The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-10-03
Sensible Talk about The liauer Law.

The Portland Advertiser a republican
paper the conservative and candid tone
of which we have before referred to.
makes some very Just comments upon the
folly which is embodied in the present
obnoxious and oppressive cider law of this
state, 1t says
1t IS generally conceded that the next
Legislature will be compelled to modify
or repeal the acts of last winter, and we
nope the whole subject will be reviewed
with care worthy Of its importance and
an intelligence which will not fail to take
note OF the physiological Investigations of
the last twenty years.
In rough, graphic way. the original
advocates of the Maine law We're accus-
toned to speak of the sales of all kinds
OF fermented liquors as the rum traffic.
Just as they called reputable hotels grog-
shops, aud described sober men who were
SLOW to accept their theories as ''rummies"
1t appears nevertheless that the people of
Maine, after listening all these years to
the discussion, and cOnsenting fully to the
prohibition of the rum traffic proper. are
still OF the opinion that the sale of cider
IS not dangerous TO the public welfare,
and we suspect that the ingenious evas-
ION whereby the manufacturers agents
have been enabled to sell this intoxicating
drink IN open disregard OF the statute, has
been even more welcome TO the friends of
the prohibitory law than to its opponents
II IS time 10 consider whether there is
not Il difference between cider and rum,
and in general between termented and
distilled liquors, which lorbids them to be
classed together. 1t is well known, to
begin with, that the nations which use
termented liquors are prone to drunken
ness \ speaker at the recent Temper
ance Convention in this city said that in
the English town of Sheffield, in a single
afternoon, she saw twentyeight drunken
women; while in Belgium she saw but
two persons intoxicated, and in France
but three. This single observation would
not go far, but it is confirmed by the tes-
tlmony Of many witnesses to the influence
OF the English GIN palaces, the German
beer halls and the French wine shops
Professor Agassiz says ''intemperence is
unknown in the wine-growing countries
OF Europe and beer-drinking Germans
IN our own countries are the most sober
and industrious of our citizens.
Here, then, in the outset Is wide dis
tinctlon which cannot be ignored in any
review OF our legislation on this subject
Medical investigation shows more and
more plainly, that this distinction. so
easily recognized on Il broad scale. is
equally marked III the immediate and
permanent effects OF termentcd and dis
titled Liquors upon individuals. The pro-
ducts OF the still develope a diseased con
dition of the brain which is now known
rs Il concomtant OF habtua Drunkenness |
fernented liquors do not produce these
symptoms. 1t is not true either, that the
habltual use OF Wine OF malt liquors be- |
gets a craving for stronger drinks. On
the contrary, the Germans, who We're |
formerly notorious for drunkenness, have
gradually come to prefer malt liquors and |
wines, and have become Il sober, hale and |
vigorous race, unequaled for manhood |
on the European continent
Articles like these in the newspapers, |
Joined to like expressions from almos |
every intelligent man in die State, show |
that a reaction has set in; that men are |
no longer longer fearing to be called |
rummies if they oppose the wild schemes |
OF fanatics, but will act upon their own
common sense and convictions Ii will |
be a fortunate thing for the state and the
people if the Legislature OF the coming
winter shall wipe out from the statute
book the restrictions upon the sale of malt |
liquors, domestic wine and cider. Maine |
has been ridden long enough by small |
but noisy band Of fanatics, and it is time |
that both they and their works were made
less conspicuous. Common sense will |
win in the end, although IFS progress be |
sometimes slow