The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-30

Our little paragraph Of last week touch
Ing the Maine liquor law has elected the
following explanatory article, which we
publish with pleasure. The only fact to
which we wished to call attention was the
large number OF liquor licenses issued to
persons In Maine by the United States Gov.
eminent. DIR. POLLARD explains this fact
away in great measure.
As to NEAL Dow, we will simply state
that 1t was a report of an interview with
him on which our paragraph was based,
and that he expressly charged certain Re-
pubIicans In the Maire Legislature with
having secured by false promises the votes
Of the Prohibitionists, but added that these
latter bad devised plan which would sue
cessfully effect its object and cause "pro-
hibition" to .'prohibt."
The Maine IAruor-Law.
10 the Editor Of the Dispatch:
In ON editorial OF March 23d You argue
that "prohibition does not prohibit" in
Maine. You begin by asking, elias the
Maine liquor-law put down the traffic in
i
fully suggest that this is not the question
to ask. You might as well inquire whether
the law i'm Maine against stealing has put
down burglary In that State. In either
case the answer must be, No. But who
would argue that the law against stealing
| Is failure because the rights OF property
are often violated? And who will argue
that the law in Maine against liquor-selliDg
| is a failure because the traffic has not
been entirely suppressed? The ques-
ton IL, Has the Maize lqucr-law
materially lessened the traffic In ardent
spirits and the evils flowing therefrom?
That question can he answered with per-
feet confidence in the Affirmative. You
say that great confidence in the effective
ness Of the law is felt by its advocates out
side OF Maine. This statement seems to
imply that people living in the State doubt
its utility. II this be your opinion, 1 am
sure YOU are mistaken. 1 travelled in
Maine during the summer Of 1881, and
made II prominent object to ascertain the
effect OF prohibition and the sentiment OF
the people concerning 1t. / became salts
fed that ut least three out Of four OF the
citizens firmly believe in the law and in
the happy results flowing to the Common
wealth. But you say "the stubborn fact Is
that the InternalRevenuc Department
shows that there are 1,162 persons in
Maine who pay the special tax on liquor"
The exact figures are 1,040. 1t is mistake
10 suppose that no liQllor-selling Is allowed
In Name. The traffic for medicinal. scien-
tiic, and mechanical purposes is legal.
There are agencies all over the State to
furnish liquors for legitimate purposes.
Each Of these must pay the special tax.
Then il is scarcely uncbaritabie to suppose
that there may be enemies OF the law who
would take out United States license not
for the purpose Of doing business, but only
that the annual report OF the Internal-Rev-
cnue Department might show that "pro-
hibition does not prohibit" in Maine. Be-
sides this, no one cares to dispute that an
Illicit traffic Is carried on to some extent,
as no one will dispute that other statutes are
sometimes evaded. The annual report
of the Internal-Revenue Department shows
some significant facts besides the one you
1t shows that Maine has not
rectifier OF liquors or a brewery within its |
Iimits. 1t shows that Rhode Island, whose 1
population is not half as large as that of
Maine, has 44S more persons who pay the
special tax to the United States Govern |
mcnt. You refer to Neal Dow i'm connec-
ton suited to make the impression that he,
the great apostle of prohibition, had at
length become convinced that the prohibit |
tory law is failure. He may. for aught / |
know, be trying to make the statute more |
stringent; but 1 am persuaded he has
never admitted that il has heretofore been
IL has not been very long
since j heard him i'm a public address.
n which he stoutly maintained the
contrary; and more recently have read
IN article from him in prominent New
York paper, in which he handled with
great spirit and ability the objection, pro
libition does not prohibit"
Respectfully, john POLLARD, Jr.
Richmond, Va.