New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-06
THE MAINE LAW IN MAINE.

NEAL DOW DENIES THAT PROHIBITION PREVENTS
THE GROWTH OF THE STATE BY IMMIGRATION.
TO the EdttOr OF The Trfbune.
SIR: see in The TRIBUNE an article on the
late popular vote in Kansas in favor Of an Amendment
Of the Constitution # thai State forever orbddns he
Manufacture sale Of intoxicating liquors except Tor
medicinal and mechanical purposes and the arts IL
contains, also. comments the supposed opera
ton OF prohibition n Name letter from Portland
The TRIBUNE says, mentions among other arguments
against prom 0tOu that 1.-THE Law prevents iminigauon
that honest Industrious Germans especially VIII notmove
into community where tnoy cannot obtain glass OF
resr." Nov there Is not any truth in this assertion
Maine has her iull share Of foreign popuaticnaecoid-
ing her demand for their labor There Is not DOW, ana
never has been. even an intimation that mmisrG-
lion has II any way been prevented BY prohibition OF
the grog shops. Maine has q harsh and severe climate
and rugged son aording few attractions 10 foreigners
accustomed To he mider chm ate OF Europe, especially
while the great West Is open to Them with Immense
gu mites fertile land of purchase sucl as can
not be lad Maine any erms, nor IN any other New
England State All our demands for labor are
abundantly supplied. and at the same tine al our
working peopie nnd regular and constant employment.
The actual operation OF prohibition largely IL favor
of ali cur business interests tie prOspe condition
Of the :, &c abnndantly proves Our dnuS bl in pro-
portion to our population would be about S13000OOO
while our actual expenditures in mat direction we
estimate about half million, though Ex-Governor
Dmgley, great speech at the Cry fall, Portland,
SAID be willing TO admit 1t 70 he million Before
the Maine law our people used TO consume their full
share Of drink spending IN that way the entire vau-
alton of the Statets taxable property Of every kind
III every period Of less tnan twenty years as the Nation
Is now doing every period Of little more than TWEEN
years, reckoning annual compound interest at per
cent.
During the sharp political canvass in this State pre-
paraiory State election, Democratic paper said
the business OF tic state hal suffered greatly
under Republican rule during the last twenty years.
Soon after great public meeting at the City Hall IN
Portland Senator aine alluded that emcnt, and
said: Daring the last twenty years this STATE mas
been prosperous IN all ts interests than any other
State in the Union" Senator from Iowa was upon
the atform aud Senator Blaine turning % ann, said:
Il DO not forget that ny friend. Senator from Iowa.
present.. but do not except MA STATE nor any Other
OF the great and prosperous communities OF the West"
The into details 20 Justify his asser
ton and did so the entire satisfaction Of the audi
euce. ANY present mi Eat lave u:enect the re-
marx 90 Yes Maine saves. Gircc IL and indirectly, at
OF pronlption Of the liquor traffic"
can faIi To iaifthat trade winch ~ 10 way pr
duccs wea. IN. aud whose Whole effect Is u waste
and destroy the wages Of labor, and 10 unit men or
worl whence All wealth comes cannot poss bis promote
the prosperity OF auy community that tolrrte, ana
that prohibition greatly promotes the happae- adi
prosperity OF the people among whom j. exists. l.
Sbuudanty proved bT many cTperimcnts-2esidt
Malae-nJw IN luIi trial n England, ireland and ne
British Provinces, well as IN several OF he - aes
OF cur Union NEAL DOW.
Portland, Ne Nov. %. 1880.
lMI. Dow Jealous champion of the prohIhi-
tory system that ne is not disposed 10 admit tu2t
there are any Disadvantages connected with 70. The
census shows that the population OF Maine Of ioreUn
birth or paGentage is remarkably small. and con-
si,1s almost exclusively of French Canadians. who
come across the lIne 10 work in the factories Of
Lewiston and BIddef'rd. The Germans appear
To avoid the State. Mr. Dow thinks this
IS because there Is 10 demand ior their
labor But the Germans do not as Il class throw
their labor upon the market; they buy and clear
land and are their own employers The agucul.u IRA
resources If Name are oy ~ means fully Developed
THIS Is shown b. til fact that since tie decline Of
the fishing and numbering Interests thr area nt uIied
land has been grea IL augmented and there has
bee notable increase IN the quantity OF
grain raised. 1t Is not unreasonable TO
suppose that many Germans are deferred
from settling in Maine By tn law which makes It a
penal offence to brew or sell glass or beer-a
beverage which they regard 30 more harmful
than coffee. The friends Of the Maine law do not
weaken their case by admit ing this. They should
lie wiling to accept some offsets 10 the account OF
state prosperity which they say Is due to Proh-
brtl N