The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-06-19
une Chief C.msade, Ulsstecetred.

itr. DO Lewis, the c'fIeI pTedCnei III
pantaloons of the crusade against rumsell-
ing, recently made an Investigation of the
operation and effect of the prohibltory
LIQUOR law in the State of Maine. In do
ing so the doctor evinced a desire TO learn
something of human nature and to inquire
iuto the natural relation of cause TO effect
rarely shown in the conduct of those who
belong to the school of moralists to which
he adheres. Let it therefore be set down
to his credit that ne possesses at least an
inuuiring turn of mind. His observations
of the workings Of the Maine law are
made public in a recent letter to Cincin-
natl journal. He declares that he is forced
to conclude, from what he saw of the ef-
feet of prohibtory legislation in the Pine
Tree State, that such legislation is power
less to check intemperance. "A little
more than twenty years ago" says DIR.
Lewis, 1--WE began to legislate against the
sale of intoxicating drinks. Since that
time temperance has retrograded." In
Bangor, one of the principal interior towns
of Maine, containing a population of fifteen
thousand, he finds that there are three
hundred places where intoxicating drinks
are sold. This prohibition town, with less
than half the population of Harrisburg,
saws the Patriot, drink surreptitiously and
in defiance OF the prohibitory law to such
an extent as to support more than twice
as many rumsellers our own city in
which the license system prevails. he
comparison proves that the practice of
dram drinking so far from being checked
is actually increased under the operatian
of the Maine law. Not even the des-
cendants of the Puritans will be sober
upon compulsiOn. But less some captious
friend Of prohibitory legislation should ac-
euss us of singing out the town of Bangor
in older to institute an invidious compari-
son, let us quote DR.. Lewis conclusion as
to the general effect of prohibition in the
state of Maine. He says: Il am sure
the friends in Ohio are sufficiently inter
ested in the temperance cause to send
committee to Maine to spend week OF
two investigating the workings of the pro-
hibitory law and | am sure they would
be amazed at the facts, and yet | did not
see an open drinking place while l was i'll
the state. There is no doubt that the
traffic has been driven under cover and
there is not shadow of doubt that the
consumption Of drinks in Maine as en0r-
NOUS" The doctor regrets that the wo-
men of Ohio, lately engaged in the cru
sading business, have dropped the divine
agencies employed by them in their re-
cent attempt to break up the license sys-
tenn. His faith in those agencies is un-
shaken. Notwithstanding his conviction
that prohibitory laws have proved fail
ure. We agree with him that the tenn
peIauce cause viii be best promoted
through divine agencies, but beg TO dissent
from the belief that these can be most sue
cessfully invoked on the streets and in bar
rooms in the midst of the profane and
scofTing multitude The moral culture by
which tho Christian Church aims to train
the nature or man must lie at the founda-
tion Of all temperance reforms. The NOR
al aud religious training of youth has more
to do with the making of decent men, in
respect of the control of the natural ap-
petites and passions, than aught else be-
side. Not Dr. Lewis nor any other tenn
perAnce agitator will attempt to gainsay
this proposition. Is this training to be
had in the hooting crowds, in the heated
eXcitements, the violent scenes often times
eliminating in riots, attendant upon the
street and bar-room prayer eetings of
the crusaders? Is it not rather to be
sought in the church, or, If you please, the
meeting house Besides, if prayer is eff
fectual as against the liquor traffic will not
He whose almighty power is invoked
against the evil hear and heed the invoca-
tion from the church or meeting house {?
Since DR.. Lewis has been obliged to admit
that divine agencies alone can check or
abolish the traffic in intoxicating drinks,
he is also forced to admit that the iuvOca-
tion of those agencies can be made as ef-
fectually at least in the churches as out OF
them. He might as well attempt to dsny
the omniscience aud omnipreseuce of God
TO undertake to assert the contrary.