The friends of temperance may well take a bold stand. There is no worthy object in national legislation which they can not achieve if they be but united. It is with a view of aiding to bring about such a union of purpose that the MAINE LAW STATISTICAL SOCIETY has been formed. It consists of a president, a vicepresident in almost every State in the Union, and a secretary at New York, whose duty it is to receive information from all parts on the subject, and to record and digest the same, so as to present it in the most accessible manner before the public. The aid and co-operation of all temperance people throughout the world is earnestly solicited.

There is much that could be added to the history of prohibition in the United States which would be of lasting interest. There is much of assiduous labor and self-denying effort throughout the country which richly deserve a record, but the limits of our present work forbid our entering upon this extensive field, and our active friends must be content with seeing the results of their labors presented here, rather than the efforts by which those results have been achieved, or the names even of those by whom this great work has been accomplished. In fact, it is a work the people have mainly done for themselves

Chapter Three.

With rapture I hail the formation of the "United Kingdom Alliance for the Suppression of the Traffic in all Intoxicating Liquors." My labors, with the Divine aid, were attended with partial success. The efforts of individuals, however zealous, were not equal to the mighty task. The Alliance strikes at the very root of the evil. I trust in God the associated efforts of so many good and benevolent men will effectually crush a monster gorged with human gore.-FATHER MATHEW.

FOREIGN STATES AND NATIONS.

The prohibitory movement in Australia, Canada, France, Great Britain, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward's Island, Sandwich Islands, Sweden, and Finland. THE success of the Maine Liquor Law in Maine naturally gave rise to a movement of a similar character in the British

Provinces, and in other portions of North America, where it is evident a spirit of happy rivalry exists between the inhabitants and those of the neighboring States, sympathizing as they do on almost every subject of human liberty, morality, and commerce.

The movement has also extended itself to remote quarters of the globe. We give an outline of the movement in those places from which information has been received.

AUSTRALIA.

A Prohibitory Liquor Law League has been established in Victoria with very promising results. It was suggested by an editor, and was taken up by Mr. FULTON, who headed a list with £100 subscription, on condition that four others would subscribe the same amount. The challenge was soon taken up, and the list has become a long one.

CANADA.

The determination of the people of Canada to have a prohibitory law has been repeatedly and unmistakably expressed. The Legislature for the past two or three sessions was completely inundated with petitions praying that such law be enacted. So great has been the pressure from without, that further opposition became perilous to every member of that body who desired to maintain his position.

In 1853 the bill was only defeated by the utmost exertions of a portion of the ministry, while it was not only supported but introduced by another member of the government, who was pledged to his constituents to take that course. When the session of 1854-55 opened, a dozen members gave notice of bills on the subject, and a large committee on temperance was formed, to which to refer the petitions and the bills. Before the committee had reported, however, the second reading of one of the billsmost stringent in its provisions-was moved. The government hesitated to adopt a decisive policy on the subject. It resolved not to oppose the measure, but to allow it to be read a second time, that it might be sent to the committee on temperance. One

member of the government, Mr. Postmaster-general SPENCE, declared in favor of adding a clause to prohibit the importation. This view was indorsed by several other members who spoke on the subject, and the probabilities are, that no measure will finally pass which does not prohibit the importation as well as the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors.

The first vote taken on the question of prohibition in 1854 in the Legislative Assembly was in favor of the principle of prohibition, 95 to 5 against it. But notwithstanding this vote, by some adroit management on the part of the opponents of the measure, the passage has been again postponed.

There is a powerful Prohibitory League in operation in Canada, of which Mr. A. FAREWELL is president. This gentleman, accompanied by Mr. URE, the secretary of the League, visited the Maine Law States in February, 1855, and published an excellent pamphlet, entitled, The Maine Law Illustrated, from which we have obtained some valuable facts and testimonials. From the energy of these and other leaders of the movement in Canada, the ultimate triumph of prohibition in its most complete form of anti-importation is rendered a moral certainty.

FRANCE.

The present crisis in Europe, causing provisions to become dear, is not without its beneficial effect. It has led the Emperor of France to prohibit the distillation of grain.

With republics or limited monarchies, such a movement necessarily rests with the people; but a good example, even when set by an emperor, ought to be followed by nations, however free their institutions; and for France to take the lead in Europe in such a movement and at such a time is highly important as an example to the suffering nations of the world.

GREAT BRITAIN.

In 1834 a parliamentary committee reported on the Causes of and Remedies for Intemperance. It was recommended in that report under the head of Ultimate or Prospective Remedies:

1. To absolutely prohibit the importation of distilled spirits. 2. To prohibit all distillation of ardent spirits from grain. 3. To restrict distillation from other substances to the purposes of art, manufacture, and medicine. The chairman of that committee, JAMES SILK BUCKINGHAM, now says:

Here, then, is the sum and substance of the Maine Law, and something more, presented by me to Parliament twenty years ago. But let us have the Maine Law first, and its successful operation will pave the way for the something more which another twenty years perhaps may realize.

The United Kingdom Alliance for the Suppression of the Traffic in Intoxicating Liquors was established in 1853, at the suggestion and by the exertions of NATHANIEL CARD, of Manchester. It has grown to great influence and importance. Among its leaders are now men of large benevolence and great philanthropic influence. Its operations are extending throughout the whole United Kingdom, and now that the press is free in that country, there is every prospect of the rapid growth of prohibitory principles.

NEW BRUNSWICK.

In 1852 the Legislative Assembly passed "An Act to Prevent the Traffic in Intoxicating Liquors," which was confirmed by an order of her British Majesty in Council, dated August 18th, 1852, thus giving the sanction of the British government to the principles of legal prohibition.

The import trade in liquors has in a great measure prevented the law from producing its legitimate results. The Legislature of 1855 wisely passed a new and more stringent law, and prohibiting the importation of intoxicating liquors. The last vote took place on the 22d of February in the House of Assembly. It stood, yeas 21, nays 17. It passed the other House without debate. The law goes into operation January 1st, 1856. This is a noble example, and that it will be followed by the other provinces and by the United States there can be no question. New Brunswick deserves great credit in taking the lead in this step.

NOVA SCOTIA.

The Legislature passed a good prohibitory law in the early part of 1855.

PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND,

In 1854 the Legislature was appealed to by 10,000 petitioners to adopt a prohibitory law, but they turned a deaf ear to the voice of the people. In 1855, however, after an election had taken place, the law passed by a vote of 15 to 7. Mr. COLES, the leader of the government party, has been twice defeated by the prohibitionists. He is a distiller.

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

There is a decided movement for prohibition on these islands. The following, from the New York Tribune, will show what is the feeling here on the subject.

Viewing as we do, says The Polynesian, the whole traffic in spirituous liquors to be used as a beverage as an unmitigated evil, productive only of misery and crime, we shall be glad when our treaty obligations allow us to enact the "Prohibitory Law" in this kingdom; we hope the public will never rest satisfied until we follow, in this respect, the noble example of those States that have exhibited self-denial and self-control enough to banish from their midst an enemy which tyrannizes over its miserable victims, against the dictates of reason, and subjects them to a degradation below which it is impossible for humanity to sink.

SWEDEN AND FINLAND.

A long-continued drouth in the spring of 1853 produced a famine which had the effect of turning the attention of government to the evil of converting grain into brandy when it was so scarce as an article of food. The king shortened the period of distillation for that year from six to two months, and ordered the distribution of 100,000 copies of the Treatise of Dr. Huss on Brandy, an excellent work, showing the evil consequences of that article on the community. He also dispatched a message to Maine to inquire into the operations of the Prohibitory Law. The subject of prohibition was under the consideration of the Diet.