Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-24
Undigested Reforms"

>St'iiNiiehS t'ifs GUILTY. IN tfie pres
ent age, lies in undigested reforms
and denatured "reformers" BY the lat
ter term we refer to those loud-mouth-
ed pests who subsist on generalized de-
nunciation, They complain that the
quality and ealiber Of present day
craftsmanship is sadly lowered and
constantly deteriorating from Gays in
the memory of even the middle gen
Grafton. And, granting that the charge
of deterioration is true. who is respon-
sible for it? Has ii not come in the
days of rule of the peepul?" And who
has brought about this rule of the
people In the new eure-all methods,
but these same denuneiators? And how
have they br6nght il about unless ii
be by constant abuse of. and speeious
lying about, those statesmen Of below
ed memory. and their craftsmanship
We have in mind a marked example
of the vilifyer-one VINO vilifies all ex-
cept that which he thinks he thought
of frst-a fiend of lying backbiting
In one side of his character. and a
iick-spittle worshiper of those like
him, on the ether With him, to de-
fend anything respected by our fa-
theirs is crime, and is to be denounced
and insulted by insinuation and false
hood, day by day.
What are we gaining by listening to
these inconstant feather-brains who
are not content to cling to one tangi-
BILE reform until something worth
while has been accomplished, but VINO
launch forth every day to make over
the world by wild-eyed disapprovai!
Such methods were given birth by yell
low journal craftsmanship with the
avowed purpose Of setting men 10
thinking" and acting for them-
selves. II was something new in an
age of unrest. and every hypocrit with
an axe to grind. in the nation, mas
leaned into the limelght to confuse
coIlpasite opinion-and the result 10
the deterioration Of which we now
hear complaint from no less than the
Boeton journal. the Bull Moose or
gar.
Politics. religion, everything has been
ander the are of these ereformers,
tphc. to our undying shame as peo-
,,,e,s are largely eriminally or Otherwise
discred.ted persons. who have pretend
ed reform in their own natures Tor
nurnoses of selfish gain or laudaton.
Indeed. as a people we are inclined 10
rejoice more over one Of these lost
ones, than over the whole herd that
vas safe.
These are the ''denatured refofmefs'
after which the unbalanced run bleat-
inp--the Suffers. If you please.
Maine organ, VIGOROUSLY nom
.:tcry,, begins it's sickening adoratioh
Of one admittedly crooked and DIS,
eraced. because he is willing to accept
the tag that stands for wholesale
abuse as the latest evidence OF MS
calculating hypocrisy
II IL precisely that which we predict
ed. Let us make ii plain, because we
have been hailed on the street by an
ardent admirer of this class OF re-
farrner who likened Sulzer to Christ
as 1.-THE greatest reformer of his time
One of the worst phases of Suizer
character. as revealed by his trial,
,s his astonishing hypocrisy. During
fits campaign for governor he beiio"-
ed from every stump, said an eX-
change. of his detestation of the men
who stood for the interests, yet at
the same time he was not only receiV-
ing but was secretly soliciting theH
cash contributions to his campaign
funds-and, more degrading still' these
constitutions were never acknowi-
edged according to the law. He mace
NO attempt to defend or deny thls ae-
certion because 1t was too easily prov
en-.
was that Christ-like2
Yet we are told by Maine worship
orc If this brand of Judas that sui
y4r had done nothing for whleh ne
should have been removed ana tha'
- no ayefers better things under oih =
e,ent marty name, he is forgiven ana
landed for public approval as re-
former of politics. ''hater of the IN
,eres,s.' and friend Of the peepoi.
There is enc of our "reformers' Whe
% confusing the masses until they are
nnable TO distinguish good from eNh
rha Jostiee Of the Court OF Appeals
WHO voted for Suffers acquittai on al
,be articles, for purely legal reasons
,a1,k mains to declare that sulzer con
a,,c, had been 'dishonorable ana NOR
IN. base Yet reform party, howi
s,.~ ~ the iniauity of the OLD par
.x.sD and old statesmen; shouting
..a.wp with the Lodges, the Haies
En-. roots. the Burieighs and all DIN
~rs who refuse TO meekiy foiio" U.s.
.eixe this "dishonorabie and mofaii!
= $3.50 man who stood convicted py nj