The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-06-17

facts which the history Of prohibitory
and restrictive laws furnish. 1t Is
now more than quarter of century
since the aprohibitory law was passed
in Maine. What has been its effect!
ThesIIon. W.P. Frye, NJ. G. and ex.s
Attorney General of Maine, writes: IL
can and do from my own personal obs
seryation unhesitatingly afhrm that
the CONSUMPTION Of intoxicating IL
quors in Maine is not to-day one
fourth SO great as was twenty years
ago; that in the country portions OF
the State, the sale and use have almost
entirely ceased; that the law itself,
under vigorous enforcement, has
created Temperance sentiment which
is marvellous, and to which oppOsi-
ton is powerless. In my opinion. our
remarkable temperance reform OF to
day is the legitimate child OF the law.
The Hon. Lot. NJ. Morrill,, United
States Senator from Maine, writes: L
have the honor unhesitatingiy to con-
cur in the opinions expressed by my
colleague, Hon. Mr.. Frye
The Hon. Hannibal Hamlin. Uni
ted States Senator and ex-Vice Presi.
dent of the United States, writes: Il
concur in the statements made by Mr..
Frye. In the great good produced by
the prohibitory liquor law of Maine
no man can doubt who has SCENTS
results. 1t has been of immense val
ne.
The Hon. Woodbury. Davis, long
Judge of the Supreme Court Of Maine,
says: No observing man who has lived
in this State for twenty years, and has
had an opportunity to know the facts,
can doubt that the Maine (prohibitory)
law has produced hundred times
more visible Improvement in the char
. acter, condition, and prosperity OF our
people, than any other law that was
ever enacted. jA+
Now let us see what is the result of
repeating prohibition. In 1861. Mas
sachusetts had prohibition; in April,
1868, it was supplanied. What was
the effect OF that repeal? Governor
Clafiin, in his inaugural address, JAN
uary, 1869, says: The increase of
drunkenness and crime during the last
six months, as compared with the
same period in 1867, is very marked
and decisive as to the operation of the
law. The increase of commitments
for the eight months previous to the
LIST of October, 1868, over the same
time in 1867 is remarkable, and de-
mands the careful attention of the
community. In the eight months al
luded to in 1867, sixty-tive persons
were committed to the state prison;
in the same period in 1868 there were
one hundred and thirty-six commit
ments-morc than double the number
of the previous year.
Take the Forbes Mackenzie act of
Scotland, passed i'll 1853. In Edin-
burgh, before the passage of that re-
strictiye law, the drunken persons
taken charge of by the police for the
1,7S9. The total number taken on
Sundays in 1858 was G4l; in 1872 only
$50 In the year 1851, when the pop
ulation OF Scotland was 2,S0O, 900, there
were 7,O00,O 600 gallons of spirits con-
sumed. In 1871, when the population
had increased to 3,3O0,OO0, the con.
sumption OF spirits was 5,67l 900 gal.
Ions.
We could quote many more in
stances to prove that the power of law
tends very largely to lessen the evils
of intemperance. but the above facts
are surely sufficient to convince any
reasonable mind of the propriety and
efficiency of prohibitory legislation
That law is essential to the moral ele.
vatiOn OF the race.
Moral suasion is excellent for in.
ducing man or family to adopt clean.
ly habits; it is not less excellent fol
procuring a sanitary act. Like 8
. stream which makes little garler
glad and fertile, and which also turns
the machinery Of some vast factory
and provides the conditions of bet
ter life, clothing, health and decency
to hundreds of persons, so moral in
fuence may be brought to bear upor
single soul for its happiness, and j
may also operate for the enactment O.
some law by which the lot of million.
. will be favorably affected, and III,
I Intercourse of a nation be rendered
more salutary, noble and sublime
Moral suasion directed to teach ant
elevate the slave, or to impress thu
stakeholder with the evils Of SLAYER,
as system was admirable, as all will
admit; but the moral suasion which
was brought to bear for legislativel.
abolishing the slave trade and slavery
was not less admirable, and without i
the benefits of emancipation coult
never have been enjoyed. Moral sua
sion used for the redemption Of TIN
drunkard, as we'll as for the purpos'
of persuading others not to use tn
dangerous cup, is indeed praiseworthy
nor can legal enactments be less com
mandatory that prohibit the opening
of saloons, which experience prove
is the most fruitful source of intern
perance and all its attendant evils
Hence, we maintain that L Aw is JUS
as essential as moral suasion to secur
the elevation and happiness of man
| kind. VIM. BAXTER.