The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-21
MATERIAL AND MORAL EFFECTS OF
PROHIBITION.
From the St. Louis Republican.


affect the morality and habits of the peo-
pie, whether it is of rigidly SUMMARY or
only ordinarily repressive character, is
difficult to trace or estimate accurately
Statistics showing the extent of the Grim.
iDal and defective classes in different
states are, perhaps, the best data we have
on this interesting and important subject
But statistics are collected under rules so
different in different places, or conditions
SO variant, as to be in many instances
misleading, and in nearly all unsatisfac-
tory The people of the United States
are now giving much attention to the
subject Of inteHiperance and to the evils
of excessive indulgence IN intoxicants
Whatever some self-seeking, obtrusive
reformers may have in view, the great
body of the people wish to find the wisest
course which it is possible to follow in
dealing with intemperance Unluckily,
there is but one state in the Union where
absolute prohibition OF the traffic intoxi-
| Giants has prevailed for a long consecutive
period. Maine adopted the policy of
prohibition in 1850, and there has, there
| fore, arisen generation under that
| policy. The seeker after truth asks with
| deep interest what the result of the eX-
| pertinent in that state has been. The in
quiry is a broad one. The result in what
respect? Is it mortal or material fruits
that are enquired about? Perhaps it is
both. In 1850 the population in Maine
was 5S3, 1863. The population of the state
in 1880 was 64S, 036-an increase in
thirty years of II per cent. The popu -
latiCn of the United States in 1880 was
%, 1871 $40. In 1880 il was O,155, 7S3-
an increase IN the whole country Of III
per cent Maine, it will be observed, did
not keep pace with the country. ltdid
not keep pace with New England. But
the conditions for the growth of popula
ton in Maine were not favorable in com
parison with those of the country al large,
As TO the increase in wealth in Maine in
thirty years the United States census
from which We quote, reports the value
of the farms in that state in 1850 at $54
SOL 74S, and in 1880 at $l02, 351, 6l5-
an increase of something less than 10(
per cent. The value of the farms in Thu
United States in 1850 was So, 27l, 515. 426
and in 1880 the value was $40, 1877 U06
71G-an increase of nearly 800 per cent
The value of the farm products increased
in something like proportion set dowl
above In manufacturers. the tota
product in Maine in 1850 was S24 ,661
051 In 1880 the total product was S79
500, 193. an increrse of over 800 re
cent The value of the manufacturer
of the United States in 1880 was Sl,Ol9
1866. In 1890 the value was So. 36!
$40, 1911 an increase OF about 500 pc
cent. Maine therefore fell largely hchint
the country in manufacturing growth. Ii
deed that state fell behind all the New EnG
land states insthe period named. 1.-THE COZ
ditions were not up to the average OF tn
country for material progress it may Ger
,alnly be said that in II moral point Of viel
they were exceptionally favorable in Main
The population OF that state Is settled All
HOMOGENEOUS The educational tacililit
= are good and have been throughout tn
0 whole period named. The sUmptuary sy,
i TEN adopted in Maine, if really wise an
: elective should at once tell in the rpdut
ton Of the criminal and defective classc
i There were in lS5Uin the United State
4 81 991 insane persons. or these Maine la
l, 542 or 17-10 per cent Of the whole. Tn
4 population of the United States was 80, l.
Il 1S3 of which Maine had GAS, 936 or 10
per cent 1t will be observed therefore thi
ii Maine has much more than an average
The insane of the country The same
true also of the blind and idiotiC. The
" were in 1880 IS, Cos paupers in the count
- of whom Maine had 3,2l1. With 1877
m the population of the Union that sta
NJ had nca rly 4 per cent. or the PaupCl
IN There were in 1890 in the prison of Il
T United States 59,255 persons, Of who
,r Maine had 4NS or about , 3 of per &C
D. That state had something less than Il
average proportion af the prisoners of Il
whole country, but more in proportion
population than Arkansas, Iowa, Mimi
sofa West Virginia and Wisconsin. II
criminals, paupers and defective class
of the United States in 1880 amounted
the aggregate to 4996I8, or nearly p
- cent. of tie population. These glasses
in Maine numbered 7,7SS, or lis Of I
a, population of that state. Maine has cor
M sidtrabIv more than an average propo
he ton of the criminals, paupers aud defe
en tive classes in The United States. Thir
years it would seem is ample time to tie
the value of any legislative policy atfec
inc the morals and habits of II state who
population has been under the norm
influences which have prevailed in Mali
The facts seem to point to one OF t
% conclusions: Either the statute ptOhb
K" ing the sale of intoxicating liquors in Il
state has not been effective the or if ell
lion depriva- ton has not met the P
20 7es uf those who have favored a
maintained it, The subject is full Of
terest and well worthy the study