Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-09-03

since passed beyond the stage oftheory. The
constitutional questions involved have been
settled. But has it proved a failure Does
it work well in the long run? Can better
results be expected from any substitute for
the law ?-these are the live questions in re-
ga 4 to it still under discussion, to great.
er " less extent, in this and other commu-
mites. On such questions, therefore, the
opinion and testimony of candid and intelli-
gent men are of value. And on such points
We are always glad to get the views of in
telligent foreigners visiting this country,
who may be free from the pecuniary or po-
litical interests which so often bias the
judgment. We have, therefore, read with
much interest the remarks of the Hon. Mr..
Fox. on the Maine law, made at recent
public reception, in London. Mr.. Fox is,
we suppose, an Englishman by birth and
training, who has recently held the Office of
Prime Minister of the British Colony of New
Zealand. That colony, as our readers are
aware, is one Of the most important of the
British possessions in Australasia. 1t has
white population Of towards 300 600,
besides the natives: and it has the dig
nifty Of a Plrlament, or Legislative Council
and House of Representatives, of its own.
Through these bodies, Mr. Fox, who is
strongly interested in the support of temper
ance, succeeded in carrying "local option
act Mr.. Fox came to this country, it seems,
last spring, and spent three months here.
largely in New Eogland, in examining the
effects of prohibitory legislation Then he
went back TO England and on the 22d of
July last, he had the compliment Of a public
breakfast in Lonion. at which Sir Wilfred
lawson. NJ. F., presided, at which Cardi
nal Manning, Lord Stanley, and over 100
prominent Engli,hmen were present; and at
which Mr.. Fox made a speech, which was
fully reported in the English papers. From
one Of these reports We take the following
abstrac. Of Mr.. Fox's remarks in regard to
bis observations, especially in Maine and
Vermont. The prohibitory law, in these
States, strikes The Hon Mr. Fox As not a
failure. bat 81 very decided success. lie
said
81 arrived at Portland about four clock
in the morning, and started out on my
rounds, having made up my mind to perform
4 q q LOT
long as was in Maine. To Use vulgar phrase,
| went 'poking my nose into every place
where liquor or drunkenness were likely to
be, but nowhere could | meet with either
began at four O'Clock in the morning and
kept that up till breakfast time. | went
down to the wharyes and quays. which are
more than mile long. where all the steamers
and shipping are moorel, and where drunk
enne-S would be probably most rife. if there
were any. and before breakfast. repeat.
was quite unable to detect any signs Of il.
Well, in the course of the morning. | called
upon the Hon Neal Dow lie showed me
places where it had been completely swept
away and where there had been grOg-selling
places which arc now turned into green-gro-
GERS stores, and after having spent a yerY
pleasant morning with him, | said Now |
am not going to leave Portland with your
story only in my ears. We have British
Consul here ana am going to hear what he
sav- know he has a different story from
yours to tell : 50, having an introduction, |
went down TO MIR. Murray. the British Con
sui lie did his best to give me all the in
formation in his power lie spoke his mind
TO me without the least reser:e. and allowed
ne to argue with and interrogate him TO
anv extent | pleased. | an bound to say
that think he entertain- very strong preu-
dices on the question. The Maine law seem
ed to be Mr. Murray'S harmless necessary
cat. He alleged, As facts, all the priori
arguments against IT,, such a that it made
men hypocritcs, was one law Tor the rich
and another for the poor. and 50 forth But
when asked him for facts he seemed at
loss 20 supply them. called his attention
to the statistics adduced on the other side,
such q those contained in the Cloud Of
Witnesses and other documents. and
begged him to tell me whether the facts
stated hy General Neal Dow and Others as
to the diminution of crime. employing of
persons. &c.. were true or not. Mr.. Murray
admitted that be could not. and that be had
no evidence to disprove them.
The result OF our interview was to leave
the impression on my mind that Mr.. Murray
was much preiudiced on the subject. and
that he had based his opinions chiefly on
very limited observations Of the exceptional
condition of the large seaport town in which
he resided In the afternoon and evening. |
devoted myself to another detective cam
uaign. till some time after dark and with
the exception of seeing three bottles Of wine
on the hotel aflcs at dinner, which | was
told would be the private property of the
drinkers. and therefore no infringement of the
law / did not detect single trace OF liquor
nor rsecan intoxicated person, nor any place
where it was beingsold | am aware that Mr..
Murray has sent home some statistics which
show that there arel many convictions in
Portland for the offence of drunkenness-
over > 600. They may be accounted for in
many ways. Portland is a large seaport
town with no less than i0,0 600 inhabitants.
Sailors come into that port from every quar-
ter, who may be drunk when they arrive,
and who may bring liquor in the vessels
they come by. Hence it Is not surprising
that there should be 4 certain number of
convictions for drunkenness. (llear, hear.)
You have laws against forgery, but that
/
From Portland went to Bangor, and
there made Just such another Investigation.
In Bangor there are large factories and
mills, and a great lumber trade is carried
on which gives its population close aEalo-
" TO our colliery population. 1t has over
20 600 inhabitants. and | could not detect
any liquor there. At night and in the day
time | walked about in every direction, bat
could see nothing of the kind then pro-
ceeded to Lewiston, a city Of not less than
! sc, 600 inhabitants. There, also, are to be
found factories and mills, and an extensive
lumber and shipping trade is carried on.
In the principal crowded streets, on Sat
urday evening, where the shops are kept
open until half-past nine o'clock. | did not
see the trace of liquor, did not hear a bad
word or see 4 single act of rudeneSs to wo-
men who walk about there unprotected. 1t
was Just sach sight as you would wish TO
see in the best conceivable state of society.
1 afterwards proceeded to a great many 9th
er portions OF the State, and spent about ten
DAYS in Maine and Vermont, &c, AMI found
exactly the same state of things.
Now compare this state of things with
that which prevails in any town of the same
size in this country. When, last week,
walked through the city of Durham-one of
the sacred cities of this empire was ac-
companied by a friend, and We walked
through those streets between the hours of
eight and ten in the evening. There, under
the awful shadow of the cathedral, with the
air vibrating all day long with the sacred
choral services, on quiet summers even
ing. in the space of two hours | counted
100 unmistakably drunken men, and | heard
the orgies and the brawling Of,
should think. two hundred more inside
the bars and taps where did not venture to
&c, and this was an hour before the drunk
en- population would be turned out of their
resorts. These men seemed unaer the i'm
preston that they were going home quietly
and respectfully, and the police thought 50
too, for in no single instance did | see them
making any arrests. Such. then, is the