Year: 1867




We have heretofore given quite numerous
extracts from the testimony OF those who
have been heard before the liquor committee
of the Massachusetts legislature, in favor of
license law The testimony IN that side hav-
ing been put in, Hon. Asahel Huntington OF
Salem, appeared for the remonstrants, or those
who favor prohibition, and opened the case
preparatory TO the introduction of testimony.
We copy from Boston paper q report of
his remarks, as they indicate the line of poll
cy TO be followed in the further investigation
OF the matter before the committee:


lie SAID he came not for the purpose of
making alone the opening argument, but as a
petitioner against return to the OLD system
OF licensing the SAFE OF liquors, and also as a
witness before the honorable body and sh,nld
be willing to undergo full examination INV
the counsel who represent the petitioners loy
license law. He then alluded briefly to Tho
previous agitation OF this question in fhe 7 er1
islature down to the present movement of
1867, giving also an account OF the prohibito-
ry mo oyement in Maine. In Essex county he
said the prohibitory law had repeatedly been
made etfectual by sending violators to the
House of Correction, and it seemed to be
gradually working its purpose. In other sec
tions fines were imposed instead of impris0n-
ment, and the law was, la such cases, very
little cared Tor. We have had prohibitory
law for fifteen years, but until recently it had
not been generally used. We have not yet
got to the pains and penalties of the law, but
will soon reach them through the activity of
the State Constables. We have had a "pub-
lie safety association" to embarrass and de-
feat the law, but the parties guarreled among
Themselves a 10
he hoped its ashes would rest in peace forev-
er. The violators at one time hoped for pro-
lection from the United States government,
but they were disappointed in this too.


The prohib tory law, he would say, stood
upon foundation which could never be shak-
en-, and no license law could ever be enacted
by this or any other Legislature which would
stand like it. Ii, as had been suggested, the
power to grant licenses was left to the cities
and towns, the people would nulliiy it the
same as they did in 1888.


What the temperance people stand upon
is, ii the doctrine OF selling liquors is bad
one, why let any one sell it, and il it is good
one why not let everybody sell it? The peo-
pie of Massachusetts will not stand by law
which allows one man to engage in business
and which prohibits his neighbor from engag-
ing in the same. The records of the State, he
said, maintained that the people OF Massachu-
sets have for thirty years been in favor Of
prohibition and against license, and they new
er could be got back to license system and
kept there. This he could demonstrate by
facts which had taken place for the last fifty
years.


There is but one road which leads down TO
the drunkards den, and all men using intox-
cating drinks are upon that road. He did not
expect that they would abolish the use of in
toxicating drinks, for until the day OF milleni-
um he believed there would always be plenty
of liquor to be had IN Massachusetts, but the
main problem is how to provide Tor the neces-
sites and prohibit the sales for beverages.


He believed, and would say in conclusion, do
what can be done in high places, 1t is moral
inpossibllIty to establish license Law, and if
1t is put upon the statute books in 1867 it will
not stand any more than it did in 1893. The
people are too much instructed and have had
too much experience. If temperance men
could not have law which would be with
them, he prayed they would make a law
against them and place it in the hands of the
enemy. t-.


Mr.. w. B. Spooner also addressed the Com
mittee, and said his only apology for doing so
was that the temperance cause was without
liberal funds to employ eminent counsel. The
purpose of the temperance people, he said, has
been TO suppress the liquor traffic, believing it
to be great and wicked evil We have been
taught from the Bible not to put our trust in
Princes, or great men, and notwithstanding
the great array OF ex-govenos, judges, &c,
which has been brought here, he was not to
put entire trust in them. ...... .-. N.


For instance, he said Hon. Mr.. Paine, who
appeared before the Committee, had stated
that the prohibitory law never was in favor in
Maine. Since then he tAIr. Spooner) had
written to friend in Maine, who had for
warded him statement of the vote of the
people there on the prohibitory and license
questions, and the vote was as follows: For
prohibition, IS 1854; for license, 591s.