The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-02-14
Who 70 Responsibic ?

IS guaranty OF his good faith.
Tho 70 Re.ponsibies
Trm the saeo Courier Of saturday.
In the Biddeford Bag O. Wind Of last week
Is leading article. which. from Its broad state
ments and splurge, is evidensy from the pen
Of the leading auto-biographer Of that paper,
who, having failed in his efforts to keep alive
his daily, beyond an existence Of twelve days,
and been thrown overheard by his "Dimokraiic
frens," is now franticaly endeavoring to redeem
his "waning" fortunes among the faithful.
There is such thing as a mans being "played
OUT" Ito use nm expressive, though questions
bly, elegant phrase, and still not be aware Of
the fact; and for want Of any other excuse for
the ridiculous acts Of some people. We mus.
charitsbly suppose them to be thus afflicted, or
else to regard them with those peculiar feelings Of
pity that we naturally indulge towards such per-
sons as Daniel Pratt, Geo. Francis Train, Mel
len, the Count Johannes, and others Of that
class.
In the article we allude to, the Bag o. Wind
man states that people are starving to death in
Biddeford. and he asserts that he can point to
'one hundred families" in his city, in that de-
plorable condition. Are these unpaid reporters
Arc they indeci disappointed and stricken for
eigu eiitors' Arc they post riders thus forced,
in despair Of employment, to starve even in the
midst Of Democracy! These questions which
arc naturally suggested to the minds Of our
readers, doubtless, Us they were to US, he lcavcs
unanswered, and goes on to say that: "i /.
the same in other places, in small place.
as well as In the large-in the country AZ
well as in the city and village! Maine pco-
pie will laugh at this nonsense, and wonder that
famine has existed among them 50 long with
out their knowledge. Each locality will bs
ready to prove that no such want and melan-
choly fatality exists there, although poverty may
have always existed, as il always will; and eacl,
will wonder what sort Of people live In Bidde-
ford that they should suffer hundred families
to staryc to death every winter
But If there is more poverty and distress in
Biddeford than in other places Of its sire (and
the Bago' Wind man ought to know the ques-
ton naturally arises Yho Is responsible! II
Is we'll known that that Is the only copperhcad
city in the State, and II Is the boast Of the men
who have controlled the government Of II for the
last nine or ten years, that the Democratic par
ty there embraces all Of the rich and "better
classes" 1t is we'll known that they have had
everything their own way, have squandered the
peoples money with that looscness characters
tic Of the shelter" classes have bestowed all Of
the offices upon the small potato aristocnts Of
their different cliqucs, and they have lived STALL
fed, and ridden rough-shod in their gay turn
outs over the poor men while the poor lsboring
mechanic, the Bago' Wind says, "goes home
nightly to his large family not only with tired
limbs after the days toll. but with an aching
heart, and despair in his soul" It might have
added that those Democratic EI-Msyors. those
pompous Cashiers" agents" and others Of
that party Of the "better classes" (D are the
ones that cut down wages to the starving
point, and would turn them all adrift with their
little families into the street as beggars, II they
presumed to question their fitness to rule the
city.
The great Protector Of his Daily goes on to
say Of this most Democratic city:
I'VE know OF many man who daily hears the
cry Of his children for the bread which II Ia mpos-
sible for him to give, who darss not say 70 his
has been spent, that his employment Il gone, that
his bills arc unpaid and that his family must
starrs II he cannot lind work."
And this he says in Biddeforl, tho only Dem
ocratic city in the State, where the Democracy
boast that their party embraces all Of the "bct-
ter classes! Why, II such want exists, arc the
poor mans wages cut down! Why do not these
wealthy Democrats, instead Of fattening at the
public crib, spend less for fancy horse-acsh,
summer residences, and costly wines and give these
poor men chance, If such suffering exists, will
the ass-tutc Shaw allow US to ask uho 10 respon-
si5le, Has he himself sold any more Of his
so. 900 of untared bonds than was sufficient TO
pay for his printing pressl Ifnot, can he not
spare few dollars from his7-30 accommodating in
tercst! Has he returned for taxation, Tin order to
relieve the POOR men as much as possible Of
their buriens), the $1,000 diamond he boasts Of
sporting in order to out-shine the other "lea,l-
ing Democratic citizens for whose fair names
he manifests 50 much personal anxiety! These
arc questions the plain, toiling mechanics would
ask. They want no advice from such fellows as
the Boiugrr man [; they want no explanation
Of the cause Of hard times, or walls Of assumed
grief. from men that have picked up their 'dia-
monds" and bonds, in so questionable and easy
a way. They prefer, If they must have advice
on that subject, that It should como from diff
fercnt source they would rather that man
who has earned what bonds he has, who bought
them Of the government when II needed his
money to feel and clothe the trusted and patri-
otto soldiers little family while he fought DEM
ocratic rcbellion,-they would much rather that
such man, who has been Of some value TO his
country, should tell them rhy "these things arc
So" than man who bought his bonds Of third
parties aflsr the war, and got his whcrewithl
how!
But, says this feeble imitator Of Pomeroy, the
rcason why '.one hundred families are starving"
in Bdleford, is because
"This nation IL ruled at the present time nv the
lnE.r al M tFaIa an MI .,oltt N.al
dema gogues which ever afflicted country since
the world hcgan. History presents no such spec
taele Maiuess and fsnaticisu rule the hour.
The people are crushed under the heel OF des.
potism more CALLING and ruthless than ever pre-
vailed In Austria or rcigued In the dominions Of
the Sublime Porte"
stupendu-ass! And he goes on to ask the
following "hefty" conundrum:
working men cfDiddeford how do you INK. II
Men vf York County, how do you lie 10 Free