Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-07-20
kind of liquor he used. for said he 81 am e1-

This writer also says
THAT Grant was compelled to vacate his
place in the regular army on account Of his
habits of drunkenness you are well enough
informed to know is matter Of record
| honestly own possess no such infor,na.
ton, never having heard of it, till l read it in
the above batch of cunningly devised lies.
l can call them by no softer name If the
above is "a matter of record'-show the
'record." Where is it? / have occupied a
position for the last fifteen years in this State
and others, where / have received at least a
hundred different papers and magazines
weekly at my table. But never saw or heard
of any such record" nor can find anybody
who ever did Please inform us where it is.
And besides, the writer says: "That since
the war and while holding high place in the
government, he has frequently been seen in
public places in state of intoxication, is a
matter of notoriety all over the country"
This is a grave charge THAT President
Grant has frequently been seen drunk in pub
lie places, fact which is a matter of notorie-
ty all over the country" Who saw him
drunk? Where is the mani Some one has
said that a good finished scandal, such as
sometimes circulates in the world, is rarely
the production of a single individual, or even
a single cofe7ie. 1t sees the light in one is
rocked and nurtured in another; is petted
developed and attains its growth in third,
and receives its finishing touches only after
child like that can count host Of fathers-all
ready to disown it. In the foregoing you
have the scandal. Who will father il? The
writer of this scandal would have the reader
understand that Bangor, during the celebra.
ton of the opening of the E. & n. A. Rail-
road last fall, was one of the places where
Grant has been seen intoxicated in public.
He says that was there on that occasion and
saw him, and if so saw him with his hat
pulled over his face, with the never absent
cigar in his mouth, without a word, stolii and
Indifferent to the scene" and "must know
without being told what was the matter" In
other ords l must know that he was drunk
1t j. true was present on that occasion
portant that ever transpired in Maine, or on
this continent-and made full report of
what transpired for my paper; and | should
do I'M ustice to my conscience and my convic-
tions of duty if failed to say that the above
representation Of the President is one of the
greatest perversions of the facts tina. can be
conceived. | saw the President in the pro-
cession. He had no hat that covered his
eyes, hut dress silk hat which he raised
from time to time when circumstances of rec
ignition dernanded-nor did he smoke in the
procession. This was in the forenoon. At
IL o'clock he returned TO the Bangor House,
and from the balcony reviewed the military
as it passed. l was present at the B ,ngor
House and met Governor Perham. At noon
the President was taken in his carriage to the
hall to be present at the public dinner. had
seat directly in front of the speakers and
near them. After dinner the Mayor, who
presided, introduced President Grant, who
| made u brief but appropriate speech Ex-
Governor Washburn, Judge Rice, Speaker
Blaine, Governor Wilmot Of New Brunswick
and many other gentlemen were present on
the platform, but none were better dressed or
appeared more gentlcmanly or free from the
use of intoxicating drink than he
We assure the writer who questions us.
that the clearing OF the President on
this occasion. did ''comport with the dignity
which should control the chief magistrate of
the country" and he did furnish an ex-
ample" | am willing to commend" If said
writer received different representation, it
probably came from reporter who | regret
TO say was there as representative Of one Of
our Augusta papers, and was himself report
ed to be drunk.
| The next morning accompanied the party
to Nanceboro, where dinner was provided for
COCO persons in a large pavilion, was near
the President when he was introduced to the
company, returned in the same train with him
to Bangor and thence to Augusta where | left
the train, while he passed through to Port
land, and at no time did sec the least sign
of drinking or any indications that reminded
me of drinking
These are the facts in the case 50 far as
my knowledge extends with reference to Ban
gor. The reader can see how little grounds
for the reports against President Grant they
developed. The probability is other stories Of
similar character have similar foundation.
But am making this paper much more
protracted than designed. have designed
not to write in the spirit of political partisan.
Occupying the position do with no expec-
tation of personal favor from any political
source, l endeavor to look at the great
questions that agtate the country with candor.
No thoughtful man who loves his country,
wishes to vote for drunken President, and
from the best information I can obtain Presi-
dent Grant is 10y no means man of this char.
acter. G. w. QuISBY.
AUGUSTA, July II, 1872
The Portland Argus in noticing the bet
offered in this paper credits ii to Speaker