The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-01-22

Has our neighbor, the Republican Journal
seen new light within week or two? Some
months ago it affected to be greatly exercised
over the increase of county expense, charging
the increase to the county Commissioners, and
calling for a change in those officers in the in
terest of reform. 1t now gives these same
county officials credit for doing all they can to
reduce county expenses, and bespeaks the
active cooperation of the people. Prog. Age.
1t is hardly worth while to handy words
with the Age. No one expects it to be either
truthful or consistent. No one expects it to
favor reform in any direction. No one expects
il to see anything save in partisan light; or TO
promote any object unless it has party or
personal end in view. As Portland core
spondent of the Boston Herald remarked re-
Gently. that paper lis named the Progressive
Age because it makes no progress
More than four years ago the Journal pub
lished statements showing bow the county eX-
pcnses were unduy increased; and it has re-
peatedly directed attention TO the matter since.
1t made no personal attacks upon any one, but
has dealt solely with official facts and figures,
prefcrring to submit the case to the people up
on these alone. When it urged reform of these
abuses the Prog. Age, with the insolence and
arrogance of IA Boss Tweed, safely entrenched
as it supposed, behind Il fusion majority, and
sure of seat in the Maine Senate, retorted
"What are you going to do about it," Assum-
ing TO be the mouthpece of the county officials
but disappearing them. AS we now be-
lieve as ii does generally, the sentiments of all
the fair-mindet, law-abiding Christian people
I of N4ldn = bA Ara aalaraI hat thprp
could not and should not be any reform. We
then appealed TO the people to choose at the
coming election officials who would at least en-
deayor to stop these raids upon the county
treasury. As the term of the county commls-
sioners had not expired the assertion of the
Age that they We're included in the demand fol
a change is as ridiculous as it is untrue. The
result was a change in all save one of the Off
cials voted for last September, including the
Senator who ridcued the idea of reform
After his friends had gone out of office and he
himself had been reegated to private life, the
editor of the Age in his paper of the Sth, cali
ed attention to the very evils of which the
journal had 50 long complained, as if he had
just heard of them for the first time. We then
hoped he had seen the error of his ways.
For while the lamp holds on to burn
The greatest sinner may return.
Bat he has evidently since had severe re-
lapse and is, we fear. Il hopeless case.
The position of the journal calls for neither eX-
PLANTATION OF apology. 1t has not deviated in the
least from the stand it took when this matter
was first brought to the attention of the people
1t has The same interest in the question that
every other taxpayer has or should have. The
evil az before shown, is not only great but q
growing one. 1t concerns all alike, let their
party affiliations be what they may. The sug-
9estions we have made in the line of reform
We're offered with view TO promote the pub,
lie welfare. If better plan is proposed WE
! will cheerfuly and earnestly support it. Ii
this reform is carried out it will certainly LEAD
10 others by which the burdens of taxpayers
/ will he lightened and the condition of our peo
/ pie generally improved. And to that end vii
| the journal continue to strive.