The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-04
COMPLAINTS ANSWERED.


Agentleman Of our acquaintance for whom
we have great respect, but who has, unfor-
iunately for himself, been found on election
days acting with the opposcrs of the Maine
Law, complained to Us, that notwithstand.
ing his good wishes for the progress of the
cause Of Temperance he was classed, by
men who claimed to be the friends Of the
Maine Law, with its opposers' He said he
hal been temperate man good many
years, was willing that the Maine Law should
be enforced, OfcOurse judiciOusly, and stop
put to the traffic in intoxicating drinks, and
we were quite convinced Of his sincerity.
His case is by no means singular one
There arc others within the range Of our ac-
quaintancl. men for whom wo have a high
respect, and who, as we'll as our friend,
have one Of the first things prayed for in the
Liturgy Of the church OF England q sober
liien who are placed in like position, and
find il equally as unbearable. We ore not
quite willing that our friend should be hard
ly dealt with, or misrepresentcd, and giving
him the benefit Of all the virtues which he
claimed in the matter Of temperance, we
could only suggest to him, in tho blandest
manner, and we can be peculiarly bland at
times, that an opposite Of his case might be
found in that old story, which took by storm
cur youthful fancy. and which may still be
read in Webster's Spelling Book, one which
describes so pathetically the suaarinss o.
Poor Tray for being found in suspicious COM
pany. This was all the consolation we
could offer him, and we tender tho same to
all who are similarly afflicted.
Our friend is a temperance man, that is
so far as his personal habits are concerned,
but he has yet to learn that he can never
acquire high reputation, as such, so long
as he is found sympathizing with men who
are deadly enemies to the cause, and voting
for men who whatever may be their proies.
sions Of love for temperance, and however
obscrvant they may be Of the "tithe and
cumminn Of social life, are never seen at
temperance meetings, have never sacrificed
day in time, or given dollar in money for
the promotion Of the cause of temperance,
and for men, who, whenever they say any.
thing about temperance, and the execution
Of the Law, find all manner of fault with the
CONDUCT OF its friends. The truth is the &c.
tive Maine Law men are not so very exactisg
after all, and in CHASING our friend with the
opponents Of the Law do not do him so
much injustice as he supposes. They know
full well, that the cause has nothing to ex.
pect from those who have the sympathy Of
men who are engaged, or have been, in the
traffic in intoxicating drinks, and they only
place men in the positions they voluntarily
take. The remark "Ho is a temperance
man" 10 real friend Of the cause, conveys
no idea Of genuine love for the cause unless
il is shown also that the person OF whom
the remark was made has been consistent
and persistent friend to tie prohibitory law
OF our State, and has been and is willing to
give his weight Of influence into that scale
which will insure its execution. The friends
Of temperance have confidence in no others
and il they are tru, to themselves will sup
port none others for Office.
We are quite willing tina. these remarks
should be taken, as we intend them, as an
answer to all those, whether subscribers to
our paper or not, who complain because we
do not place the hishes. estimate on the
efforts ofmen in the cause OF temperance
who are found acting in concert with the
the enemies Of the cause, on election days,
and sympathiripg with them on all other
days, and who have nothing to give to the
friends Of the cause but a cold shoulder and
averted eye. Several years ago in this
County some OF tho best friends Of the law
were entrapped into voting for the mos, dead
ly enemies, for Senator's, by assurances Civ
en- that the persons in nomination "were all
right but they have not beon caught so
since, or will they be hereafter. One deep.
ton Of that kind was sufficient to open the
eyes OF real Maine Law men. and to induce
them to stand upon safe ground hereafter.
So far as we are concerned we were not de-
eeived. We have had litilo experience in
these matters, and place very little reliance
upon simple professions, and mono at all
when NC know Of no acts to establish sim
certify Of profession. We have not said, nor
do we say, that some men who vote in the
direction they do are insinccre, or do we APP
ply or have VIC before applied, OpprobriOus
epi,he,s to those who do not agree with US,
we have called no man 'rummy," but
wo have said, and still say that men should
not complain If they are Judged BY the COM
pany they keep-and more, we repeat what
is obvious to every intelligent man. that the
man who sustains fair reputation. and is
sober man, and ye. opposes tho execution OF
the Maine law, and encourages and sus.
tains those who set Il at nausht, or palliates
their cOnduc.-who gives thsm sympathy
and eountenance, and Glioies hem to lean !