The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-08-15
A Moral Reformer Becomes Anxious.

We find ourself called to account, in a
communication to the Lewiston Gazette,
by H. NJ. Bryant, and charged with I'M
soundness upon both political and temper
ance questions. We had not the honor of
knowing Mr.. Bryant either personally or
by reputation,' although the Kennebec
Journal refers to him as ''the we'll known
and able temperance lecturer" Mr.. b. is
pleased to stoop from the heights of his
fame and ability, to notice us, and to adj
dress to the public the following
Being a laborer in the Temperance Reform
movement, and also Liberal Republican, l
have often been called upon to defend myself
from the charge of inconsistency in advocating
temperance and acting with party committed
to the advocacy of free rum.
/ have defended myself and democratic
friends by referring to the action of the Bangor
Convention, where an anti-prohibtion resolu-
ton was received with manifold 5llisfavor and
disposed of by beng laid on the table by an al
most unanimous vote of the convention.
Being laborer in the Reform Move
ment," Mr. Bryant should know that it
processes not to concern itself with pro-
hibtory measures, or any save those of
persuasion, as we have heard its origina-
tor and chief promoters publicly declare.
1t ignores politics, and concerns itself with
reforming men of all beliefs, who need
reformation. Such being the case, and
neutrality-suspicious. being founded upon
national issues exclusively, it is difficult to
see why he is not upon consistent ground,
among the liberals He certainly must
find himself in more congenial company
than to be a supporter of the national ad-
ministration that recently sent runners
through Maine, to coax liquors out of men
who had no intention of selling, and then
ers. The democratic party had no more
part in that than it has in authorizing, IN
the name Of temperance, Eaton Shaw to
sell thousand dollars worth of rum an
nually ir his shop at Portland BY acting
with the Democrats and Liberals, Mr..
Bryant gets rid of both these glaring
scandals.
If Mr. Bryant defends himself upon the
ground set forth in the second paragraph
OF the above extract, it is a mistaken one.
No such action took place. The resolu-
ton was withdrawn by the mover, before
it was acted upon-which is very different
from being laid upon the table. And the
right of this paper to express an opinion
upon that or any other nonsensical legis-
lation, was neither withdrawn nor tabled
1t is ours still, and we mean to exercise it
on every occasion that we deem suitable
There is a good deal else to the com
mnnication of Mr.. Bryant, which is not
of sufficient Importance to warrant the
space which a reply would call for But
we seem 20 get the summing up of his
ANXIOUS inquiries in the following:
Now what We wish TO know is this Is the
Belfast journal and other papers following in
its wake in favor of prohibiting the sale of other
liquors from the fact that they are intoxicating
1t will be the proper time in reply to
this question, when the professed friends
of temperance propose to have prohbi-
tory law. That has never yet been moved
for. In the present, as in every other
falsely styled prohibitory act, there have
been abundant loop-holes for rum ndul-
gence. The present law, that hampers
the sale of cider, authorizes grog shop
in every city and town of Maine, with a
fountain head at Portland, that sends out
a hundred thousand dollars worth every
year. And the whole system is a vast
political machine, which exercises a con
troll of votes by pandering to mems appe-
tites. Is this p1'oAiditton, Mr.. Bryant ?
As y moral rci;olmer, as a temperance
man, do you sanction this state of things ?
1t is fashionable to brand every one who
does not approve this law and its work
ings, as rummies. 1t is done daily by
men whose stomachs are full of whiskey,
and whose pockets are filled with the
profits of its sale. made lawful to those
rh0 r0te riqh.
If Mr. Byrant's adhesion to liberal Re
publcanism is conditioned upon the
silence of the Democratic press is regard
to those scandals. we fear that the cause
will lose his valuable aid