The Republican journal., 1872-03-21
Shut up the Privileged Rum Shops.

Shut up the Privileged Rum Shops.
A recent number of the Portland Trans
cript, in alluding to the condition of the
cause OF temperance in this State, SAYS
1t is encouraging to note in various sections
OF the state indications of Il temperance revival
| among those infatuated to the use of intoXicat-
, ing liquors. All will agree that there is great
need of such movement, nor can there be
any doubt that this is the most effectual Way OF
promoting the cause. Recent legislation has
strengthened the arm of the law, and it should,
be vigorously enforced for the suppression of
the traffic, but at the same time the friends of
temperance. and especially the church. should
cultivate the field of moral effort BY putting
forth every persuasive means. We want to see
a revival of the old Washingtonian spirit There
are hundreds OF men on the road to ruin, men
Wnom society cannot afford to lose, and whom
nothing else can save. Encourage the drinkers
to brace themselves to the work of their own
salvation, and send the revival influence through
the land.
At the prospect of an increased interest
IN the cause of temperance, every good
citizen will rejoice. No rejecting man
can look about him without seeing proofs
that the abuse of intoxicating liquors is
not only great but growing evil. Some
OF the brightest and best intellects of the
community, some of those who might be
among the most useful citizens, are going
down under its baneful influence.
One of the most persistent arguments
used by those who assume to be the
special guardians of the cause of temper
ance is that every good citizen should
lend to 1t the influence of his example :;
that he should not only not use intoxlcat-
ing liquors, but that he should discourage
its use in all forms and manners. But
when the State Of Maine, in the face of its
prohibitorv law, and under direction of
the temperance leaders, authorizes the
erection of a liquor shop in every city and
town in the State, and throws about it's
traffic the protection of the law, what be-
comes OF the force of example, and where
IS the virtue of consistency How does
such condition of things agree with the
injunction to "touch not, taste not, handle
not? 1t makes prohibition misnomer
and cheat, and taints with suspicion the
whole plan of suppressing the liquor traf-
tic. 1t is no more moral or consistent
than it would be for the advocates of chas-
tlty to sanction houses of prostitution or
tor the State, with its laws against gam
inc, to set up gambling resorts.
1t may be said that the liquors of the
town agencies are sold for medicinal and
kindred uses only But those who have
been in a position to observe their work
ings know that this is delusion. 1t is
as notorious as anything in the world that
the regulations for the sale of liquors at
these places are not needed. The fact is
that the temptation is too great to put in
the hands of any man. There is really
no restraint upon the sales of agencies.
for who can prevent an agent from buy
ing and selling on his own account to
supply certain class of customers? Mr..
Shaw, the State Liquor Agent says in fact,
that a very large quantity is sold at the
town agencies that never came from him,
in spite of the law forbidding other sources
of supply.
A glance at the recent reports of the
State Liquor Agent will throw some Ii ght
upon this matter. and serve to show that
the legalized traffic of the agencies onl Y
comes in as source of supply when the
great fountain of illegal traffic is tempo
rarily and partially closed. In 1870 the
law was Tor time enforced, and the sup
ply from Boston and elsewhere in part
cut off. The liquor shops having no sane
ton of law fell off in their sales, as did
their wholesale sources of supply. In
that year the sales of Mr.. Shaw's agency
ran up to over S105,O00. In 1871, the
liquor law was not enforced at all every
body sold who wanted to- In conse-
quence the sales of the State agencies fell
off more than $27 900, and Mr.. Shaw, in
his report to the Governor and Council.
gives as reason for this falling off, the
large number of illegal retailers.
| So it will be seen that the State agency
and its subordinate agencies in each to wn
are but dodgers and go-betweens to pan
der to the vice of intemperance. They
are really rivals and competitors in fur.
nishing liquors to the public; and theil
sales increase or fall off as there is show
of enforcing the law or otherwise. 1t i:
sort of alcoholic Good Samaritan, ready
to pour the stimulant into the mouth, wher
its priests and Levites are driven to the
other side. We find no special fault with
those who have charge of the agencies
They are like the rest of mankind, prom,
to take advantage of opportunity for per
; sonal benefit. What we do condemn i
the false and vicious system that permits
the opportunity to trade upon the vices o
the community.
In conclusion, let us say that one of tn
greatest obstacles which exist to-day t
the advancement of temperance is consti
tuted by those pitfalls for the unwary, tn
town rum shops. Let them be abolished