Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-08-25
MAINE REPUBLICANISK AND PROM
BITION.

BIIION.
The Temperance Album, a temperance paper
published in Boston, and which is used as or
gan of communication between the Grand Lodge
of Good Templars of Maine and its subordinates
has recently contained articles criticising the
temperance record of the republican party of
Maine, showing the most objectionable ignorance
on the part of its editor with regard to the poti
cal history Of Maine.
Major H. A. Shorey, the chief executive officer
of the Good Templars of Maine has addressed
communication to the editor of the Album in re-
ply to some Of the utterances Of that paper. The
following is the article in question: which we copy
Z from the Temperance Album of August L.:
To the Editor ofthe Temperance Album:-
l have been deeply grieved of late to notice the
attacks made BY your paper upon the republican
party of Maine--the party to which the temper
ance people of Maine are indebted for the consis-
tent support in the past of the benefcent system
of prohbitory laws which has SO long been upon
our statute books, and which has given Maine the
proud eminence she has occupied among her SIS
ter States, and on the other side of the water as
we'll, as the pioneer in the temperance refOrm-a
party which even now is boldly coming to the
front and champoning the principle Of prohib
ton, the moment that principle is attacked by the
gubernatorial candidate of the opposing party
/ in some sense responsible for your utterances,
deem it proper TO enter, on their behalf, my ear
nest protest against the position you have taken in
your editorial columns. We cannot afford to be
SO grossly misrepresented by our official organ
: i have not your article at hand, and am there
fore unable TO point out all its inaccuracies. In
deed there is no need of this, as every temperance
man who is at all conversant with the political
history of Maine will readily discover its
To the general and sweeping charge or insinua-
inn no rp q
to prohibition | will confne myself and perhaps
j cannot clearly bring the point to the atten-
ton of YOUR readers than by briefly stating the
relative position Of the two parties and their can
didatcs upon the question OF prohibition.
The republican State convention which nomi-
mated Gen. Selden Conner as its candidate for
Governor, emphatically declared in its resolutions
that Temperance among the people may be wisely
promoted by prohibitory legislation" and in his
speech of acceptance, Gen. Conner said referring
to the issues peculiarly relating TO the State:
/ 1.-The maintenance Of the high standing of the
credit ofthe State, the promotion Of the develop
ment of its agricultural and manufacturing re-
sources; the extension of educational facilities;
the prohibition by law of the sale of Intoxicating
liquors. and the enforcement of that law; the
equitable adjustment of the burden of taxation,
and the tightening of that burden to the fullest
extent; and, in all, the exercise Of rigid econo-
my that admits of no outlay for purposes of doubt
tul utility, and demands full equivalent for every
expenditure. These are the objects the republican
party of Maine has had steadily in view, the per-
vading principles of its common law, and they all
have the hearty support of my conviction and my
sympathy"
On the other hand the democratic party, which
in this State, has always opposed the prohbitory
system, and whose papers openly advocate the re-
peal of that system, in its platform was entirely
silent upon the question of prohibition or license,
but its gubernatorial candidate, Gen. Roberts, in
accepting the nomination. thus clearly defined his
party creed so far as the Maine liquor law is con-
cerned:
"And here, lest might be msquoted, would
say that the prohibitory liquor law, that bone of
contention SO long upon our statute books, new
er favored never shall. l believe it to be revo-
lutionary in spirit, clog to the wheels of business,
demoralzing in great degree to the cause of
true temperance which 1t claims to advance; and
while shall openly oppose it, shall more open
ly and zealously advocate such measures in this
regard as | am convinced will the better and more
substantially conduce to the prosperity of our
State, and the general welfare Of its citizens"
Here, then, as clear as the noon day sun we see
how the two parties in Maine stand with regard to
prohibition; the republican party, by its platform
as well as its candidate squarely endorsing it
and the democratic partydodging the issue in its
platform, and declaring by its candidate, that
'prohibition is revolutionary in spirit clog to the
wheels of business" ETC., and that he land his
shall" ~ ~
If anything more were needed, l might point
you TO the past record OF the Two parties, 10 snow
that the republican has consistently maintained
its prohbitory record for many years. having
peatedly given us Governors what may be
termed as radical temperance men, and, despite
opposition from within and without, has consis-
tently sustained and enforced as rigid prohibito
nv code of laws AS our most advanced temperance
men have deemed it judicious to ask for. On the
other hand, the democracy Of Maine have as per-
sistently opposed our principles. and have re-
Trained from substituting license law therefor
as has been done in your State,-simply because
they have not been able to obtain a majority in
our Legislative has
And vet, in the face of these facts, the official
organ Of the prohibitionsts Of Maine insinuates
that the republican party has no claim to the sup
port of temperance men which the democracy
does not possess. Comment is unnecessary. The
facts have given, conclusively show the absur-
dity Of your reasoning.
It may he urged that Gen. Roberts may be Gas
good temperance man as Gen. Connor, which
| am ready TO admit; and yet the record will show
very clearly that he is not as good prohibtonist
since the latter boldly declares in favor of that
principle, while the former as boldly declares his
uncompromising hostility thereto.
Pardon me- If make another point, since your
ntterances have compelled me to discuss this ques-
ton in manner which may appear to many Of our
f,,a d. ao mt nart,a of