Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-25
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.
A Caution for Maine Democrats

The following article from the Washington
Union, contains some very important advice to
Maine Democrats 1t is fact that the only
hope of the wings Of Maine is in the divide
and conquer policy. In a State democratic
by ten thousand majority, what can whlggery
be expected to do except by means Of some side
issue to distract and divide the democracy =
Nothing. And therefore we find them at one
time making their candidate for Governor show
two faces as he did last year, and at another
time making the same candidate declare he
had bat one face, as he does in his temperance
letter this year. Democrats, do not allow
this side issue to distract and divide any lon
ger; and as you can accomplish nothing except
by union and complete organization, stick 10
vour party through all riciSStudes.
Our friends in different parts of the country
cannot be any too careful in their management
of. local questions. 1t is not for us to dictate
as to that management; but being located at
this central standpoint, we may with proprie-
ty submit such suggestions as occur TO US
We are sure that every true democrat will re-
ceive them IN the spirit of union and concilia-
ti0n with which we send them forth.
Nothing of the kind is more plain than that
the politicians of the New York Tribune
school-and their numbers are much larger,
and their powers are more active, than many
suppose-seriously intend to combine the dis
cOrdant elements Of the political spheres in
which they move under as great a variety of
banners as possible, and to fight with the guer-
lila watchword-s' divide and conquer" One
of the chief standards of this warfare of divis-
ion, Of chagrin and malice, plumber and spoils,
is the so-called Maine law
1t was to carry out this deep-laid scheme
that the whig governor Of Maine has kept his
prOfessed temperance proclivities profound
secret until the opening of the campaign for
the present year. Last year he was cunning
ly placed in the canvass so as to be g all things
TO all men," so that g if by any means he
might save" some votes from the democrats,
he should lose none from the wings. But this
year the mask is off. A union is proclaimed
between the wing candidate and the organized
supporters of the Maine law. A bargain is
avowed to have been made, having its origin
in the secret organizations of g the cold water
armies, by means of which the professed al
tars of temperance are dragged into the politi-
cal arena for the sole purpose of being made
subservient 10 whig politics, whig honors, and
whig designs on the State and national treas
uries. Under cover Of long and loud profess
ions of Zel In the temperance cause-with ar
dent and enthusiastic appeals to popular sym
pathies and personal interests-with vivid de-
scriptions of the evils of intemperance-with
the Bible in one hand and the temperance
pledge in the other-theSe Adventures, these
knights-templar in the modern crusades of IA
naticism, are marshalling their new forces in
the field under the auspices and in command
of the wings.
Here is the point-just here-at which we
aim to put our friends on their guard. Beware
Of these specious designs of the whig politi-
clans They bode no good to the country
and hence they should receive no sanction from
the democratic party. 1t is the design of the
wings, by dragging in this temperance issue,
TO compel democrats who belong to temperance
organizations to vote for whig candidates, I'M
der the specious plea that they will do more
than any others to promote what is deemed
desirable by temperance men. Vain and futile
pretence! He must be a Reophyte indeed who
does not see through it at glance.
By every consideration of honor and good
faith we would urge democrats everywhere to
Keep this temperance question, as distinct
issue, out of all their primary meetings, their
county and State conventions. We have no
business with it as democrats, one way or the
other. 1t is our duty, as good citizens, to
submit quietly to what majority of the peo-
pie enact in the constitutional Legislative as
semblies. Our oaths as American republicans,
require US to yield implicit obedience to the
laws until, by fair argument and honest legis-
lation, we have secured such changes in them.
as right and justice may demand. But let US
i
the tools of corrupt wing political schemers,
who, having lost the moral prestige of success
by their vernal measures in ranks of thaSr APP
propriate party, would now ride into power by
means of the pie-bald nags they have lassoed
in the +" dry places - of the earth, where they
wander for rest but find none. HERMEs.