The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-02
AN UNWORTHY TYPE OF CITIZEN.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: In re-
cent issue of local paper l read the fol-
lowing:
"Our battered, old, editorial heart is just
bubbling over with joy. We knocked on
grinding out copy the other day for the pur-
pose of taking stroll around town just Tor ex-
ercise. Everywhere we went we found some
one who had good word to say, an expression
of good will to offer; and not once did we hear
a knock against the town, the people, our
selves. or the paper. Truly it is good for any
man to live among such whole hearted and
true people. We hope we live to be one
hundred
The above expresses the sentiment of nearly
every man who has had the pleasure of living
among Belfast people for any length of time.
No town numbers among its others cleaner,
more respectable. law-abiding people than are
found within the confines of this town. There
is no people anywhere on earth who will ex-
tend the helping hand more often when it is
needed, and it is certainly not only pleasure
but an honor for one to say they are citizen
of Belfast. Imagine surprise when turning
over to another column in the same paper we
read these Words reporting part OF speech
made by the author of the above sentiments
while debating the temperance question in
New York City Of his own town he says:
"There are no Bars in the place, but the
police force is working over time handling
what we call cordwood. The kind of bootleg
whskey they get up there stiffens them out
like a stick of timber"
How could such adverse sentiments come
from the same person? If he were expressing
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been voicing a false sentiment in the other.
Is man of the truest type of manhood who
would, among his own people. speak words of
praise. and then, for hire, go out into a distant
city and Willy them by stating a situation
which is absolutely false and is not in any
sense OF the word borne out by facts? The
records of the city of Belfast, taken from the
City Marshal's books from March 49, 1915, to
February 25 1916, which is nearly full year,
show that there were only forty-six persons
arrested for drunkenness during that time, an
average of little less than one per week, and
we are told by the City Marshal that nearly all
of these were tramps from outside the town.
When we take into consideration the popula-
ton of our town, augmented as 1t is from time
to TIM by visitors from surrounding towns,
we consider an average of one arrest per week
no evidence of debased population or evil
dence that the population of our town are
living under conditions which tend to the des-
truction of manhood.
To our mind the most unworthy type of
citizen which we have is the man who can
publish such untrue statements broadcast, and
bring unjust and uncalled for criticism upon
his townspeople for other purpose in the
world than to hear himself talk. 1t seems to
that any man who would make such state
ments as that is unworthy to be honored re-
cognized by his townspeopIe in any way what
ever. This man has been for nine times elect
ed Mayor of this town, Just now he is taking
stand which reminds very much of the
fellow who said he had been without sleep for
three nights-last night, tonight, and tomorrow
night. This man claims that he has been prac-
tcally elected ten times Mayor of Belfast, be-
caused he has served nine times and expects
to be elected this Spring.
If our citizens have the amount of pride
which we feel should be credited to them they
will not honor this man by placing him in office
again until he learns to honor them by stating
the truth about conditions in their midst. The
citizens of Belfast should carefully consider
the viifcation of their town which is being
carried on by this man before they again honor
him with their votes CITIZEN.