The Portland daily press., 1884-04-29

IL tiooPoloC W Inquiries sent out by the
Post the following letters were received from
which it seems that there is considerable diff
ference OF opinion concerning the advisability
of adopting the constitutional amendment.
Ex-Governor Chamberlain Does not
Think the Proposed Amendment Needed.
take the first moment at my disposal to re-
spond to your inquiries as to the effect of the
Maine prohibitory liquor law, and the propr-
ETY. OF the proposed constitutional amendment.
These questions are clearly within the proper
range Of inquiry by public journal seeking
all the light it can get in order to diffuse cor
rect information and promote just sentiments
in the community. Yet scarcely any ques-
tons involve more difficulties. You appear
to be asking for testimony upon matter of
fact, but on this subject it is not very easy
thing to give.
In the first place the witness is apt to be
embarrassed. 1t is the fashion to regard such
testimony not as bearing upon the question of
fact, but rather as indicating the opinion of
the witness, or his wishes or principles, or
perhaps his practices This is the sphere of
discussion in which good Christian people are
in the habit of calling each other liars, or
drunkards, or imbeciles. So the chief effect
of testimony is upon the witness himself.
encounters a great difficulty, that of estimat-
ing justly the comparative force of causes.
He has to struggle against the prevailing fall
lacy of the times in discussing public Ques-
tions-the fallaey of the false cause, post
hoe ergo prOpter hoe" 1t is not easy to de-
termine among all the influences and condi-
tons that attend fact, what precisely it is
that was its cause. Even an inVariable ante
cedent is not always the cause. Now it is a
fact that there isa decided restraint upon the
use of Intoxicating liquors in this state, and
a strong public sentiment against it. But it
is not in the power of man to say how much
OF this IS justly to be ascribed to the force of
our prohibitory law, and how much to other
influences, such as the advance of scientific
knowledge of the hurtful effect of intoxicat-
ing liquors on the human system, and the
economic effects of their use upon a commu-
nifty, or the advance in the tone of cultivated
society as to what is gentlemanly and honor
able In conduct, or of Christian and moral
sentiment, and the application Of these senti-
ments and convictions in the personal efforts
OF earnest men and women who are doing
such powerful work in our communities. But
think it must be said that our prohibitorv
law has contributed very much to check the
use of intoxicating liquors.
l. 1t reduces greatly the number of places
where liquor can be got.
2. 1t banisheS the liquor traffic from sight.
and thus removes opportunity and tempta-
ton.
8. 1t tends to make drinking disreput-
able"
Not that the law in itself can create good
morals But the innate respect for law which
characterizes our people takes effect here.
What the law denounceS and banisheS to the
dark, if no more, is felt to be disgraceful.
What 1T is crime to sell, it is felt to be a
shame to use. The law has not stOpped
drinking, no law can; but it has made people
feel that they cannot deal with it any way
without loss of self respect What it has done
for those who are not influenced by that mo-
tive, 1t is not easy to say. People who will
have liquor can get it even in Maine And
the very difficulty of getting it may make
them act worse when they do. The law does
not seem to reach effectually those who have
no pride or ambition in life. Something else
must do that. Perhaps also some of the GOOD
effects of the law before referred to, have
been gained at some expense of manliness and
moral stamina of character. 1t may have
given occasion for prevaricatiOn, and it NAV
have been part of the stimulating motive for
the formation of secret clubs where young
men are learning none of the principles Of
noble life and conduct But this is PERHAPS
true of all mere law, in the very nature of the
case.
Now as to the question of the proposed
amendment On general principles the regu-
lation Of the production and sale of intoxi-
cants is not proper matter for constitutional
the Keeping of firearms, gunpowder and
dangerous drugs, to the civil and not the DO
litical order; to the sphere of the common law
and municipal jurisdiction, to sanitary and
police regulations. | can indeed conceive of
an evil of this kind becoming so grave that it
might properly be prohibited in the organic
law. But no such state of things exists in
Maine. Our laws have not been so ineffectu-
al as to demand this. The constitution al
ready gives ample scope to our liquor laws.
The severest of them have never been over
ruled as unconstitutional. For one, I do not
sympathize much with the tendency to fly to
law and only law for the reform of morals.
In ordinary conditions | should not expect to
secure course of reform of morals by piling
law upon law and invoking higher forms Of
Il, as IL names and forms would save us.
Wnat we want is not bigger laws, but genu-
ineness and sincerity. Human law is only
valid and effective when it is the true express
sion OF the conscience and moral conviction
OF the people. Declaration, otherwise. is not
law. The word of God is law. But the
words OF statute book are not law, unless
tney are the declaration of the conscience and
sense OF need of the community. And this is
no stronger or better for being expressed in
constitutional law than in statute law, or
even unwritten law.
| do not think the proposed amendment is
needed; nor would it either supersede or ex-
ecute existing laws. But now that our legis-
lature has thought it expedient to submit the
question, can readily see that many will
vote for the amendment because they will
regard 1t as an expression of the people on
the subject Of free liquor" and they will be
unwilling to have 1t appear that Maine has
any weak or uncertain voice on that subject.
ms IS not really the issue, but it will be
made to appear so; and that will control the
action OF many who feel that they have an
awkward necessity imposed upon them, and
who still believe that it is more obedience,
low Hot
morals.
Darius H. Ingraham, ESD, of Portland
Some Startling Statistics as to the Situa-
ton To-day.
In the Maine legislature of 1879, bill was
introduced by Mr.. Fox of Portland, to legal
ize the sale of malt liquors and cider. A
hearing was had before the committee on
temperance. Hon. Nathan Webb, now dis
trict judge. G. +. Libby, Gen. c. P. Mattocks,
all OF Portland, and each of whom had been
county attorney covering a period of some
dozen years, and who, as prosecuting officers,
had rare opportunity to observe the workings
OF the prohibitory law, all appeared before
the committee advocating the bill, and sub
stantially proving prohibition a failure. As
chairman of that committee it became my
duty to report to the legislature the views of
those VINO believed, upon the evidence pre-
sented, that the bill ought to pass, and after
five years further test of the operation of
the Maine liquor law, / am satisfied of the
soundness of the views presented in that
report, Mr.. Ingraham makes some extended
extracts from the report which are omitted. I
l have obtained this morning from Mr.. j.
l.. Rackleff, of the internal revenue office for
Maine, the following statistics: Number Ii
quOr licenses, retail, issued in Maine since
May ], 1885, 1,131; number liquor licenses,
wholesale, z; number malt liquor dealers, III;
total, 1855.
The population of Maine is $4,000. Divid-
ing by 1,255 we have 518, one licensed LIQUOR
dealer in Maine for every SIS inhabitants.
For Portland the assessors gave me the
number of retail liquor licenses issued, 200;
wholesale do, s. total, BOB
The population of Portland is about 36 900.
There is one licensed liquor dealer for every
1T inhabitantsl This is so astounding that
| thought had made mistake till / went
three times over the figures AS to the
second question you ask as to the wisdom
and proprlety of adopting the constitutional
amendment proposed, this sickening exhibit
must suffice. | refer you to the opinion of
Chief Justice Appleton, for 80 years on our
Maine bench.
Rt. Rev. II. A. Nicely,
Bishop of the Episcopal church: There are
several considerations which deter me from
saying much on these points for publication
among which are these, viz:
l. The evils flowing from the intemperate
use of intoxicating liquors are confeSsedly so
great that | am indisposed to discourage any
well-intentioned efforts to abolish or lessen ii.
whatever doubts l might have as to their