Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-03-02
Vol. XXI. Whole No. llO0. No, g..
Progress of Temperance in Main..

The statistics of liquor selling and in
temperance in Maine in 1880, which We
copied few days since from the Christian
Mirror, afford us the basis for an intelli-
gent comparison Of the condition OF the
State with reference to drinking habits
forty-fve years since, with those Of to-day.
1t appears th a. in 1927 there were sold in
this State more than l 200 900 gollons of
spiritnous liquors, three gallons to every
| lnhabitant, not including large quantities
or cider and beer; that every tavern and
store III the State was a grog-shop; that
as late as 1882, after four years Of active
temperance work there were 1900 licensed
places where liquor was sold, and more
than 1900 additional unlicensed places
Gone to every hundred and twenty-five
popuation;) that there were 10000 no.
torious common drunkards Zone to every
80 voters or 400 inhabitants, 500 of them
being women;) that there were 200 case.
OF delirium tremens; and that in 1927
nearly every male adult drank liquor, and
even ministers offered it it to visitors as q
token of hospitality.
AT forty-five years ago the population of
the State was only 1000 0OOO-two-th irds O (
Its present population, and there were 10
large cities and no foreign immigrants
with their loose ideas of the use OF liquors,
even the striking contrast between tho
1879 falls to tell the whole story of the
progress made. 1t is difficult to obtain
precise statistics OF the liquor traffic in
Maine now, but the highest estimate made
by persons who are not in sympathy with
the temperance movement places the an
nual sales of distilled spirits for all pur-
poses, at 100000 gallons for population
OF 625, 900, or less than half gallon to
each inhabitant, which is only one-sirth Of
ohdt ul,oas forty:fre years ago, without
making allownce for the fact that much
larger relative proportion OF ofalcohol is used
IN the arts than formerly. Then 1t should
be remembered that the foreign popuIa-
ton has mainly come in within that time to
increase the consumption. Careful inves-
tlsators are satisfied that proportionately
there Is not one-tenth of the LIQUOR used as
a beverage in Maine that there was in 1890:
and by the native American population not
one-twelfth.
Excluding persons who sell only fer
mented liquors, it is believed that outside
OF two or three large cities there are less
than 800 dram-shops in Maine, Zone TO
every 1900 population and most Of these
are secret places known only to the unni-
tiated. Including the cities it is confident
ly stated that there are not in the State
two hundred public and open drinking
places selling distilled liquors the balance
being secret places known mainly 10 the
initiated. In the cities most OF the liquor
sellers are foreigners who keep only few
gallons on hand, and that secreted in
sOmel hidden corner. When the last CEN
sus was taken only tnirty-six dealers In
liquors aud seventy-two bar-keepers were
found in the whole State, while IN 1880 the
census showed over 1000 OF both.
The most striking evidence OF progress.
however, is to be obtained BY comparing
the statistics OF the traffic in 1890 in par
tcuiar towns, with the condition now.
Take New Gloucester as a specimen OF
most OF the rural towns in the State. In
1880 there were ten aram-shop in that
town; bat now there is not one and prob
Waterville. where in 1887 2i.0OO gallons OF
ilqupr were sold; Low not a tenth OF that
quantity for double the population.
Not only do statistics show that not
tenth OF tue Intoxicating liquors are con
sumed by our native population that there
was forty-hve years ago; but 4 comparison
Of the drinking habits of the people is still
more decisive on the point of progress.
Some of the readers OF the of the Jour
nal remember that forty-fve years ago
nearly every man drank, land the decanter
was on nearly every side-board Without
liquors farms could not be carried on, bust
lness could not be attempted, buildings
could not be moved, marriages could not
be celebrated. and not even funeral cere-
monies engaged in.
And statistics, as well as the recolec-
ton OF those now living. are conclusive to
the fact that liquor produced the same
evils-enly more eNtensvelv-then as
now. Note the number of deaths fifty-tive
years age by delirum tremens; note the
number OF gutter drunkards; note the sta
tiStiCS of abiect poverty: recall the drunk
en- rows at mustcrS and other gatherings
OF large masses OF men-and then thank
God for the great progress made and gain
renewed courage to work in the cause OF
Temperance.-rL Lewiston Journal.