The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-03-19
PROHIBITION AND ITS ENFORCEMENT IN MAINE,

Rev. II. c. Munson, Secretary and
General Manager of the Maine Law and
Order League, was invited to address
the National Law and Order League,
which met in New York last week. but
owing to the demands of the work in
Portland was unable to leave, and SC
sent letter, in which he says:
"The alcoholic liquor traffic has been
entirely suppressed in the greater part
OF the State and fingers more or less
secretly only in the larger villages and in
our cities. The last fifteen years have
travelled many thousand miles to learn
the exact situation, believing that moth
| ing should be disguised, but that the
true situation should be discovered. l
have becn surprised to find people so
prosperous and happy, and so free from
the evils Of intemperance.
| l. Forty years ago almost everybody
drank. The exceptions are the other
way now, and no man can enjoy the
highest respect and confidence of society
If it is known that he is in the habit of
tipping.
,. In 1882 we had one liquor shop,
with large sales, to 225 of the popula-
ton, the sales aggregating $4,000, 900,
or 500 per capita. Take from the list of
persons now paying the United States
tax as liquor dealers those who are
druggists, those who have died during
the year, those now in jail or out of the
! business, and we have one shop. with
small sales, to about 925 of the popula
! ton, the amount per capita being be-
tween 60 cents and Sl.25 for all purposes
| While in 1883 there was in the Northern
States one grog shop to 2l0 of the popu-
lation, one to $50 in New jersey, and
one to % in California, there was but
one shop to 900 Of the population of
| Maine.
3. In 1881. as taxes on distilled and
fermented spirits, Illinois paid to the
general government $3.50 per capita :;
Ohio, $3.50; New York, S1.45; and
Maine 3 cents, In 1889 it was So for
Indiana Sl.7l for the whole country, and
cents 3 mills for Maine
4. In 1882, with a population of
649,116, there were but 1862 arrests for
drunkenness in the whole State, while in
wear 1880 arrests for drunkenness in
Boston, Sept 1879 SOY there were
,.2e27 in Philadelphia, I65D q ,229 !:
and in New York, 9,l9l.
.. Recently, while California had
convict to $50 of the population, Mary
land | to 375, New York / to 600, Maine
had to LOCO OF high criminals, Cali
fornia had |, to LOCO; Maryland, | to
$500 New York, to :, 500; and Maine,
l to 900
&. From 1870 to 1880, the increase of
crime was in Alabama, 1855 per cent !;
Connecticut, G425; Dakota, 900; Hi
nois. 81; New York, IS 80 and in tn E
whole country, sad to say, 50 33, or near
ly three times the increase of population
| (3O.06) In Maine it was but 997 per
cent, less than any other State in the
Union save one, New Hampshire, pro
hibitory state.
Well did the Hon. James q. Blaine
say in letter two years ago: 'Intem-
perance has steadily decreased in this
State since the first enactment of the
prohibitory law, until now it can be said
with truth there is no equal number of
people in the Anglo Saxon world among
the $50, 900 inhabitants of Name"
Mr.. MunsOn says it is now necessary
to enforce the laws we have, and believes
the Law and Order League movement in
Maine and the Union will do great good
There must be obedience to law. To
enact laws without enforcing them is a
dangerous thing, and to speak against
law which we do not happen to like is to
encourage lawlessness. Let our liquor
laws be impartially, thoroughly and per
sistently enforced, and they will be re-
spected and obeyed. The greetings of
the State League are sent to the National
League.