The Cecil Whig., 1875-03-13
FVr Tie CtcII WHIg.
PROHIBITION IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Persuant to resolution adopted by the
Cecil County Temperance Convention at
their last meeting, the following extracts
in regard to the laws of Massachusetts, have
been prepared for publication.
The State documents bearing upon this
subject for the past seven years have been
examined and so much selected as could be
properly crowded into a newspaper article.
The present Governor is an Anti prohi-
bitionist, and copious extracts from his
annual message are given and compared
with the testimony of his predecessors and
the reports of the State Constabulary.
AS the question of license in all its bear
ings is now the exciting subject Of CONVEX
sation in our county, we offer this from a
Temperance standpoint, and if any one is
disposed to think the quotations unfair, we
where you can see them and judge for
yourselves.
VIM. CASTOR, under date of Jan. /, 1875,
in his annual message to the Legislature,
says:
The temperance cause is a high moral
one, but it has unfortunately been dragged
from the house of its friends, and thrown
into the arena of party strife. He was
elected on this issue.) l believe legislation
can aid it; but experience has shown that
it is fatal mistake to rely upon law as the
sole or principal agency in promoting the
cause of temperance. Which all admit
That which will most etfectually diminish
an evil which | fear legislation cannot
of morals, &c. More than twenty years
ago, the law known as the prohibitory law
was enacted. With the exception of a
single year, that law, or a law of similar
character has been on the statute book.
They have tried it, and they have patiently
waited more than twenty years for its pre-
dicted blessings To-day the public senti
ment demands the repeal of the law, be-
cause they believe it has signally failed to
accomplish the great and beneficent pur-
poses for which it was enacted. o.
l am opposed to this law, because of this
failure, and because believe that its exc
cutien, or what has been called its execu-
ton, has tended to corrupt the administra-
tion of law in the State. (2.)
The temptations to corruption which the
law presents, nave proved too strong for
many of the subordinate officers who have
been charged with it's execution. (3)-
When the terrors of the law are used for
the purposes of private gain and political
influence, the cause of morals is not ad-
vancing.
| believe that the sale of intoxicating
liquors in many of our cities and towns
has never been larger or more open, bold,
or undisgnised than during these twenty
years of prohibitory history. a.
| recommend the repeal of the existing
law, and | also recommend the enactment
of n law in it's stead, which shall place the
sale of Intoxicating liquors in responsible
hands, (5) and shall Surround such sale
with the strongest practicable limitations,
restraints and safeguards.
| shall be most happy to cooperate with
you in any legislation, which, while free
clear invasion of personal rights, (6) shall
which legislation upon this subject should
aim to accomplish.
a. What are some of the substantial
benefits that have accrued to Massachusetts
from this law that have made the people
satisfied with it for 20 years? and where
and in what particular has it signally failed
and why?
Crime and pauperism have steadily de-
creased under it and increase Immediately
under license. Boston has failed to enforce
the law, and she with one-fifth the popula-