The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-28
PROHIBITION IN MAINE.
A Doctrine without Honor in the Country
of Its Origin.

A Doctrine without Honor in the Country
of Its Origin.
Portland Letter in Boston Herald.
Just now Neal BOWS town is having its peri.
odical spasm on prohibition. The ball was set
III motion a few days ago by Rev. Mr.. Bayley,
prominent clergyman, who preached sermon
on the reinforcement of the liquor law that
mas caused a sensation The reverend gentle
man was decidedly outspoken in painting the
condition of affairs here occasioned by free
rum" aud evidently had no disposition to sugar
coat or TO be mealy mouthed in the sharp criti
cisms that he INDUCED in on the faithlessness OF
1.-The powers that be- IN the warfare on thu
liquo, traffic. 1t would SEEM perhaps, little
singular, but it IS nevertheless true, that while
the liquor law has been more rigidiy enforced in
Portland than in any other city in the State. a
fact conceded over and over again by Neal Dow,
liquor selling and liquor drinking have not de-
creased, but on the contrary have increased.
Rev. Mr.. Baylev, who be fully
equipped with facts derived from personal obser-
walton. declares that the arrests Tor drunken
ness during the last six months of 1887 werl
922, against SGT arrests during the correspond
ing period of 1885. Other gentlemen corroborats
his testimony that intemperauce is the in
crease, and that the open sale of liqaor is noto-
rious. MIR. Bayley also says THAT never before
have there been many club rooms where
drinking Is habitual as at tie present time.
This allegation seems to be borne out by otherf
conversant with the facts. One gentleman said
that these club rooms have made drunkards Of
hundreds of young men, who first contracted
tho habit of drinking in them. and not only
the habit OF drinking said he, sbut also thu
vice of gambling IL the law was rieidly
forced as it was some ten years ago, it Is my
candid belief that it would lead to a much worse
state of affairs than is now seen, these club
rooms would spring up like mushrooms
Probably none of the allegations In Mr.. Bay
ley's indictment caused more painful surprise
than the relating to drunkenness among
some of the pupils of the public schools While
there is q great difference of opinion among
prominent educators regarding temperance in
structiou in our common schools. Mr.. Bayley's
sad disclosures have considerably strengthened
the views of those who believe that the evil eff
fects of intemperance morals should be
taught. A close observer assures the writer
that there is tendency among the youth OF
this city to harmless drinks and this he thinks.
paves the way to the of hard drinks.
Many women are brought to the police statioH
for drunkenness. and the number of arresn
show no signs of decreasing Portland contains
a population of nearly 40 900 people; and the
rests for drum kenness are one TO every twenty
two Inhabitants. while, one gentleman says.
the average number of arrests in eleven cities
in the country of the population of Portland was
to every fortyfve. An examination of the
records of the Supreme Court shows that over
500, 600 was paid III fines last year and soma
thirty. five liquor sellers thrust into jail Dur
ing the past nine years 216 different rumsellers
have been sent to jail, and total of $780, 900 in
fines has been conveyed into tho county treas
ury. The liquor traffic is principally confined
to the low saloons into which il has been driven,
although it is an open secret that the drug
stores and hotels have their share of patronage.