The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-06-19
The Maine Liquor Law.
AJJepillc Press and Bonue.

Rcc. j. l.. Mdrtin-DELR SIR: Vari
GUS inquiries have been addressed to M
from the South with relation to 'Tem
perance and Temperance Laws il
Maine," what, with your permission.
will endeavor to answer through YOU
valuable paper.
First, with regard to the increased U.s.
OF opium since the prohibition Law
against alcoholics was passed.
! am assured by respectable physician
that there IL al increased use of opium
in some form or other, but they do no
connect it with the "NIaine Law" Man,
PERSONS, even ladies, use upon themselye
epidemic injections of morphine for neu
ralgia, rheumatism, and other pains
They have found such sudden relief. an(
the operation is go simple, they take i
up for themselves, either for convenience,
sake, or TO save expense, and use it or
| the very slightest occasion without {
thought of consequences. Some hay,
destroyed their constitution in thi,
thoughtcss way. This vice does no
seem to have the slightest connection
with the influences of the Maine Law
1t is one of the many unfortunate result
OF what is called "our present civilian
ton"
The use of narcotics and anmsthetics il
everywhere increasing among the nery.
Gus, the diseased, the rheumatic. This
beyond question only makes a bad matter
worse. 1t results largely imperfect edu.
cation. The minds Of children and
youth are consumed with so MANY thinps
that very little is learned to good pur.
pose. That there is any increase in the
use OF aDIsthetics or narcotics peculia,
TO Maine is utterly false and destitute ot
evidence.
The execution of the prohibitory law
will always vary with the character OF
places and with the capricos of the times
AS a State there is no indication OF
weakening on the maintenance of the
law; The agricultural population is
faithful to it, The manufacturers would
consider its abrogation disaster to their
industries. The clergy Of all denomina-
tlors are united in its support. The
medical faculty is using less and less of
alcoholic stimulants in medical practice.
although personal habits unquestionably
have influence in this regard.
Some of our cities are most atrocious
exceptions ~ the faithful execution OF
the law. Bangor is at present in that
category. The appointed officers of civil
administration refuse to prosecute even
the most notorious offenders. Rum ia
substantially free; and the law is orenly
tramnled nnon. and the friends of law
are laughed at by the whole rum interest.
Massachusetts capital he's lively interest
in breaking down the law in Bangor and
opening up the Penobscott to the trade.
The men engaged in the traffic are men
generally of the vilest character, and vet
our appointed guardians IF law shield
them. The game played upon us at
present is an Infamous one and will cover
the actors with the scorn and CONTEMPT
of all good men. Notwithstanding the
large foreign and floating population.
always on the side of their worst enc.
mics, the rumscllers, we are confident the
evil will be corrected at the next election.
Rum is now trying to keep its victims out
OF sight but with poor success. l occa.
sonally meet them rceling in the street
and am insulted by them.
We hope for change. We are irving
to prepare for it. But if Bangor should
be given up as a prey to the shamel IS
devil of rum, there will still be q large
number of faithful temperance men and
women in the city. and the law will be
firmly maintained by tho vast majority
of the State.
Yours sincerely,
CYRUS HAMLIN.
bangor TAeo. Sem, Nay 81, 1875.