The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-08-10
WORCESTER, Mass, Aug. 6, '92.

Patrons Of The NOrtherner:
Though many miles away, and handi-
capped by the fact that The NORTH
ERNER and Courier are my only means
OF keeping conversant with home af-
fairs, yet the evident attempt to take
advantage of our absence by throwing
discredit upon the management of the
paper, makes it incumbent upon me TO
put in a word or two. This eXplana-
ton comes from me instead of Mr.. Nj.
for two very good reasons: First, be-
cause he is cruising about among the
islands off the Maine coast and cannot
readily be communicated with; second,
because ii seems eminently fitting that
the pen which has filled The NORTH
ERNER's columns, both local and edi-
torial, for nearly year past, should be
employed in defense of the integrity
and reliability of its course.
When proprietor puts his business
in charge of competent hands and
goes in quest of health it is good
criterion of the sincerity of pretended
friends, to have them Immediately inn
pute blame to him and say all manner
of disparaging things as soon as his
back is turned, indulging in such per-
sonalities as substitute would scarce
ly wish TO answer. That Mr. Nash is
fully competent to discharge all the du-
ties incumbent upon him, no one can
consistently deny, nor that his articles
were "A fair and logical discussion of the
effects OF the local option law, while
only person lacking in common sense
would for moment expect the re-
sponsibility therefor to rest upon him.
Naturally, many of the less important
n ha
the good or bad judgment exercised by
the person left in charge; but ques-
tion so important as the one under dis
cusson, must necessarily reflect the
views of the employer. Let me add
that both the proprietor ard editor of
The NORTHERNER stand ready to en-
dorse every statement yet made in its
columns regarding local option, and
either of them could give the names of
the cherished sons" if it were wise to
do SO, as well as much interesting in
formation elected from the "respeeta-
bic parents"
Furthermore | will say that, early in
the summer, was myself strongly OPP
posed to the repeal of this law, and
knowing battle was soon to be waged
regarding it, set myself to work gath
ering material for the fray, when to my
surprise the arguments against local
option steadily accumulated, while
many of those in its favor melted away
before the heat of indisputable fact.
Beneath the surface current of the ocean
often lies another, much stronger and
setting in a totally opposite direction,
and we found a parallel state of affairs
existing in this matter. The much
talked-of strenuous efforts for its de-
feat" only go to show how much the
trade of the local dealers is cut into by
the "boot-leg" traffic, which / firmly be-
lieve to be as much worse for our boys
than the licensed saloon, as the con-
cealed viper is worse than the exposed
reptile.
Here in Worcester strict no-license
law is enforced-not saloon or drug
store in the city being licensed. Yet
they tell me that bottled liquor is
shipped in daily from Boston by the cart
load and that drinking goes on in all
sorts of dark corners.
The self-styled temperance workers
may be 10th to open their eyes to the
real state of affairs, but of two evils we
deem il wisdom to choose the one
which shall be the least dangerous to
the growing youth of our town. 1t
often requires the courage of strong
conviction to take stand for cause
so liable to be misunderstood but we
believe our reputation for veracity is
such that the people at large will at
least give us credit for an honest advO
cacy of this question. For our part we
would say, let there be full and fair
discussion of it in all its bearings, and
a putting aside of all such intolerance
as is disposed to accuse every one of
dishonesty who may chance to hold a
different opinion.
Very sincerely,
Mus NJ