New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-20
pROnIBIroRY LAWS NOT FAILURES.

REPLY To THURLow wEED-THE TESTIMONY ov
PROMINENT MEN or MAINE TO THE DECREASE
IN LIQUoR-DRNKISG IN THAT STATE
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In recent TRIBUNE appears letter
from Mr. Weed, the tone OF which Is an emphatic er-
preston against legislative prohibition. or fail entirely
TO apprehend its meaning He says; In the Reformed
Drunkards' labor the laws OF charity Kindness and
affection were observed" Agsnn: This suspicious
movement was soon oyerthrown." Howl " State and
county temperance societies organized, In which
total abstinence from all that inoxieates was de
manded" Well Mr.. Weed, did those Temperance soce-
ties" ask demand anything more In that respect Than
the Washngt0nians" labored fort And do you not
know that organizations ~ naturally grew out OF that
" washngtonian" moral force, and were initiated by
the washngtonians" themselves, BY men who knew
best the nece sses OF their work, by men who know
best what helps they needed, as naturally as organna'
ton grew out Of the great moral efforts OF the early
abolitionstsi II is unjust In gentleman occupying
the enviabe position Mr. Weed does TO denounee 80 In
discriminatory class OF people who are among the
brightest ornaments Of all professions and positions In
our land. But says Mr. Weed. further on:
While that crusade was in progress simultaneous
movement made to induce the passage OF laws pro
hbiting the sale of liquors aud wines. Maine yielded
to the pressure Massachusetts, and Connecticut par
ton for several years. All these extreme measures
carried forward az the expense of real temperance
abOunded.
Upon this will simply remark that we are bound to
base our opinion or all legislative acts on the results OF
their operation. TO ILLUSTRATED The law prohibits selling
lottery tickets under penalty The result Il that tho
business is so far stopped that but few violate the law.
and il ALL 1t is done IN tho most secret manner Inc
result is good. Let the law stand.
And now, Mr. Weed how about the Prohibitory law AZ
above quoted. You say it Is failure; Dut with tho
highest respect for YOU will venture To give the tcs
ony OF gentlemen in whose yeracity feel sure even
in this case under examination, you will not have fes
sonable doubt.
The Hon. william p. Frye, ex-Attorney- General.
and now Representative to Congress from Mime sage
:" can and do from my personal Observation
nphesitatingy affirm that the consumption OF IN
intoxicating liquors in Maine is not to-day onefourthso
great az it twenty years ago; that In the country
portions OF the State the sale and use have almost Gu
tirev ceased. that the law itself under vigorous en-
forcement Of its PROVISIONS has created UemPer.oo
sentiment which Is marvellous, anu W "nVn 0pP'''0A
powerless."
that 1t be liquor trdel is much less than before
the enactment OF the law Prohibitoryl probably not
oneenth as large In some places liquor IL sOld Sc
cretly in violation OF the law, and as many other OF
lenses are committed against the statutes aud The peace
and good order Of society but In large dstrcs Oh tno
State the liquor traffic nearly quite unknown where
formerly it was carried on like any other trade .,,r
both United States Senators from Maine Gov. WASH
burn. and ex-Gov Mnot of Connecticut TESTIFY 10 tho
Mr. WaIcot Hamlin while engaged In the revenue ser
vice 900 IN none ONE c Ivy s service While the Pro-
hbtory law was enforced but man In the city was
fond after the most digent Search TO apply for his
FAX receipt The wear following, the City Governments
passed into the hands those officers who did not en-
force the law, and then more than hall hundred pad
the United states Revenue special tax. Now, what
must be the inevitable conclusion We must draw from
the aboye2 Mr. Weed must he mistaken Will nos
for one moment charge his mistake upon any defect OF
moral sense. for his reputation has always been 100
luminous for that b. Is BANkEh"
NeU- York, April 10, 1874