The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-09-07

PED. with It's doors anu windows elegantly
moulded in black walnut and oak, pleasant
pictures, fresh, new maps, heavy black walnut
tables, bookcases and desks, inviting arm
chairs and soft, gray carpet underfoot. Its
only occupant, a man of medium height, slight
of form, light. somewhat sandy complexion.
and face from which shone all the good quail
tiles of a good mans life.
MFR. Nye, allow me to introduce 10 you Per-
Gle, of the Boston Post, who wishes to inter-
view YOU"
"Ah. Good afternoon Percie, I am happy TO
meet YOU Will you please be seated?'
We first talked of the weather, then of the late
terrible railroad accidents, then OF the consol-
idatlUn Of the numerous roads in Maine, gain :
ing much information, for Mr.. Nye is Purchase
Agent for the Maine Central, and Il man of in
teigence and Judgment. Finally we came
TO the subject of Our errani in this manner.
CORES. My object in calling upon YOU this
afternoon, Mr.. Nye, is to learn something of
the Prohibition party, if you are willing to
talk with me about it.
Mr. Nye. Certainly l shall be glad to give
You any information | can. The organization
of the Prohibition party has not been kept up,
and there can't be said to be any, just now
CORES. Why Is this, have they lost faith in
their cause or become dlshesrtened?
Mr.. Nye. Neither. But we have been per-
suaded to rest from our eXertions awhile
Cores. And was it with the expectation
that this years State Administration would do
something for you:
Mr. Nye. Some undoubtedly thought so.
But as we did not hold convention and ask
the Legislature to do anything, l. for one, do
not feel like blaming them.
Cores. Does the prohibition element ask
for any change in the law:
Mr.. Nyc. No, the law is all we want; we
only wish in addition power to put it into exc
eution, conferred upon constabulary or upon
4 Governor.
CORES. Then you do not hold GOV. Per!iam
responsible for the non-enforcement of The law
this YEAR
Mr.. Nyc. No; if | blame GOV. Perham at
all, it is because he did not advise something
OF the kind in his message He would have
signed any Constabulary bin that we asked
for which Gov. Chamberlain would not have
Cores. This is your private opinion:
Mr.. Nye. No. I know so. Gov Perham
has told me so himself.
Cores. And what has been the result of this
non-entorcement of the law during this year:
Mr.. Nye. That there is more rum being sold
IN the State of Maine than ever before
Cores. Don't the prohibition element mean
to do anything about it:
Mr. Nye. Yes. We shall hold convention
Immediately upon the session of next winters
Legislature and ask them for power to enforce
this law. The politicians tell us that the law
can't be enforced, and that we must keep quiet
or we shall throw the State into the hands of
the Democrats. Next year will be the Presi-
dental campaign and they will say the same
Now, don't see any use in having law upon
the statute book that cant be enforced. If il
then, repeal it, but don't let us 90 TO the folly of
making laws that we can't execute. It's
waste OF time, money and paper.
CORES. Presuming that the coming Legisla-
ture will be Republican, what will be the conse-
1uence if they refuse to give you the legislation
YOU ask for?
Mr.. Nye. We shall Immediately separate our
selves from them and form new party; ana
they will never again be able to caiole us into
their ranks as they have done before.
CORES. Your words seem to indicate that
you think politicians have used the temperance
question for their own purposes?
Mr.. Nye. do think SO. They have made it
a regular party football, a hobby on which TO
ride into power. Temperance should never
have anything TO do with politics. It's all
nonsense to make such accusations as are made
The Democratic party are Just as temperate as
the Republican, and would do as much for tenn
perance.
CORES. And may ] ask if you think Mr..
kmball is true exponent of his party:
Mr.. Nye. do. And better man or a more
temperate one doesn't exist in the State. He
has proved himself to be honest and energetic
in business, and believe no man would make
A better Governor. Both of our candidates are
good men. And the Democrats have still an
other prominent man, who, if he had been
elected. would, believe, have made us good a
Governor as we ever had. No man in Augusta
mas ever been better example or done more
or the morality of the place than he. | allu,le
o the Hon. f. +. Pillsbury. In 1868 he had
series OF Temperance meetings here in Augusta,
md MIR. Pillsbury did all he could in favor of
hem, which was not the course of the opposing
candidate for Governor, Mr. Chamberlain. He
never came near them. l have the highest re-
pect for Mr.. Pillsbury.
Cores But | do not understand that Mr..
Pillsbury or Mr.. Kimball is in favor of pro-
libitory law:
Mr. Nye. No, but both are in favor of tenn
'erance and of using every endeavor to make
others so. And such believe is the sentiment
IF large proportion of Maine to-day, irrespec-
i've of party. | don't believe that Democrats.
more than Republicans, want to see men getting
Trunk and abusing their families, or children
coming up to tread in the same path 1t is nv
honest opinion that had politics been kept away
rom the temperance question, we should have
lad more sober communities, larger temper
tnce element and scarcely grog-shop in the
State of Maine to-day
Cores. You, of course, believe firmly in the
enforcement of the prohibtory law:
Mr.. Nye. Yes, thoroughly. | also believe
largely in moral suasion in commencing with
he children and so training them that they
won't trouble us when they get old. Twelve
years ago | commenced temperance organiza-
lion for children in Waterville, and called them
The cadets. I have never failed to meet with
hem every Saturday afternoon in that time,
unless nnavoidably out of town or sick. Some
1900 children have signed the pledge in that
time, in ages varying from 6 to 16, and up to
The present, only 30 of them have ever broken
that pledge. They are now many of them
scattered all over the country, in Boston, New
York, etc. l meet them wherever I go, and
they are always glad to see me. One of these
boys gave up his life at the battle of Fredercks-
burg, and the last words he said, as his brother
carried him dying from the field, was, ''Tell
MIR. Nye / never broke my pledge" Such in
stances encourage me to go on and work for the
cause of temperance
CONCLUSION.
Here caller required Mr.. Nye's attention and
we rose to leave, with the assurance from him
that he would be glad to see us again, and give
us any inform alton he could 'Thonl;,., H.,