The Portland daily press., 1871-10-26
Noble Words from Lord dLisuar.

There was one passage in Lord Lisgar's
speech at st. John SO truly noble and at the
same time so significant, coming from man
who enjoys the intimate personal friendship
OF the leading men of Great. Britain, that it
cannot be too often repeated or too enthus-
astically appauded. 1t was this:
He alluded to the charge that the treaty
of Washington was the result OF fear on the
part of England, and was "a capitula-
tion." off it be capitu lation," said the
good old statesman, "then I have to say that
Il is capitalization to which the proudest no.
bleman in England would have been glad to
set his hand" Culpable timidity had been
charged against Mr.. Gladstone and his col
leagues, because they had sought to keen
Great Britain out of war either in Eurone
or in America; but they had acted for the ma
ton as all men of sense and honor act in
their affairs,-that is, they sought to avoid a
quarrel as long as possible. Not because they
feared to fight in good cause. but because
war is such terrible evil. "In this" said
Lord Lisgar, turning to Gov. Dennison, who
sat at his right hand, "ihey had the example
af your own great soldier Gen. Grant, who
In the midst of his army ahd at the head of
his great nation asked only for peace. They
had the example of another great soldier, a
countryman OF our own-the Duke of We'll
lngton-who never led his army except to
victory, but who detested war, when war
could be avoided. He was once asked, What
was the saddest sight you ever saw, duke P
why, a great defeat, to be sure But thai
you never saw in your own experience-wha
was the saddest sight you yourself ever la
nented Why, great victory, to be sure
said the duke. If to abhor and avoid war b
culpable timidity, then I prefer to share tina
timidity with Gen. Grant and the Duke G
Wellington &c
We can we'll believe the reporter who say
that this passage in 1.-THE good old state
mans" speech was very impressive" 1t.
not the really brave men of either ccustr
who talk fippantly Of war as something to b
entered upon lightly for the redress,f ever
real or fancied grievance. 1t is ory men @
the George Francis Train and Ben Butte
school that are anxious to jrecipitate con
ficts to the satisfactory setsement OF which
they can contribute notbag when they come
There have not been licking those who sine,
the beginning of Grnt's administration hay'
moaned continusiy because redress by vic
lence has moi ben sought of Spain for confis
eating the property of American citizens, o
Mexico for some outrage by her barbarian
half-breeds aud of England on account of tn
Alabama claims. These amateur warrior
would have us fight not only the Indians ant
Mormons within our own borders and tn
Coreans in Asia, but would also have us oc
cupy any interim of these minor strifes by en-
gagng with the great European powers. Il
is one of the chief glories of Grants admins
tration that he has constantly resisted the
mad suggestions of such bad advisers, and has
adhered religiously to his famous confession
of faith, "Let us have peace"
Now AND THEN we hear or see in the news
papers statements that the vice OF intemper
ance was never more prevalent in Maine than
at the present time, and that the law in 1t:
operation was really worse than none. Oh
servation or comparison will not Justify thi
sweeping assertion. Last week in Bango
there was probably the largest and most pro
miscuous crowd of people ever assembled il
Maine, yet the absence of those scenes Of dis
turbance that usually arise from intemperanc
was so marked as to cause general remark
Ten or fifteen years ago such an occasion
would have been marred with many disgrace
full exhibitions of drunkenness and its atten
dant disorders. Years ago, when one travel
led by stage in the eastern part of the State
the evidences of the use of intoxicatin:
liquors we're everywhere abundant. Not Ion!
since, in journey over the same road, tn
public display of intoxicating liquors for sal
or the disgusting exhibitions of former year
were not to be seen. In some of the town
that were noted for their intemperapce il
past years, there were vigorous Temperance
organizations, embracing nearly all Of tn
younger people and many men who years ag'
opposed an abstinence pledge in any form
Apublic dinner in Maine dozen years ag,
Without -iharal- prauisiap- ef-~:.v5, &C.
would have been out of the question, yet The
management of the European & North Amer
lean Railway banished it from their banquet
tables, about which sat the most notable
public men of two of the most important
governments on this continent. N