St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-06-07
The Temperance Reform in Maine.

pOllllcdl appearance. ana as Int par
ties are benefited uI annoyed hy the np-
Grafton of law. 50 their opinions VARY.
The success of or venture evidently
depends upon the moral opinion of the
community. and ifpuhlic sentiment and
practice accord with the present enact
mcnt. everything will move smoothly.
Having i'll an official capacity been
through the twelve towns and cities "
ing upon the stacoaSt between Ports
mouth and Portland, and having had
business intercourse with most of the
one hundred and twenty retailers i'll my
division. and social conversations with
many grocers. and gentlemen i'll other
lines of life. have been aStoniShed at
the situation of all parties. Other To-
caliticS may differ. give the impress
sionS apparent here.
Most of the twelve dc>clibcd towns
were thoroughly temperate. and very
small amounts of intoxicating liquors
have been sold or consumed therein. :"
that the change of law affected them
but little. closing up i'll some ca>c> the
only pest hole of the village but in Sa-
co and Biddeford the traffic has been al
lowed to increase to an alarming extent: :
i'll Biddctord. the past revenue year.
eighty four parties having paid the Uni
ted States tax of twenty five dollars
each. as Retail Liquor Dealers. and foul
the tax ofone hundred dollars as whole
sale dealers. Estimate Il moment the
number of customers and the quantity
of spirits consumed. and think what an
array of drinkers and drunkard>. with
their depraved tastes and intiamed ap-
petites. this new statute dcpllvc> of
customary stimulantS iii this one city.
and we no longer wonder that timid
temperance men feared To risk its exc
cution. But the step has been taken.
and though willing to acknowledge my
doubts as to its feasibility at first, Vet
in view of the surprising position of al
fairs. | am now desirous it should have
such IL thorough and sufficient trial a.
will completely establish the principle
of prohibition and now is the time To
do il. The rum power i waning: the
grog shops are closed public sentiment
is improving the great moral refnr
nation among the social drinkers i'll the
larger towns: the active cNcItion> of
the new recruits: the unusual atten-
dance at WaSlingtonian meetings and
the absence of all political OF offensive
remarks 10y the speakers the aid. SYM
pathy. and contributions of citizens who
have before stood aloof. all supplement-
ing the law at this important tim" give
such power and strength To the tenn
prrance cause. that persons ont of the
State. and others who have not had per-
Sonal observations ut liquor places.
court rooms. and freight houses. do not
realize the changed condition of affairs.
have details respecting the amount
of liquors received at certain drpotS.
the comparative number of arrests for
drunkenness and disturbance the past
six weeks. the saving in police eNpcn-
ScS. and other items connected with the
facts stated but as the daily papers are
frequently publishing such items with
out denial ! will simply state that in
all which have noticed. there has been
no cNaggeIariom. Though every one is
surprised with the result few are iudig-
nant. The spirit of opposition and
wrath which characterized the advent
of the first Maine law. and which made
i'll feeling i'll private and political cir
clc>. l. NOT seen i'll tins >rmcggcHCl. The
liquor dealers. though with closed
doors. RACED bars. or changing business
are comparatively calm and reasonable.
They look AT the situation much as
Though an earthquake OF tire had visit
ed their locality. In answer Ia my III
tiluLtiuu> that they may need It III
c,n>c" the imlariahlr reply i'll Substance
is We decline to RIM the risk: We
will vail till Il change III the law. The
laltci part of their response l. >lgnlIi-
camt - indicating their failure action.
But public sentiment Is now 81 strong
10y reason OF moral reform. that in local
iticS where least expected we are aSSrI-
ed the law would he sustained in Il pop
ular vote. Most that is needed to
strengthen the position. l. the cooper
alton of il claSS of respectable mcu. who
have been accustomed to Use spirits.
seldom as Il beverage. hut for every in
ternal ache or external chafc. and wh"
.'think the law little hard on lis"
Such cause their brother to offend. and
keep in check the good cause more than
they realize.
At present the interest decprnS: "p-
position is silent and suppressed: good
feeling exists; liquors are scarce; i'm
provememt is seen in the faces of the
corner loafeIs. and in the hangers on ut
the hotels. Owners of buildings also
decline the risk" us it is well known
they with the dealer.
shall he liable severally or Jointly
with the person so selling or giving in
toxicating liquors us aforesaid" This
portion of the law works itself" and it
will he very difficult for common retail
ers to obtain building or room in
i.l Il. f,Il tIt