The anti-liquor crusade in the United States has received a
very severe blow in Massachusetts. It appears that the Customs Laws, which are passed of course by Con- gress, the Federation alone having control over sea-borne imports, contain some clauses forbidding States from pass- ing laws involving the seizure of imported goods. It is open, therefore, to any publican to import liquor, pay the duty thereon, and sell the same, until stopped by the action of Con- gress. Mr. Young, of Boston, whose stock of champagne was seized under Massachusetts law, has obtained a decision of the Supreme Court, Boston, to this effect, and his liquor has been restored, and his store reopened. If Congress could make all liquor contraband unless imported, it would probably do more good than any teetotal crusade. It would extinguish the sale of " Bourbon," the rye whisky which is the curse of America, and would raise a revenue large enough to pay the interest on the whole Debt.
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