The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-07-27
Speeches at the Biddeford Association.

mos, readily TO vessels Of dishonor
Speeches at the Biddeford Association.
We publish in another place a communi-
cation giving some accoun, Of the proceed
ings OF the BiddefOrd Association at its
meeting held on Wednesday Of last week.
The gentlemen, the substance Of whose
speeches are given in the report, by volun-
,arily addressing public meetings held 10
promote political purposes, and TO advance
the interests Of particular political parties
invite comments from the press or from In
dividuals upon the positions they occupy,
and provided they arc no, misrepresenied
they have no RICH, 10 complain that they
are assailed, or 10 find fault with differences
fairly dcducible from the stand they
take, and tho views they express. So long
as they pu, themselves, or arc put forward
by others, as leaders Of the party which
they support, they canno, shelter ,hemsel-
YES from the consequences Of their acts, by
pleading ,ha, they are private citizens, and
no, candidates for Office. They assume to
give counsel, the value Of tina, counsel is o
proper subject Of discussion they pass
judgement upon the acts and opinions Of
others, the correctness oitha, judgemen, is
alesi,ima,c subjec, Of inquiry; they ox-
press views OF public policy, the sOundness
ofsuch views are fair subjects Of considera-
ton, and in either case, and in all, the pub
lie press, or the individual may properly
speak Of sentiments and their conduct
They enter the arena voluntarily, and should
they GO, more than they bargained for in
the conflict, querulous complaints can only
excite ridicule, or tina: pity which is akin
10 contempt.
l, is upon principles thus stated that we
shall claim and exercise the RICH, 10 can
vass the sentiments uttered by men in pub
lie meetings & who assume to give direction
10 public sentiment, and 10 influence men
TO vote in particular direction on election
day. knowingly We will misrepresent no
man, or Fermi, ii TO DO done in our paper,
but no man shall, under cover Of being a
private citizen" and "no, candidate for
office" misrcprcsen, publicly tho views or
tho measures Of the party which we sup
port, OF the men who compose il, without,
answer or rebuke. This is cur justification
for speaking as we intend 10, and for per-
hitting others 10 express their sentiments
in our paper.
Las, week we noticed briefly the speech
Of Hon. VIM. p. Haines, made a, tho meet
ing Of the Biddeford Association referred TO
by our correspondent. Mr.. Haines appears
In public as the champion, or as one Of the
champions Of tho party which is, in our
judgment seeking 10 return 10 that policy
which cursed the State with the manifold
evils OF intemperance; and which, il il
does not openly approve Of tho spread Of
slavery, counsels submission 10 its aggres'
sions. He is man Of influence in the par
~ to which no is attached, and in pOsii.
ion Of power and influence in this commu-
nifty. In recurring 10 his speech again, we
say tina, we do not share in the surprise ex-
pressed BY some, at the hostility which Mr..
Haines evinces agains, tho Liquor Law
In 1859, Mr.. II. was mainly instrumental
in elccting Senators opposed TO the law,
and we then denounced as we thought prop
or. tho piece Of Jesui,i,m which effected
this. Since then, although we have heard
much Of his friendship for temperance, we
have never heard Of the frs, act done BY
him, which showed tina, he had sympathy
with the cause, or the principles Of the law
10 suppress the evils Of intemperancs -
Neither by devotion Of time, money or influ-
encc, or in any other way, has no showed
his concurrence in the objects sought ,c
bs attained by the law. He uttered no note
Of complain, when the law was disregard,
ell here, and to all in,en,s and purposes Ia:
acted secretly, IL no, openly, with those
who were trying to compass its repeal
Such being the facts, there should be nc
surprise a, the stand he has taken. He !:
now where he was in 1852, opposed to the
features Of the law, and his openness now
is attributable to the fac, tina, tho Hunker
party, with which he j, acting, has made
Its repeal an issue in the coming election.
In looking over the report Of his speech,
we find some things Of curious character.
Passing by his feeble denunciatiOns Of
those who are !riendly 10 tho temperance
law. ss being" Pharisees and hypocriies,"
rs resulting from the ranking barb Of the
arrow Of disappointment, the iron Of which
seems to have entered his soul, we come
to that part Of his philippe in which he
seeks TO inculca,e the IDEA that justice can
no, 30 obtained in our courts, State or Mu.
nicipal, because mon Of American princi'
pies have tho control Of public affairs. II
Mr.. Ha;nes candidly believes the poor stuff
which no uttered abou! the K. Ms, "car-
rying their oa.hs to the jury boz" his de-
fusion is to DO pi,ied, or IL no believes iha,
cit 10 not as safe when in the hands Of tenn
Il