The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-22
LEWISTON, May 1871.

LEWISTON, may 1871.
To the Editor Of the Press:
GENTLEMEN,-ln your issue of MAY 18th ap-
pears an article touching upon the great ques-
tons, SO much discussed OF late, viz: temper
dnce and prohibition, and in proof of or to in
dictate the nOn-snppOrt of the prOhibitOry law
by the people at large, you say every vigorous
attempt at the thorough enforcement of the
law, results unfaiingly in a dangerous reac-
ton, SO that in Lewiston (itseli?) the munich
pal Government is now, Tor the first time since
it became q City Government, in conservative
and decidedly anti pr"hbitOry hands" Now,
whatever may have been the consequences in
other places of a vigorous attempt at the
thorough enforcement Of the law" the people
of the State and abroad should be disabused Of
the idea, that any such reason has thrown the
Government OF the City of Lewiston into the
hands OF the anti-prOhibitionists. Lewiston,
if called upon to vote to-day, would (if an hon.
est course was pursued by q clique in the Re-
publican partly give large Republican ma
jority, and if the issue was fairly and squarely
upon the execution OF the law Of prohibition,
would by a still larger majority sustain the
candidates representing the law. Though the
city at the organization OF its municipal off,
GERS in the spring, had virtually Democratic
or anti-prOhibition Board of Aldermen, but q
Republican Common Council with Republi-
can majority on joint ballot, to-day, by reason
of one change in the upper board, we have a
Republican majority in either branch, with q
DemOcratlc Mayor. DuJ W tue TeaSOuS why
we occupy politically our present position. A
year ago, when the Republican party (made a
lair and honest nomination for Mayor, duly
assembled in caucus legitimately called,) of a
man whose eligibility to the Office was not
called in question, SO far as political record
honesty or capacity was concerned, a portion
of the party, some of whom (and leaders too)
had always been supporters of regular nomi-
nations saw fit to refuse to support the nomi-
nation. and made another which was success
Jul at the polls, by reason of aid purchased
from the Democratic party aud of that portion
shops, and many of whom kept the shops
themselves This is a fact as easily demon
strated, as that one and one make two. Tenn
perance men supported that ticket Tor those
protesting to be such) aud voted side by side
for it, with men who are violating the prOhibi.
tory law, allowing their prejudiees and desires
to gain other Interior points indirectly con-
nected with the municipal election, to govern
their action in the matter. Several questions
entered into that canvass, not openly perhaps
but tactly understood by all. The question Of
an u S. Senator had its influenced. The Post
Office was bone Of contention and the regu-
| la nominee for Mayor was then holding thai
| Office and friends of other candidates for that
position regarded an election of the then Post
| master as an endorsement of him for that of
| fee in time to come. Other matters influenc
| ing might be cited, but we have given enough
| to meet the case The regular candidate fol-
| Mayor was defeated, and, as is universally thu
| result, under like circumstances, when al
| party usages are violated and for mot one as
siqna5le good reason, i'll feeling was eDgen
dered, and remembrance of the treatment wa
| not suffered to die out. Fall election cam,
and many Republicans disguised with the &C
| tion of the macontents in the spring, when al
| honest caucus action was set aside and disre
| cardad. refused to go into caucus, binding
| themselves to no caucus nominations. Wha
was the result. The State Senator was baIel
elected. did not carry his own city aud th
Republican nominee for Governor, also fale
| to receive a majority of the votes OF the city
| As the time drew near for the nominations 9
the present municipal government, notwith
standing the result of the disaffectIon In tn
previous spring and of the State election, thos
who had 80 flagrantly violated all party usage
IN the last election, attempted IN privat
caucus OF a bakers dozen, to put IN nomins
uon Tor Mayor, candidate who bad bee
prominent IN the previous party rupture. IN
result was as natural as could be-although b
was withdrawn when it was early seen that
could not be elected and Col j. NJ Frye wa
renominated. lthan whom no better or NOR
worthy candidate could have been nomin ated
still he was put in nomination nv the sam
clique that stood at the head of the disaffe1
tion at the previous spring election, no attemr
being made by them either to comnrt
mise with or conciliate those representing tn
regular Republican party, nor was he nom