Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-09-23
A TEMPERANCE PARTY.

y
A. a preliminary TO this article, We
Will state that We have no desire 20
"scold our genial ueighbor Of the BrIdg-
,oa Na-s At the same time, he should
no, ~ al the Custom House window, and
gazing into Commercial Street, write pos
itively. as he did, in his last paper:
PAM 4 Seavev. "a Reformed Man, Is
credited by the Boston Herald with having
made more Republican votes IN the eastern
part of the state than any OF The imported
statesmen. A. general rule however.
the TEMPERANCE question has been entirely
ignored. no speaker having deemed 1t worth
while 90 even show up the record OF either
party on this important question.
We are nation 90 druukardS, - The
rASt wear the home production OF iutoXi-
Giants increased more than fifteen million
gallons aud In addition 90 this We have
imported nearly four and half million Of
gallons more than In 1875 And yet. IN
spite OF this immense tax upon the life and
resources of the nation. We shall hardly
hear the question alluded 20 in the coming
great political contest. when every other
species OF expenditure j. put forward IN an
attempt 90 account for the poverty Of the
people
If Bro. Shorey had been engaged in
the campaign in Oxford County he would
not have made such mistakes The rec
ord Of the Republican party on the tenn
pcrancc question was alluded 20 BY most
Of our speakers. and was more than once
made a subject OF comment IN this paper.
But, as We look AZ the items, cut from
the TRADITION N,,rs. We are reminded of
rumors which have been rife during the
campaign. and which have not a little
disheartened our good Republican friends.
1t was stated and again partially denied,
that certain temperance men So-called
leaders. were intending 70 organize
temperance party in Maine.
We DO not know that Bro Shorey has
any such project on foot; but those two
items look like tecler>, 20 ind, if posi-
bic. how the movement would take. II
there Is any inclination on the part of
our temperance men, 70 organize new
party. it viii be well for them to carefully
consider the question before they act
The State of Maine owes is freedom
from intoxicating liquors, in large meas
ure. % the laws which have been enacted
and sustained by the Republican party.
Every wear il mas endorsed the policy Of
Prohibition. in IL State Platform, and has
largely selected for H. candidates. well
known and active temperance workers.
Everywhere Republican officials have enc
forced the prohibitory law, until is IN
tegritv Is as well maintained as that Of
anv criminal law on our statute book.
In the country, it Is almost impossible 70
purchase glass Of liquor or Of hard
cider, and in the cities YOU VIII ind two
thieves 90 every one man who Is engaged
IN violating the Maine Law.
The Democratic party has always OPP
posed prohibition. Il has. since the Re
form movement became 50 general. de-
clined 20 Join issue with the Republicans
on the question, though a large minority
of the convention delegates have favored
such action. Where Democratic officials
have been in control, the Maine Law has
been enforced with exceeding laNity. This
was notably the case in the eastern sec
ton Of the state, during the past year,
as Is attested by the Executive order.
which caused so much comment, IN rela-
non 20 that subject.
The Greenback party Is composed so
largely Of Democrats that there Is no
hope Of better things from it, even if II
be in existence during another year.
A temperance party would draw most
largely from the Republican party, 70 I'LL
It's skeleton ranks, if the movement did
not fall still-bom. The result of this
would simply be to throw power into the
hands Of one of the opposition parties,
neither Of which have any sympathy
with our prohibitory laws If party
could be organized with temperance for
an issue. il would be useless. The Re
publican party is ready TO adopt any
measure that viii practically lessen the
use and sale Of intoxicating Liquors; and
those who are not satisfied with It's rec
ord and work in relation TO this question
art mostly those who hold 10 some radical
impracticable scheme, such as hanging or
imprisoning, far beyond what the gravity
Of the ofenSe warrants. The Repubh-
can party Is temperance party enough for
most of Us.