The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-10-27
LIQUOR Trade in Politics.

This is the caption of an editorial in the
Boston Herald of recent date, and it
applies equally to leader in the Boston
Journal of the same day, although the
latter article is captioned ga Disgrace to
the State 1t appears that the Wine and
Spirit Gazette, of New York, attacked
Grover Cleveland because he declined to
drink glass of wine in a public position
few days since, and the Boston Herald,
most servile and flunkyish of Democratic
organs, comes promptly to the rescue. 1t
says of the Gazette:
1t charges that the action is inconsistent
with his professions as regards personal
| liberty, as expressed in his letter accept
ing the nomination to the presidency.
This view is singularly narrow and preiu-
diced. The doctrine Of personal liberty in
cludcs the right to abstain from drinking,
as well as the right to drink, and it is
strange, indeed, that any one should over
look that fact. We do not understand
Mr. Cleveland to be what is called a total
abstinence man. but he did not choose to
drink spirituous liquors at this time in
public.
! This sort of reasoning is characteristic
of the Herald-that is to say it is puerile
and hypocritical. 1t wishes It understood
that Cleveland still stands in with the
personal liberty OF free rum Democ-
racy, and at the same time would claim
the suffrages of the prohibitionists as a
total abstainer-in public. Hence Mr..
| Cleveland ''did not choose to drink spirit
uous liquors at This time IN public. lit
tie ater-say after the election next
month--he will no doubt be prepared to
drown his SORROWS with the rest of the
boys. Having thus rescued Mr.. Cleveland
the Herald counsels the liquor interest to
be more discreet. and says that with a
view to its own protection, the liquor
trade will be as cautious as possible OF ILL
terfering in politics. When openly as
sailed as it has been in this State, with a
view TO wiping it out Of existence, it
must defend itself.
The last sentence points to the disclos-
ures concerning the political methods of
the Massachusetts Democracy. They are
fully set forth in the following extract
from the Boston Journal editorial above
referred to. The Journal says:
The fact. then, which the people have
to consider is that the brother of the Gov
eInor who is a member of his staff, has
been deputized presumably by the Cover
nor himself or, at least, with his knowl-
edge, to go about as mCndlcant among
the brewers and liquor dealers of Boston
to ask money to promote the ''great NOR
al campaign which has for its objects
the re- election of Governor Russell and
the election of Grover Cleveland. We
venture to say. without fear OF contradic-
ton, that no transaction 50 shameless as
this has been known before in the history
Of Massachusetts, politics. Public senti-
ment was shocked a year ago by the dis
closure of the circular sent out by the
Democratic Committee to Boston saloon
Keepers soliciting money for the Demo
cratic treasury. But the present instance
is much worse than that, for the person
who is begging money from the liquor in
terests in Governor Russell S behalf stands
so near the Governor not only III official,
but in family relations that it is virtually
llt SillIc llillS DIS IL lIt bONtIIOl lllIIStll
was soliciting the money. Col. Russell
put himself in position to ask favors of
the liquor dealers at the last session of
the Legislature by his eXertion to defeat
measures which were obnoxious to them,
and now he is demanding his quid pro quo
in the form of subscriptions of from $500
to 81, 500 for the reelection of the Gov
ernor. This fact is not denied we do not
expect that it will be even apologized for;
but it will furnish food for thought to the
people of the State, and to none. perhaps,
more than to those Prohibitionists who
last fall contributed. directly OF indirect
ly. to give Mr.. Russell a second term of
office.