Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-07-20
PRESIDENT GRANT-LS he DRINK.
ARDs
To the Editor of the Journal.

| As you may have noticed, writer in the
Maine Standard, skulkipg under the cover Of g
| fictitious signature-himself no doubt para.
son of piety and purity-has recently been
reading me lesson personally,-1st Of pro-
priety in the management Of my paper; and
secondly, of duty relative to the candidate in
behalf of whom l should give my franchise
in the coming election.
| He SAYS that inasmuch as my paper is a
religious paper, published in the interest of
the church, and patronized and supported by
persons of all political parties, have no
right to prostitute its columns to partisan pur
poses to all which l utter hearty amen,
in my paper of to-day; and then inasmuch
as the said writer stated that my columns
could be successfully appealed 10, to show
that they had been thus prostituted, | gener-
ously offered to exhibit my MES for his in
spection, and for every item he could find in
the last five years that was clearly of the
character he describes-the circumstances
it was written for this purpose l would make
him the GIFT Of one hundred dollars.
l mention this fact to show how little de-
pendence can be placed on this mans repre-
sensations. would have the columns of my
paper permeated with the spirit of a pure
morality, of the rights of man universal,-ot
just and humane laws, and of the principles OF
a pure government,-but the charge that l
study 10 make it Il partisan sheet politically,
is utterly destitute of even the shadow OF
truth.
But do not take my pen TO trouble you
relative TO this question, concerning which
your readers generally have but little inter-
est. TIL, re is another Of vastly more impor-
tance-one in which the people of our country
without regard to party lines are Concerned.
allude to that of the moral character of the
President of the United States.
Is he a drunkard-a low debased sot! The
writer to. whom refer above processes to be-
lieve so, and would have every body around
him entertain the same views. See the pic
ture he draws in the following extract cut from
his column and a half addressed TO me per-
sonally in the Standard of last week:
THAT Mr.. Grant has been, for many years,
in the habit Of great indulgence in intoxicat-
ing drink, | presume you will not deny
that he was compelled to vacate his place in
the regular army, on account OF his habits OF
drunkenness, you are we'll informed enough
to know is matter of record, that this be-
setting sin was his curse before he entered
the army of the rebellion. you will not gain,
say--that he was saved from the censnre OF
Congress, on account Of intoxication during
one Of the great battles in which he was in
command, By the intercession of Mr.. Wash
burne, now Minister to France, is matter of
history-that since the close OF the war, and
while holding high place 10 the govern
ment, he was frequently seen in public places
| in a state If ntoxication, is a matter OF no.
toriety all over the country--and his state din
mrs have all through his Presidential term
been noted for the abundance and variety OF
wines, numbering eight or ten kinds, with
| other liquors. Ii remember correctly, you
participated in the celebration of the opening
of the +. & n. A. Railroad, last fall, when
Mr.. Grant was a guest. 1t SO, you cannot be
ignorant of the fact that he appeared under
the influence of liquor on that occasion. II
reports and the prints speak truly, his con-
duct on his recent visit to Boston formed nc
exception to his department on other occa
sons Perhaps you may have behold him al
Bangor, when four hundred children greeted
him with singing, and showered his carriage
with flowers. If So you him with hi' hal
over his eyes, and the never absent cigar in
| his mouth, without word, sitting stolid and
| Indifferent 10 the scene and you must know,
| without being told, what was the matter.
need not ask you ii his bearing comported
with the dignity which should control the
chief magistrate o. the country, or if it fur
| nIshed an example you would be willing TO
commend.
The reader will ste that am appealed to
personally, as editor of the Gospel Banner,
the writer seeming to take it for granted
that l have Knowledge of all here Ut
tered, or have reason to believe it true. 1t is
that l may speak on this question that come
to your columns. The charges are grave
charges. l will not by my silence give any
man the opportunity to think believe them
true, for do not. What ! see with my own
eyes l know; and if General Grant were a
Democrat and the facts were the same, my
testimony should be the same.
| The writer says, "That Gen. Grant has
been for many years, in the habit of g1eol
| indulgence an Intoxicating drink, l presume
you Will not deny" But do deny it. What
right has this man to any such presumption
| have had AS good opportunity of getting at
the facts as he | am not indifferent TO the
good name of my country though am not
politician but only clergyman, and editor
OF religious paper. have carefully in
CURED Of men who were intimate with Gen.
Grant and who should know the facts in the
case, and the uniform testimony has been
that though he is not total abstinence man,
they never saw him at all under The Influence
of liquor. At least a half dozen gentlemen
OF prominence-members of Congress and
others-who have often seen him at the
White House, in public and in private who
have been present at his dinners and on other
occasions, have said precisely the same
thing. That he has wine upon his table II,
these entertainments is probably trne-as i,
is true of all other Presidents if we mistake