The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1870-09-08
Massachusetts.

1 The politics Of Massarh hnsetts are
very muddy Just np&. Fanaticism
! concentrates itself upon the liquor
question, and It's leaders are disposed to
hazard everything upon the question Of
! the prohibition of the sa1o Of ardent
spirit. Wendell Phillips leads Off va.
liantly and persistently on this point.
He will be content with nothing short
of prohibition, and is determined to
divide tee people of Massachusetts upon
liquor OF no liquor. The Republican
stretegists are quite put out With Wen. 7, .pI.
q q .
|ifs they eouis bur IEgy haSs Zoo Feeents
/ III hunted with him, and what IS Worse,
took all the game that was bagsed TO
themselves. They cannot treat him IN
the summary manner in which they
would like to. dispose of him, and hence
persuasion and rcfnonstrance are en-
ployed to divert him from his purpose,
which Is full Of danger to Radicalism.
He is told that he will play into the
hands of the Democrats, and possibly
elects Democratic Governor by bis war
upon liquor; bat this seems to haven
effect Upon him, He has no respect to
party interests and perquisites, He
goes for principles as he understands
them, and turns deaf ear TO partisan
appeals and the spoils ofparty.
There Is a vast deal of fanaticism
10 Massachusetts,, and they who ride
the fanatical hobb7 to-day may, we'll
fear that it will throw them tomorrow.
The fanatics of that State have been
employed without scruple, and with the
coldest and most selfish calculations,
by men who had really neither SYM
pathy nor respect for them. But in the
use which has thus been made of these
enthusiasts they have acquireda prom
inence and consequence which exalts
their self-complacency and makes it
difficult, if not impossible, to control
them. They must have their hobby
their one idea for the time-and no.
thing can divert them from it. 1t aoas
slavery; it is total abstinence from Ii.
quor. Their zeal and pertinacity was
illustrated in their long war for aboli-
tion, and the cunning politicians Of
Massachusetts, will find them still dis.
playing the traits of self-will and obsti.
macy in riding their present hobby.
1t is good thing that the Massa'
chusetts madmen have at least to hunt
up another subject Of agitation: The
old theme, from its peculiar nature and
its relation to sectional politics, gave
them the power of inhicting great inju
ry UPON the nation. They will moi
easily find another theme which doe:
not enter into social and political econ
omy of society at large without sectiona
or geographical limits. Fanaticism ii
less dangerous when it vents it's FRENZY
upon such b theme as that. Societ,
then considers its agitations upon th'
broad and comprehensive grounds o
the moral and social welfare Of the en-
tire community. One section is no
seduced into an alliance with fanaticisn
for the tempting spoils Of victory owe
another section. But all consider tn
general welfare upon the cardinal prin
ciples which lie at the foundation o
society The well-being Of all, by tn
meeting out Of justice to all, BY an
the preservation of the private right
and liberties Of all.
1t is not an uDgratifSing attitude G
. politics that has occurred in Massachr
setts. We trust that this concentrate
upon the liquor war-this intermec
ding with the private rights and fre'
dom Of society in more bitter an
presunptuous manner than at any fol
mer time-may have good effect eve
on the Bay State, and chasten soms
t what the spirit of that State which ha