Year: 1873

GRosvENoR HOTEL,


LONDON, May, 1878.
To the Editor of the Portland Press:


There has not been time in this country
for many years, when there has been so great
activity and so much prosperity in every
branch of trade, as there is now. The profits
of the general business of the country are
very satisfactory, and the wages of labor arc
fully twice as large as they evef were before
and in some branches Of trade, the wages are
three times and in some instances even foul
times larger than ever they were. And no
branch of trade has been more stimulated
than that of the Brewers, Licensed Victual-
lers and Pub.cans, upon whom fifty-five
millions of dollars more were spent by the
people, during the last year than any former
year.


The result of this has been large increase
in tie poverty, pauperism and suffering of
the lower classes of the people, upon whom
the liquor trade exerts the largest influence.
The press of the country exposes the fact,
that there never was a time, when the work
ing classes were in more Unsatisfactory con-
dition. As a class they do not save; they lay
up nothing in prosperous time, that may be
a resource to them in times of dull trade; and
am assured by many large employers of la
Dor in different parts of the country, that if
there should be a reaction in trade, great
numbers of workmen now receiving the larg-
est wages, would be compelled in week, to
go upon the parish, as the phrase is here.
These men spend their money recklessly, and
waste their time and health at the grog shops.
A great many of them win not work moie
few of them working the six days. In this
short time, they earn far more wages than
they ever did before, but their families are
not better cared for, because they spend their
money foolishly at the beer houses and gin
shops.


This condition of the country gives fresh
impulse to the agitation that is going on here,
for the legal suppression of the liquor traffic.
In every part of the country great meetings
are held in the largest halls, that are crowd
resulting from the grog shops are discussed,
and the most pungent denunciations of that
dreadful trade are most warmly applauded
There is no subject which excites so much
attention here now. as that of the poverty.
pauperism and crime of the country resulting
from the liquor trade, and none, the discuss
ion OF which, calls together such great audi
ences.


Everywhere, the experience of America is
appealed to, as the results of prohibition.
The friends of the grog shops affirm that the
Maine Law has betn failure: not lessening
the liquor traffic to any appreciable extent.
And the friends of temperance as warmly de-
clare the contrary to be true and bring for
ward theii proofs. Everywhere, Maine is
cied on the one part as an instance of the fail
ure prohibition, and on the other part as
demonstration of its success. In many places
in Maine, liquor is sold more or less secretly
in violation of the law: and the English pco-
pie of the better classes cannot understand
why tlis should be so,because in this country
generally, there is high sense of official
honor and responsibility, which impels all
officers of the law to discharge their duty
faithfully and conscientiousl without being
influenced in any way, by their personal
views or preferences. They cannot under
stand how honorable men can ignore their
official oath and their official duty, as a great
many men in America do. they think the
moral sense of our people must be dull, which
could tolerate an official in the open and fla
grant neglect of his duty. In this country,
law is administered with fa- more impartia-
ty and steadfastness than it is among us: he
cause here, an official would be disgraced. If
he should permit himself for any cause what
ever, to neglect the faithful discharge of his
duty. NEAL Dow.