Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-15
Temperance and Politics.


The recent Charter Election in Portland, the
result of which We announced in our last, was
: am election of more than ordinary interest, and
tbere was attached to it an Importance far
obove the usual local character of such cleo
tons. We do not deem it pregnant OF such
important results as was prognosticated OF it, or
as some of the electors particularly interested
in the result, attempted to make appear-still,
it is an event fruitful in suggestion to every
reflective mind. From it, may be gathered as
matter of experience, much that should serve
to set the public mind right on matters IN con-
sidering which, it has lately become SO prone
to be led astray by mistaken zeal, ar false is
sues.
That the election was one Of more than or
binary interest, appears from the warm contest
: that was waged on each side, and by the in
creased vote, above that of all previous cleo
tons that was polled The interest in the re-
suit was not confined to our own State but, il
we may judge from the press of other States,
and from the manifestations exhibited in Bos-
ton at the result extended over large field.
ticuarly that from abroad-is attributable, we
apprehend, to a mistaken opinion that the
struggle was entirely upon the Maine Liquor
Law, which was by no means the case.
1t is true that the city of Portland has been
the arena in which the temperance warfare was
early waged, and Neal Dow, the defeated cam
didate for the Mayoralty, was one of the cham
pions, if not the father of the aforementioned
law-and possibly every prominent issue of the
recent canvass was connected, intimately, or
otherwise, with this law-but all this does not
prove that the contest was exclusively based
upon temperance issue. At any rate, the
Liquor Law was not passed upon, in this con-
test, and this is the point that we would make
and impress upon the minds of our readers.
The history of the Liquor Law passed in our
State the last summer, and the connection of
Neal Dow with it, is we'll known-we do not
purpose entering into the merits or dement's of
this law-sufice it to say that yield to no
man in oar desire to see it judiciomsly and sue
cessfuHy enforced. This can never be done.
however, in our judgment, so long as it is made
Of temperance men is, in casting the burden of
their entire cause upon the shoulders of any
ono man-as they have done with Neal Dow
for it invests him with a consequential author
ity which he will be very apt to misuse and if
misstep should accidentally be taken, the
cause is Frustrated with the man.
Thus, the principal charges brought against
Mayor Dow, were, acts involving the mal-ad-
n,inistration of his public duties, arising from
his injudicious zeal in carrying out the law
The business interests of the city we're being
affected by his impoltic conscience it be-
came necessary to depose him. In doing this,
however, difficulty is experienced. The
whole temperance cause rests on his shoulders,
and his fall carries it all down. A moral issue
is consequently forced upon the electors. and
the issue declared to be rum rum APP
peals are made, of which can cite speci-
men-as used by Mr.. BOWS special organ in
the late election, the Temperance Watch
man." This was one of its arguments:
Would YOU desire to have Licentiousness,
RumseIlng, and Gambling upheld and promot-
ed in our city, BEWARE THEN HOW
YOU VOTE"
1t is hardly necessary to assert that these is
sues were entirely false ones, for they are fasi-
fed on the face of them The opposing candi-
dates were men of irreproachable character
how unfair, then, the attempt to defamc them I:
But this grows naturally out of the mistake
of introducing such questions into political
strife. Like religious questions, they should
be kept entirely aoof from politics, lest they
get de6lcd by the unceanliness with which
they are brought in contact. A Tarty, which |
attempts to ride moral hobby, will assuredly
fall in time, and great will be the fail of it.