The Portland daily press., 1871-03-23
aessons of sse Metz Hampshire Election
CONCORD, March p, 1871.
To the Editor of the Press:
rno Hrr-Crr Nnr n WATER

tribute the Democratic Vicioiy w
Merchant troubles and San Domingo scheme
o,,sino dismay to the Republicans of the
Granite State on the very eve Of election. No
dopbt these matters had their influence upon
the contest but they were not the predominant
ing cause of the rout.
For some years the Republican majority
has been very slight, and it has required the
greatest tact and Judgment to achieve the
yearly victories.
Last year the extreme Temperance party
nominated Rev. l.. d. Barrows for Governor
and the Labor Reformers Hon. Samuel Flint
The former drew from the Republican ranks,
OF course, and the latter drew from the De-
mocracy.
The vote in 1869 was 1920; scattering az,
John Bedel, Democrat, 32.t 81; .Onslow
Stearns, Republican, 35,772; Republican ma
ority, 1918.
The Republicans had then placed them.
selves upon as Iudicous Temperance plat
form as any considerats person could ask, but
the radical Temperance men were bold and
determined, and at once set to work to inau-
surate separate party for 1870 Nearly a
complete list of nominations was made. The
leaders of TIT Labor Reform and Temperance
parties attempted "iusion," bnt there was
nothing to warrant cohesion except defeat OF
the Republicans and the possession of the
balance OF power in the Legislature. The
Labor Reformers regarded the Temperance
party as "too much cold water" and declined
| TO form copartnership. The Temperance
advocates came near then as they have no,c
| throwing the State into the hands of the anti
temperance party. Reckless and dangerous
proceeding!
What was the result? The following figures
tell: The vote (1S70) was 57,s3S; scattering,
| So; L. d. Barrows, Labor Reform, 1870
John Bedel, Dem, 1902; Onslow Stearns,
Rep, 34,45o; Republican majority, 1884, Add.
ing the Temperance vote to the Republican
| the majority would have been 3044, with 629
of the previous year. Not satisfied with en-
| dangering thus the righteous cause of Repub-
licanism and Temperance, the Temperance
party through its leaders and others forced
the Republicans unwsely TO nominate fol
Governor Rev. James Pike, the presiding
Methodist Elder of the Dover District, a
straight out and out Temperance leader, a
most worthy citizen, formerly Member Of
| Congress. and Colonel of New Hampshire
| Regiment during the war. Mr.. Pike, although
not belonging to the extreme and independ
| ent Temperance party that nominated Rev
r. ,Jol
| acceptable to them. With measre majority
the year before, and the Unsatisfactory condi-
ton OF Congressional affairs, the Republicans
Of New Hampshire would have been wiser to
have more careful in their nominations and
party action.
The Democracy placed at the head OF their
ticket for Governor, Hon. James A. Weston
of Manchester, Mayor of that city, not poll.
tician, very popular, & civil engineer by pro-
fession, on good terms with Repubicans-in
fact their very best man.
The conservative Republicans declared
loudly against Rev. James Pike. At the State
Convention Mr.. Pike received the highest
number OF votes, but many we're compliment
tary. Ris friends moved his nomination by
acclamation, Notwithstanding there were q
large humber of other candidates, a sort of
flank movement in politics and he was nomin-
ated. 1t was surprise to the convention
Strong protests were made against such a
course but in vain. Though supported by the
bulk of the party his position on the temper
ance question and the fact of his being min
lster injured his political chances. Had either
Hon. Horton d. Walker of Portsmouth, Hon.
E. A. Straw of Manchester, Hon. Oliver Wy
att of Dover, Hon. 3. J. Cole of Laconia, all
experienced and upright men, and legislators
and popular with all wings of the Republican
party, been nominated, victory would again
have perched upon the Republican banner
Notwithstanding Sumner, Grant, San Denim
go or any other issue.
Apathy reigned there from various causes.
No one cause alone brought about the Re-
publican defeat, but the great predominating
cause was the temperance and other unwise
nominations throughout the State.
The Portsmouth Chronicle has an admira-
BILE article in reference to this matter. The
closing portion is excellent-as follows:
Portsmouth, if not the "banner town" of
the State for republican loss, is certainly high
up on the list; but we do not know OF one SOL
itarv republican who this year swung 'round
the circle or absen:ed himself from the polls,
who was in any way influenced by the good
or bad administration OF affairs at Washing
ton. On the contrary, we do know of many
republicans-fifty at leaSt-who either threw
no vote or voted the democratic ticket, and
who openly avow that they acted only against
stringent prohibition of the liquor traffic
and others whom we care acquainted with were
Influenced by PERSONAL dislike to Mr.. Pike,
or did not approve OF having Methordist
minister for Governor. The rum battery was
the one most used by The democrats through
out the whole campaign, and the one that did
the havoc III the republican tanks; and the
democratic papers that are now loudest in de-
cariDg our defeat to be victory for true cop
perheads principles, and that the rum ques-
ton had little or nothing to do with it, were
before the election tue most steadily persistent
eunners engaged in working that ba terry.
The republican party had shown itself will
ing to advance the cause of Temperance by all
practicable means; but the extreme prohibi-
tionists were determined to do more in that
direction than majority of the people were
willing should be done; they carried their
point against the counsels of the moderate
men OF the party-the men who believed in
doing all that is practicable. and no more
and gave the State TO the democratic patty.
We shall now have chance to sre how much
the temperance cause VIII gain by the result
OF the labors of the extremists,