IS THE MAINE LAW A FAILURE?
THERE has been much controversy as to the success of the prohibitory liquor law which has been in operation in Maine for many years, and there may be occasion for believing that it has not been as complete as was expected; still the facts show that there has been a marvelous advance in the pine-tree State over any of her sisters in the Union. Whatever may be the shortcomings there, it is a great thing to be able to say, as Ex-Governor Dingley did last week, that prohibition has closed every distillery in the State; has reduced the dram shops from one to every 225 inhabitants in 1833, to less than one secret groggery to every 1,000; has made the sales of these secret shops less than one-fourth of what they would be under a license system; has reduced the consumption of liquor to $5 a person, while the average in the United States is $15; and has reduced the arrests for drunkenness, in cities where the law is enforced, to one-fourth the average of cities where the license system is in operation. While New York has one convict in State prison to every 1,400 inhabitants, and Massachusetts one to every 2,200, Maine has but one to every 3,000. Gov. Plaisted also, in a recent speech in which he expressed himself decidedly and emphatically in favor of prohibition, and, as Governor of Maine, in favor of the strict enforcement of the prohibition law, said, "Temperance has blessed our State; our citizens are intelligent, and the per cent. of illiteracy is so small, comparatively, that it speaks volumes for Maine and its citizens." With these marked results, material and moral, it is not strange that its public men of both parties believe in prohibiting the sale of liquor. It is strange that its example is not followed by the other States.—Christian Weekly.