |
They were in favor OF it partly rs 4 pro-
test against the vice OF drunkenness.
Others again, were for maintaining il, on
the ground that. although lOy this or that
cause imperative to-day, it may, under
happier auspices, be made eficacious to-
morrow. or the day after. Many men
told me it could be made perfectly sue.
ceSSiul If only they had = State cOusta-
bulary, that is, 4 body of conStableS ap.
pointed by the authorities OF the State, and
not of each municipality. and therefore in
dependent Of local influences. This State
constabulary question has naturally got =
good deal mixed up with the liquor queS
lion, and introduces new clement of
diScordand confusion. In my experience
| did not find that places like Boston,
which had State constabulary appoint-
ell 10 look after those very cases, and
supposed to be above the influences of
the locality, GOT on any better than places
which haLto depend on their municipal
force. But in Maine this seemed to
many men the RodHS Of the whole ques'
ton. Get your State constabulary, and
then But the liquor selling influences
always had other and quite different in
fuences combining with it 10 oppose the
formation Of State constabulary guaHd
meme, and therefore new elements of az
itation and contest were necessarily evok
ed. More than one earnest and eager
repreSsionist told mc that the law would
be a perfect success if only you could keep
it out OF the struggle OF political parties
that is, if You could prevent, people from
opposing or supporting it for the sake OF
thereby catching few votes at political
election. OF course this is just like say.
ing that the permissiye bill in England
might become successful if you could
only persuade all the brewers, distillers.
publicans and beer.sellers 10 support il.