The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-07

| upon the lawmakers and lawbreakers now as.
sembIed in Legislature at the State capital
This meeting was followed by others Of the
same kind, and as the editor of the Jour-
nal with some of his Democratic associates
was passing by, one pleasant evening. he drop.
| ped into the meeting lin a friendly way"
| Whether the obstinate anti-prohibitory heart
| Of the editor had been changed as the result
| Of reflection in his own sanctum, OF whether
the arguments OF the provincial Coughs in
that meeting carried conviction to his soul, is
| yet mystery, as we have before explained.
But as a matter of fact, Mr. Simpson and all
his clan became immensely interested in the
| subject of temperance, and the proceedings OF
that and all the subsequent Sunday evening
meetings have been reported in full in the
columns OF the Republican Journal. Now the
Progressive Age" local contemporary OF
the Republican Journal" is not a probibi-
tory law paper "after the strictest sect.n but
has Joined with the Democratic sheet in days
past in demanding the modification of the
stringent prohibitory legislation of last win
ter. The editor of the Age, having under
stood that his paper and hiU,selt were the
subject OF uniavorable remark in these meet
ings, also dropped in upon the prohibition
lists, in rather an uneliendly way, last Sunday
week.
The steadfast soul Of the Age MAN was
shaken by what he saw and heard. The Rev.
Mr. Thomas Called upon DR.. Moody to preside
-"staggerer" number one. DR.. Moody, it
seems, had not previously been known as an
ardent friend of prohibition. DR.. Moody de.
clined-"stagg 'rer" number two. The Rev.
Mr.. Thomas then nominated W. III. Simpson.
and that gentleman promptly accepted-num-
Der three, and an ''unmitieated" one. The
Age here remarks, with a calmness that
speaks volumes for its powers of selEcontrol,
that Eve had not previously been aware that
Mr. Simpson had become a supporter Of the
liquor and eonstabulary laws as they
stand.' But after this the proceedings of
the meeting were still more bewilderng.-
Rev. Mr.. Thomas, having effected an Or
gauization to his satisfaction, took the floor
and thanked Mr.. Simpson for the ex-
celient reports of the previous meetings
which had appeared in his paper
thanked him heartily. Then the chair
man took the floor. There is nothing like
the zeal of new convert. Mr.. Simpson ar
rai5ned the Republican city government for
promoting intemperanca. He had personally
visited The city agency, and had looked into
the books. He found that the sales of "the
rosy' often reached $40 day, and estimated
that the total value of the liquor consumed
by the bibulous invalids and mechanics of
the eastern "natural seaport during the
year would not fall far short of SIS, COO,
Here was start and another when the
irrepressible Rev. Mr.. Thomas again took the
floor and again expressed his sense of obliga-
ton to SimpSon-W. FL. Simpson, editor of
the Republican Journal. Then the modest
DR.. Moody, who would not preside, came for
ward, not without great reluctance, and told
tale OF private grieis and the insolence of
Office" A strange story indeed was the doc
tors for temperance meeting" The min
ions OF 'Sir Joshua" had seized barrel of
alcohol, the personal property of the speaker.
DIR. Moody's wrath at this act of tyranny
was shade more furious than that of Or
lando, when, mourning the loss of the faith
less Angelica. he darkened the air with the
uprooted trees Of the forest OF Arlen. He
told the temperance men OF Belfast that 'if
the Saviour were to appear again and go to
making wine, they would lay their sacreli-
gious hands on him, and incarcerate him in
Waldo County jail" Then after few re-
marks from S. L. Millikeu, Esq, who could
see no merit in the legislation of last winter,
the meeting adjourned, leaving Bro. Rust in
state of mental confusion that we are
surprised and happy to learn did not prevent
his taking his seat at Augusta, as Represen-
tative from Belfast, last week.