Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-12-07
A FEW TEMPERANCE ITEMS.

John b. Cough says: "They tell Il.
that alcohol gives strength and nourish
ment. II does not. IL gives stimulus
! You sit down on a hornets nest-it Is very
quickening but not particularly nourish'
ing
Queen Annes county, Nd, has gained
the happy distinction of having no use fol-
courts, iorors or jails. At the court ses
sion just closed the petit jury was not
sworn, there was not a single conviction
| for any offence, and only four presentmcnts
were made by the grand jury. The sheria
sits in the solitude OF an empty Jail. All
over the county there Is lively interest in
schools AMI public education, and temper
ance which may account for the court be-
ing without business.
The New York Times says that the
liquor dealers ofthat city and Brooklyn do
not give their occupations when elected 10
the Legislature as formerly. Seven Demo
Gratis elected in New York are liquor deal
ers, yet only one OF them gives that as his
occupation, while four Democrats elected
in BROOKLYN who pass themselves of as
"clerks and merchants" are grog shop
keepers. Both cities elect eleven OF that
class, but such has been the change in pub
lie sentiment that they no longer give their
real occupations as formerly.
Kansas has gone further than any
other State in prohibitory legislation. 1t
has just adopted an amendment TO the
constitution prohibiting the manufacture
and sale OF intoxicating liquors. except for
medical, scientific and mechanical purpo-
ses. II is reported that this has been
adopted by majority or 20, 600 votes. As
a part OF the Constitution this prohibltory
law cannot be changed or repealed except
through two-thirds vote of each bran ch
OF the Legislature, ratified by a vote OF
the people.
Rev Mr. Penney OF Augusta, has com
piled few statistics, showing what rum
has done in the State and in Augusta in
the past. In forty years there have been
5,35G patients received at the Insane
Asylum, one-third of which number were
incarcerated from the effects of habitual
intoXicatiou. In fourteen years the police
OF Augusta have made 4, ,09s arrests, seven
eights for drunkenness. During the same
time s94. 900 have been expended for the
poor and destitute. The majority of the
paupers were brought To their distressed
condition through the rum bottle.
WIN. l.. Dodge, esq. Of New York,
states that there are In New York city
10000 places for the sale OF intoxicating
drinks. and seven-eighths of these places
are kept by foreigners. The Interior De-
partment returns. he asserts. show that
there are In the United States 5.G25 distil-
leries, $3.50 breweries, and l7j, ,266 places
where Intoxicating drinks are sold, involv-
ing annually direct outlay aud waste OF
not less than 900, 200, 900, and an indirect
loss in the cost of crime and pauperism Of
500, 900, 600 more, while to the financial
loss must be added the destruction OF not
less than l00, 200 lives.
Postmaster General Maynard shows
his ideas on the temperance question by
writing 4 letter 10 the District Commis-
sloner protesting against the granting OF
any more licenses 10 liquor dealers on
streets adjacent 10 the Post Office. lie
says that the saloons now there are i'm
moral, and place unnecessary temptation
In the way OF the clerks. Some OF the
largest establishments OF the city have
recently built fine buildings on this square
and the objections OF Postmaster General
Maynard will perhaps occasion great loss
to them, as the law requires that major
ity of the residents or occupants OF the
buildings on both sides OF the street in the
same square shall approve the application
for license, and In case of Government
building, that the head OF the department
OH To-, fpu %,
the Post Office Department occupies all OF
one side OF the street, and the saloons all
OF the other, so that the petitioners are
tied. 1t would be good thing for Wash
ington and for the whole country too, II
all our public officers should take the same
decided stand for temperance.