The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-09-05

attachment tor her own young, and dis
tlngulsheS its cry among thousands.
Alaska Herald.
Gen. Grants Habits.
Mr. Charles w. Denison, editor of the
'Harbinger," a Temperance paper at
Washington, in a letter recently publish
ed writes this in regard to Grants habits :
| am solemnly bound in honor to saw
from the facts of which | have possession,
that no consistent temperance man can
support him. 1t cannot be denied in
Washington that he has on several occa-
sions been seen under the influence of
liquor. The times and places can be speci-
fled if they are demanded The parties
who have seen him in this condition can
be produced. In u conversation last winter
with Senator Wilson that gentleman said
to me, president Grant drinks too much -
and concluded with the remark. 81 have
told him So Senator Wilson will net
deny this fact Many similar facts can be
adduced. A gentleman well and favor
ably known in Washington, one who has
long occupied a public position at the ma
tional capital, informs me that on the
night Immediately following the last great
speech OF Senator Sumner two respecta-
BILE citizens walking together in jackson
square encountered President Grant He
was in state of intoxication. His hat
was slouched over his eyes; he had a
lighted cigar in his mouth, and was stag
gering along, muttering to himself The
names of all these parties are at command.
Another Washington resident, of unim-
peachable veracity. has also informed me.
within the last ten days, that there is good
evidence for stating that the real reason
why President Grant made sl;ch a hurried
exit from the capital. tor Long Branch,
when so much important public business
demanded his attention, and when several
Senators and Representatives We're so bit
terly disappointed at not meeting him,
according to appointment he himself had
made, was this: that he was so much un-
der the influence of liquor that he was not
tit tor interviews in the Executive Man
sion. Names of responsible parties are
at hand who will substantiate his state
ment.
Senator Wilson having made guarded
denial of the statement of Mr.. Denison
Mr.. }. M. Usher, a distinguished temper
ance leader of Massachusetts, has written
the following letter TO him:
DEAR SIR: | read your letter to Rev.
Charles W. Denison in the Boston Jour
nal of yesterday with surprise and pain.
| have known you long as believer in
the doctrine of total abstinence: from
everything that can intoxicate as u bevel-
age; that there is real safety only by alb
stlnence; that to me any intoxicants, as a
beverage, is an evil. Mr.. Denison said:
''ln a conversation with Senator Wilson
last winter that gentleman said to me.
President Grant drinks too much and
concluded with the remark, Il have told
him So Senator Wilson will not DENY
this ?" 70 this you rely, Il do deny 1t in
the most emphatic language, that I ever
said anything of the kind to you or any
thing that resembles it. Your statement
is unqualitiedlv false" This, my dear sir.
is very remarkable language when com
pared with that you admit you did say at
that interview. You remark, 81 did say
to you what | have said to others, that |
regretted that the President used intoxi-
eating liquors at all, that | wished he
would take the pledge, and that had a
mind to ask him to Join the Congressional
Temperance Society,"" Now my dear sir,
| ask was Mr.. Denison's statements I'M
qualitiedly false, taking your own expa-
nation into account? Do you not believe
in total abstinence? If used at all as a
beverage by the President, does he not
use too much? Why did you regret that
he used Intoxicating liquors at alp WHY
liz va lob 10 <,,l-.> ~
Why did you have a mind to ask him to
Ioln the Congressional Temperance So
ciety? Was it not honestly because you
had good reason to believe that he could
not use it at all without using it .'too
much ?" Was it not that you believed the
pledge would be a restraint, and, that if
he were a member of the Society. that
would serve as an aid to keep him from
drinking 'too much ?" Do you not admit.
substantially, every statement attributed
to you by Mr.. Denison? No man can
fairly read and impartially Judge without
believing that he stated the facts, if he did
not use your words. Your position is a
peculiar one--a Senator from Massachu-
sets in the National Congress, a candidate
for Vice-President on the ticket with Cen
eral Grant You desire to shield the Cen
eral. But | submit that Won. over vour
own name, by your own hand, admitted
the whole that Mr. Denison charged
Time will develope the facts in the case
The American people are quite forbear
ing, as you well know; they Will hide the
faults of their public men when thew
would be helped and the public GOOD
served by frankly commencing the WRONG
You, my dear sir, would not have made
the confession which appears in your let
ter; you would have no occasion to re-
greet that the President used any ntoxicat-
ing liquors if he did not use too much. If
IS well understood that the best temper
ance men In the country have felt alarm
ed at the drinking habits of President
Grant. have it on the best authority that
William r. Dodge, of New York. and
president OF the National Temperance So
ciety, visited the President with view TO
persuade him to take the pledge WHY
was this? Undoubtedly because it was
we'll known that he used intoxicating
liquors. That in the future we may have
IN The chair of State none but total absti-
hence is my desire, and doubt not is the
earnest desire of the American people.
Then it will not be charged that the Presi-
dent drinks ''too much" and if it is. his
defenders will not feel to '.regret that he
uses it all" nor will it be necessary for
him to take the pledge as guarantee Of
personal sobriety. The thought that the
President OF this great nation drinks in
toxlcating liquors so as to excite anxiety
on the part Of his friends brings mortify-
cation to the heart of every American citi-
zen who seeks the honor of his country
Upon this subject there should be no occa-
sion for regrets or special need Of pledges.
j. NJ Usher