The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-05-01
The Charge Against Gov. Hamlin.


the % inst, in no very graceful manner,
retncts its unfounded statement that in
toIicating liquors were "freely circulated
at the levee given by Gov. Hamlin." 1t
seems from the Journal, that the original
charge was made on the authority Of one
edward {. Parks Of South Berwick, who
is Publishing the State Register" and some
what in the following form, as given by the
Journal:
"Well now" said Mr.. Edward G. Parks
Of South Berwick, who is publishing the
State Register. al was present at Gov.
Iamlin's Leyee, and was informed that liq-
uor was to DO had by those who wished it /;
and with Mr.. (naming him) went
into certain room, and there with many
Others partook OF the article"
"But what had Gov. Hamlin to do with
that" said we.
IL cannot say, Of course" replied Mr..
Parks, "that Gov. lIamlin furnished the
liquor; but do say that it was perfectly
well understood by those who wanted it
where liquor was to be obtained, and none
such doubted that it was part Of the enter
tainment."
The Journal says much moro was said by
Mr.. Parks ofsimilar tenor, but "Mr. Parks
now refuses to give his certificate to the fore
going facts namely on the ground that it
will injure his business"
We apprehnd that the certificate Of Mr..
Parks to such foregoing facts" as are sta.
ted by him, even If such certificate would
be likely to strengthen his verbal statement,
would no, make the slightest case against
Mr.. Hamlin. In its broadcast sense the
statement only establishes the fact, tina,
this Parks drank liquors in certain room,
which somebody told him-were for those
who desired, and that some Of his drinking
companions gave him to understand, that
cit was a part of the entertainment" Aside
from any other knowledge of Mr.. P's. i'm.
bibing qualities than that he furnishes him,
self, there are certain ear-marks about the
statement which show very plainly the na.
turc, or the character, Of its paternity
Il has the real ring Of that bogus kind Of
metal which the advocates Of free rum, have
been wont to try to pass on unsophisticated
and crcdulous temperance men. The won
der in our mind is that tho editor Of the
Journal, who ought surely to have some
knowledge Of the alertness Of the enc
mics Of prohibition IN circulating stories
to the prejudice of temperance men, should
have been caught by such poor chat, coming
from such poor source. We absolutely
laughed outright when We read the name Of
EDWARD C. PARKS, IN connection with t,is
matter. and our merriment lost none Of its
intensity when we learned that tho unso-
phisticated editor Of the Journal, in the
iulness Of his virgin credulity showed his
original paragraph to Mr.. Parks "lrho de-
elared IL ,ras Just right, and ought TO Be- pub
hsked." EDWARD G. PARKS Thought the
paragraph just right, and ought to be pub
lished." Tho people of South Berwick, no
doubt, will start the enquiry as to the time
when Mr.. p. obtained the requisite qualif.
cations to qualify him to advise temper
ancc editor, as to what sought to DO pub
lished," to promote the temperance cause.
The editor Of the Journal, whoever he
may be, was decidedly taken in by Mr.. p,
and he owes il to the cause, and to himself
to retract the charge handsomely. lie has
published the statement Of the members Of
the Legislature who attended the levee, sign
I'd by near hundred, Of all parties, the
letters Of DR.. Twitchell, Mr.. Pierce, Mr..
Adams and Mr.. Peck, all to the effect that
the charge is false one, and he can do less
than to cut entirely adrift from Mr.. Parks,
and in q graceful way. Let him do justice to
himself Us man, and to those to whose
prejudice this foolish story was circulated.