The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-01-13
GOV. CHAMsERLAiN'S MESSAGE.

1t would be we'll for the interests Of the
State, crcditabc 70 the party in power, ana
gratifying to the Democracy, if tho Republic
cans, 50 long a. they hold sway, would fill
the executive chair with gentlemen 50 courtc-
Gus, Just and stttcsmanlil<e a. Gov. Cham
berllin Ills expressed view upon pub lie
questions nre almost unltj!ngiy just his
language never unlind d. d"nunciltory: his
dissent Is calmly and forcibly expressed ana
supported by reasoning; hiS illusions to the
evils affecting society are coupled with re-
grct softencdhy philosophy and tm@ed with
compasslon In style his messages are mod
els Of rhetorical beauty This much we feel
that it is but ighttnl to say. We can be Just
to the man md the magistrate, without 4
violation Of tie obligations which we owe to
party fealty. A. representative Of The
ruling party We should oppose Gov. Cham
bcrlain. rs wewould any other nominee
The variou. interests Of the State are fully
treated Of in be larger parts Of the message
which we reproduce to-day There is scarce
ly ANYTHING towhich exceptions can be taken
The financial exhibit, rs compared with last
year, shows tat the very heavy amount
raised by taxation has not I'LL been swallowed
up in current eXponses-perhaps, however,
the liquidation OF the debt might haze been
larger with better economy
The position taken by the Governor re-
specting the development Of the resources of
I've b,-,, e., 7
we'll rs by inviting immigration and capital,
will meet wit general approbation
The chief interest OF the message, in q
party sense, centres in what is said upon the
temperance question This has been for
years the hidtous scaro-crow in the republ-
can corn-iicld. What To do with it, or how
to make it less terrifying, has been the object
sought. 1t ms been inclined IL various
angles, faced all ways, bent over, straight
ened up, warped out Of shape, and alternate
y kicked AMI caressed. 1t HIS been clad in
all CARDS. civil, and military, lay and clerical,
and has done 4 heap of service in frightening
the party crows out of the field and into it
again at will. While his predecessors have
given the device great credit for efficiency
the Governor honestly comes out with this
declaration
1t is proper that | should inform you that there
seems to be general falling Off in respect for our
liquor laws.
What q state Of things After twenty
years Of striving to make mon temperate by
law,-atter Stirring up the bad passions Of
men, after prosecutions, hearl~burnings,
riots and ood-shed, we come back to a
declaration from the highest official source,
that there seems to be general falling of in
respect for our liquor laws! The Governor
then discusses the matter at length, and con
cludes-
There are other things to besthought of besides
rHstranm@ men from the use of oXcating drinks.
lhouSh thiS be APPARENT of crimes and bcgctS mon
sters from which al! the good avert their faces and
seek u save their fellows, yet we must not expect
that II can be wholly subducd and driven from
among men The laws against intoxicating liquor,
are as well executed and obeyed as the laws against
profanity, theft, lmchasty murder. Even il
they are executed, they will not avail to cXtngu4
crime, nor Danish evil from the hearts Of wicked
men. these are questions which go to the tOundi-
tohS OF society. We must consider what can be
dohc. Restrain and intimlatc rs much you
can by law; 1t is only by the Gospel still that men
can be converted from evil.
There is the whole philosophy if the mat
ter in nutshell All the ink that has ever
been wasted on this question cannot state
the inevitable conclusions better than those
few lines. Evil never has been and never
can be wholly banshed II can be pallated,
Notwithstanding more. Strain the how