New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-04
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.

Mr.. Ethan Spike, as is well known, was
once a candidate for the Maine Legislature.
The "Maine law" prohibiting the traffic in
intoxicating Beverages, had recently been
passed. but public sentiment had not yet pro-
nounced decidedly either for or against that
measure. Mr.. Spike was of course pestered with
all manner of questions as to his action on yari-
GUS themes of public interest wherein action
would or might be had by the body to whose
membership he aspired-amQpg others, Are
:" you for the act of Prohibition, or against
"it3' To which the puzzled candidate in
genuOusly replied, al am in favor of the law,
"but opposed to its enforcement"
Mr. Spikes view appears to have prevailed
in the legislation and practice of the State of
Connecticut, wherein grogshoDs are prescribed
by law, yet grOgshOps are said to abound
Mr.. Richard ID. Hubbard is a candidate for
Governor, and the German-bOn citizens of
Connecticut want the law of that State con-
formed or adapted to its practice. MIR. Hub
bard, being catechised by them, declares him
self opposed to the act In question, but adds
If your resolution meapS interpreted to me by one
OF your committee, that the traffic In alcoholic liquors
should be tea, Coffee sugar, and dour, do
not agree in the conclusion have evils connected
interests OF social order and the public peace.
1.-THE traffic, In my Judgment, needs regulation; ITS
abuses need redress. The present law IL mpOent for
this purpose. The question is between Prohibition on
the one hand, and Regulation the other. One the
other must come. For myself have reached the con-
cluslon not without thought that well-Ordered
License system not prohbitOry Of the sale, but intrus
ing it TO responsible hands. with proper guarantees
against abuse, will the just liberties of the ctzen
and work at time better practical result to
the good order and temperance than system
of strict and enforced prohibition that has been at
tempted.
mankind may be restrained from crime. They can
into total abstinence.
"The law only pr1ne of the vicious and criminal
out-Towths of the traffic.
Nothing but moral forces lay AK at the root OF
the tree"
THE TRIBUNE cannot help its conviction
that the Germans are more logical than Mr.
Hubbard. They, too, affirm his three closing
propositions, and wish the law made consistent
Herewith. They wish the traffic in Liquors
placed on the exact footing of the traffic in
Tea, Coffee, Sugar, and Flour, so that adulter-
alton or other abuse may be punished, but
not the sale of genuine article. They hold
tbe man who makes beast of himself by
getting drunk responsible for his own degra-
dation and the mischiefs thence resulting; not
the person who sold him the Liquor. And, if
Liouor be essentially as harmless "a Sugar or
Flour, we see not how they are to be logically
resisted.
But, if Alcohol be-as Chemistry proves it
essentially poison, then it should be dis
pensed exactly as other pOisons are-by
rosnonsihIe nersOns Ded0ed to sell il ONLY To
those who proffer convincing evidence that
they will not abuse it. 1t stands on exactly
the same footing with Arsenic or Morphine,
which druggist may lawfully and innOcently
sell to one who has proved that he will only
use it as o medicine, but who is held culpable
if he sells it TO one who will use it to
the destruction of his own life or anothers.
1t seems plain that Mr.. Hubbard has not
gone to the bottom of this matter. AS can
didate, perhaps he could not afford to; but,
when man cannot speak right out, might he
not better keep silencef