When we thought the time had come for it, we demanded of the
Legislature that the law of "license," then upon the statute books,
which represented the public opinion of the old time, should be
changed for a law of prohibition, representing the improved public
opinion of the present time; and, after two unsuccessful attempts
to procure such a law, we obtained what we desired, an act of
absolute prohibition to the manufacture and sale of strong drink--a
measure for which we had labored long and industriously for many
years.

At the time of the enactment of this statute, now known as the
MAINE LAW the world over, the liquor traffic was carried on
extensively in the State, wholesale and retail, precisely as it is
now in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and in every other State
where that trade is licensed and protected by the law. The Maine
Law went into operation immediately upon its approval by the
Governor, and by its provisions, liquors kept for sale everywhere,
all over the State, were liable to be seized, forfeited and
destroyed, and the owners to be punished by fine and imprisonment.
The municipal authorities of the cities and towns allowed the
dealers a reasonable time to send away their stocks of liquors to
other States and countries, where their sale was permitted by the
law.

The liquor-traders availed themselves of this forbearance of the
authorities, and did generally send their stock of liquors out of
the State. The open sale of liquors came instantly to an end
throughout all our territory, and where it continued, it was done
secretly, as other things are done in violation of law. The
manufacture of intoxicating liquors was entirely stopped, so that