Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-07-15
Mr.. Dingiey and the Good Tenn
DtdfS.

Mr.. Editor The Eastern argus, the
organ Of the immaculate Democracy OF
the State OF Maine. must be hard pushed
to take the position il does against Dir.
Diusley. our nominee Tor Governor.
Is il the wish of the Democratic party
that the Temperance question be the
main issue in the coming campaign Are
they DESTROYS of entering the field and
openly opposing the principles underlying
our Prohibitsry Law? Do they as
party wish to pnt themselves on record
as opposing all legislation looking to the
suppression Of the rum traffic? Are
these their motives. or do they think that
under the shallow garb Of pretended
virtue and honesty they can lead the peo-
pie TO break from the Republican party.
and so give their influence against tenn.
perance and temperance legislation.
That Nr. Dingley is an honored and
respected member of the Order OF Good
Templars, is reason enough for thisJour-
nal to give vent to its most bitter denun-
Citations. and to call upon the people oil
the State TO assist them 10 defeating thi.
arch enemy of public peace and public
welfare.
We as Good Templars are proud TO
point to Mr.. Dingley as an exponent OF
our views. although in our deliberations
he has been found with the conservative
wing-and we rs Good Templars are
srillinq that the principles which this man
has put forth through his paper, in his
speeches. by his daily walk in life. should
speak for us all. For by these are we
assured that true temperance principles
will continue 10 be put forIh-that when
elected, his influence will bc Tor con-
sistent temperance acts-not Tor Inc
radical measures some may propose, but
for those measures the passage OF when
will build UP The moral sentiment oil our
people, will inspire confidence, will IN
crease true temperance REFORM Meas
ures which by their proper enforcement
will destroy the sale of intoxicating
liquors. know this is great step. but
it is by this straightforward walk that 1t
is 10 be accomplished. And when II Is
claimed by a journal that might exert
powerful influence for good. that This
man being Good Templar. must be de-
fea,ed, we wonder how these things can
be. With rs much consistency it might
he said that he must be defeated because
he is a member OF the Masonic Order. or
4 worker in the church.
IIys the democratic party fallen so low
that it can keep itself alive only by the
sale of intoxicating liquors 1t would
almost seem so by reading certain demo
cratic papers lately. All admit that the
question of Temperance and temperance
legislation ought to be outside OF politics
and political organizations. but when
party through their leading organ force
the question upon theople, then 1t be-
comes necessary for the friends Of reform
10 take issue with them.
Every candid man must know that AL
Order. composed, as the Good Temp!ars
are. of all sects and parties. must avoid
partisan or seclarian questions. and the
statement put forth by the Argus that
Mr. Dingley was selected last winter by
this Order. is false. rs all members OF the
Order know, and the statement was
made, and has been repeated not only TO
damage his prospects but TO injure the
largest order or organization that at the
present time is working 10 suppress the
rum traffic.
Mr. Dingley has denied the statement
Officers of the Order have denied the
statemen,-me members all through tho
State, feeling that their labors are being
misjud.ed. deny the statement. and yet
again it is paraded out, and the people
are called upon to come out upon such
hypocrisy.
The course taken by these journals i
plain. They are aiming their blows at
temperance and temperance work-seek-
ing to destroy the principles of reform.
Why There can be but one reason, and
that is. that by so doing they may ride
into power. So our duty is now made
plain by this and Kindred journals, and
We who wish for suppression OF the
rum traffic. working that those bound
down by appetite may be free. have only
one course left. We cannot give their
candidates our support. for by so doing
we defeat the object for which we have
labored so long.
Let US then support temperance men,
as we are now forced 10 do, for the differ.
ent offices. We may not achieve all we
would wish. but the course that is being
taken by these papers will arouse the
public 10 the need of greater work in be-
half of temperance.
A Coon TEAIPLAR.
When Gen. Washington retired from