The Portland daily press., 1879-11-15
a Clergzman,s Complaint

The Rev. Henry A Wales of Biddeford
wants to be added to the long list OF martyrs
who have suffered for conscience's sake.
The story of his martvrdom is told by him
self to the Hon. D. p Stubs of Iowa, who
has given the narrowing tale to the world
through the columns of an Iowa Greenback
paper
Mr.. Wales went to Biddeford sometime
last Fall and was settled over a Universalist
church there. His first vote in that city was
thrown for the Republican candidate for
Mayor He had always been Republican,
but for some years had felt that he could
not act with the party much longer. The
Republicans seemed to Mr.. Wales "utterly
apathetic to the great issues which the
events of Almighty Providence were forcing
upon them and re had about made up his
mind to desert them when the Mayoralty
voted for the Republican candidate because
&c 1nemoer of his society, and ny the
advice of friends, both Republicans and
Democrats One name, however, on the
ticket, he scratched in favor OF man who
had more than once befriended him. This
scratching marks the beginning of Mr..
Wales martyrdom. The man who was
scratched Immediately withdrew his support
from Mr.. Wales and dropped at once atten-
dance upon his service and lectures. And
not only did this revengeful creature with
draw himself, but took along with him his
wife, and very likely his sisters and his
cousins and his aunts. This man, we blush
to say it, was Republican. The office for
which he was candidate Mr.. Wales informs
us WIS the most menial in the city, without
honor or emolument. This fact is important
when it is remembered that Mr.. Wales voted
to confer this Office upon man to pay
off a debt of gratitude which he owed
him. 1t presents Mr.. Wales sense OF
gratitude in very striking light, and shows
a large nature, in marked contrast with the
petty malignity and spite of his parishioner.
Had Mr.. Wales been timid man the act
of this bulldozer and his wife would un-
doubtedly have cowed him. But he was
not. He still continued to express his opin-
ions on political subjects freely in the mar
ket, the grocery, the apothecary shop and
the bakers. No better proof of Mr.. Wales
courage than this can be given. Think of
the bravery of a man who had received such
a warning of the danger of incurring politl-
cal hostility as Mr.. Wales, walking into an
apothecary shop and there freely expressing
his political opinions, with good reason to
fear from his past experience that If the
man behind the counter happened to be
Republican he would not hesitate to prepare
some subtle compound which would silence
him forever. Two of the virtues-courage
and gratitude-Mr. Wales certainly pos
sesses in large measure
1t is not to be wondered at that after dis
playing such qualities, Mr.. Wales woke up
one morning and found his name on
Greenback ticket, neither is it strange that
when some of his parishioners advised him
to withdraw, that he rejected their advice
with naughty scorn. The saddest part of
Mr.. Wales tale now begins. Hardly twen-
ty-four hours had elapsed before he was
attacked with cholera morbus and could not
stand erect. Mr.. Wales does not directly
charge that the attack was the work OF Re
publicaus, but as it prevented him from
speaking at Greenback meeting we think
it legitimate inference. He rose superior
to cholera morbus, however, and the next day
which was Sunday, appeared in his pulpit
though in condition more dead than alive.
After the conclusion of the service a large
number of Republicans notified the sexton
that they should want their pews no longer.
Mr.. Wales attributes this to his acceptance
of nomination on the Greenbacll ticket,
but we are inclined to think that his dead
and alive condition in the pulpit had some
thing to do with it. He was elected repre-
sentative to the Legislature at cost, he
says, to his parish of $400 worth of seats
But none of these things have moved the
courageous pastor 'If God spares my life"
he SAYS, 'T shall attend the session OF the
Legislature next winter, and l shall do all
in NV power to unite all the elements of
opposition, that next year we may be sure,
whatever else may be the issue, to defeat
one of the most overbearing, unscrupulous
and corrupt parties that the Almighty ever
suffered within the pale of free nation"
Mr.. Wales further declares his intention,
while his breath lasts, to vote as he pleases.
Mr.. Wales had perfect right to do all the
things that he has done. He had right 10
scratch name on a ticket; he had right to
talk politics in apothecary shops, in the
| market, in grocery stores and Ill oaKe
houses; he had right to accept Green
back nomination; he had right tc address
| Greenback meeting; he had right to re
| iect the advice of some of his parishioners
| to withdraw fro the Greenback ticket; he