The Portland daily press., 1877-04-10
The Maine Law,

10 The Editor of the Press.
SlR-l wish to enter protest against Mr..
DOW views as expressed in his letter of 4th
INST The strings of his instrument are few
Out ne plays persistently. Variation or accom-
Paniments would make his efforts more inter-
ssung. BE graphically describes the great
oreweries at Burton-on-Trent, where many
thousands are employed spelling barley, as he
deems it, to make that the use of which is
the crime of crimes" Now assert that bar
ley and hops can be put to no better use lin
part) than the making of pure, wholesome ale'
and that not one person out of twenty Is In
5ured even by its free use whilst it is an actual
benefit Excepting in rare cases) to those who
use it at all moderately. Had we such in Port
land one-half the doctors could be spared, and
the pale, faced women and men, too, we
meet would wear changed appearance. This
is difference No. l.
Then he compares the waste of the grain
to the loss that would occur if the Clyde ship
builders were to build pirate ships instead of
mercantile marines. 1t is not clear to my mind
that Glasgow would loose directly even if they
built such and got their pay-though others
might; the comparison is not happy or correct,
I think.
But we will suppose they were privateers,
there would be sure profit and the crime per-
haps less. Or we will say men of war. Thissis le-
climate business; yet such are made to destroy
their kind to kill those who man them, oftimes
too engaged in unjust quarrel, to lombard cities,
destroy the property of friend and foe alike, or
take the lives of innocent people
even women and children. This may
be O crime indeed, yet it will con-
tinue just as drunkenness will till the "Lion
shall lie down with the Lamb" Thousands of
persons are employed, and millions of money are
spent for many things not only useless, but
hurtful. Suppose Portland manufactured all
the military arms made even at Springfield,
would she not be enriched? Yet these are made
exclusively and purposely for taking human
life, bringing suffering and loss to our fellow
men. But would our friend Mr. Dow refuse
patent that would kill ten where our most i'm
proved arms now kill one? This is difference
No. 2.
As to the increase of sixteen per cent. only
OF population in England since 1860 it beats
Maine which has not increased at all, despite
the blessing of Maine law. Moreover the sun
never sets upon the possessions of England s
Queen, her territories are immense in all parts
of the world and there Britons migrate. In
truth the people of the British Isles increase
rapidly enough, the density of the population
and limited area considered. But If the popu-
iaton increases Slowly, unlike maine where
crime increases rapidly, it decreases ia Eng
land. In 1886 with population less than 15,-
100000, 10000 persons were sentenced to prison,
and $500 transported. In 1875 with % 000, 900.
$500 were imprisoned and only 1000 transport
ed. Once again warn the people of Maine to
put stop to this fanaticism-live as other
communities do or they will have no inhabit-
ants to legislate for. This is difference No. 3.
But am glad to agree with Mr.. Dow for
once. There are, he writes, persons having
''some sense who think as do and differ with
himself. may write truly they are the great
majority of the world-millons of the best, the
greatest and the wisest of mankind. w.
md AMI