Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-07
LETTER FROM WINTHROP.
To the Editor of the Journal.

TO the Editor of the Journal
We sorely regret that, albeit the facts may
be against US, that Winthrop, the pioneer bat
tie ground of anti-slavery, temperance and
sound morals, just now seems TO be under
cloud, and is pointed at as the great head
centre for drunken brawls, rowdyism and muir
ders. Thirty years ago or less, when the ven
cradle Father Thurston, Elders jacques, Bailey
and Powers, were here stationed on the watch
towers, our reputation throughout the State
and New England was precminent for sobriety,
industry and intelligence. The question is now
frequently asked, why have We retrograd-
ed? Sympathizers of tie vendors of intoxi-
eating beverages say that it is the legitimate
results of the prohibitive liquor law, together
with the elevation of the colored man, or as
the strong term is. the nigger, to citizenship,
hence our decentralization. l fear that they
only verify the old adage that the ''wish is
father to the thought"
Some fifteen years since our neighboring
towns of Readfield, Monmouth Wayne and
Manchester all had their engines of intOXica-
ton fred up and pumping out their liquid fires
to the people. The republican party as we as
sert, during all that time has been educating the
people Thoughts press, its orators and the halls
of sislation up to the standard of prohibition,
the abolition of slavery, and equal rights.
The evident result is that the liquor traffic in
all these towns has nearly or quite been sup
pressed, mo riots, no bloodshei, no murders.
On the other hand we as strongly assert that the
democratic party has not striven to produce
like results, hence lis members oppose the re-
publicans and as a natural result, indulge
more in the use of the exhilerating stimulants
and efforts to crush the colored race.
Now comes home the question, why has not
Winthrop profted by the same moral training
as her neighbors? True, under like circum-
stances, we ought to, but our population ia
necessarily different, is made up in measure
of floating class, hundreds are yearly drawn
here for employment in our numerous manu-
factories, many of them uneducated foreigners,
whose ballots invariably tell against the par
ty of progress. The hands of our opponents
are strengthened by the disreputable portion
OF the uemocratlc party from tiiose t'Whs WIN
are daily seen thronging our highways to join
kindred spirits in our saloons, and to use
homely phrase, rum holes, now daily in full
blast. Under the present state of affairs who
can wonder that our reputation has become
somewhat furnished by the commission Of
such malignant crimes, as you, as public
journalist, have had occasion to report? We
sometimes prosecute our democratic liquor
dealers, 1--WE have no others, and the result is
that an issue is made at the polls and OCCASION
aHy we are defeated in the election of our Of
icers, by Some of our too liberal republicans
| (misnomer) joining the democrats. They
will soon see their folly. Our duty is not to
lie down, but renew our efforts to dry up these
fountains of death, prosecute the rumseller
and educate the people. The law and the par
ty must be sustained, crime suppressed and
our repLt ton redeemed. We promise to
amend our record another year, both at the
psls and in the cause OF temperance. Nous
| re,yons. JoANSEs.
Winthyop, Jan. 4, 1871.