Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-06
paiIp Rsnnebst Journal.
Augusta, Thursday MOrn'g, Mar. 8, 1879
Our CITY Election.

The annual election of municipal officers
will take place next Monday. The con-
test will be one of great interest A year
ago the democrats succeeded IN gaining
control of the board Of aldermen, thus Sc.
curing to themselves the management Of
the city government. OF course greai
things were promised for the new govern.
ment in the way of reform and ECONOMY
but the principal fruits are large acces-
sion of rum-shops, q shameful increase Of
drunkenness in our streets, and freedom
and holiness in the sale of ardent spirits
not seen before in our city for many years.
"A prominent and shrewd democrat said to
us last March after the city election /:
"Well, We have got a democratic city gov
ernment at last, but II will die yearling.
Next March it will go out of power, killed
by the liquor question. A large part OF
the democrats will demand that the sale OF
liquor be free on our streets, and If we
undertake to enforce the laws we shall lose
their support in the elections. On the
other hand there are some democrats who
are in favor of temperance and the en-
forcement of the liquor laws, and if we
don't enforce them they will become dis
gusted and leave us, and we shall be beat
en- by the loss of their votes and influence
in the community"
II is evident to everybody who walks
Water street that the free rum democrats
have carried their point. Rum-shops are
everywhere. Men enter and leave
them at all hours in the day, forgetful
or in defiance of the fact that they are
under the ban of the law, and
regarded by the community generally
with detestation. These rum shops are
what the republicans have to fight next
Monday. Every one of them is re-
cruiting station for the democracy. They
will do all they can to elect democratic
government, and should their party win,
the government elected will in turn be
bound to contribute to the maintenance Of
free rum-shops.
One of the questions Of deepest interest
then in the election next Monday will be
whether our city government shall be un-
der the control of the grog-shops, or
whether temperance shall rule and the
rum-shops be driven out. 1t is question
which appeals to every man, woman and
child in the city. Are we willing that this
city, the capital Of the State, shall be
the chief citadel and fortress of the
Rnm Power? Ii not we must work and
vote for the election Of the republican
ticket. The rum-shops are intensely &C.
tive in support of the democratic party.
If it goes under in the election their body
misunderstanding traffic goes under also,
and they know it.
If the republicans would have success
they must unite AS one man against the
common enemy. There must be no divi-
sions that can possibly be avoided. Let
the strongest and best nominations be
be supported with unfaltering loyalty to
the republican cause and the best inter-
ests of the community.
We invoke harmony and full attend
ance at the republican caucus which will
be held for the nomination Of republican
candidate for Mayor.
Finally the republicans of Augusta owe
it to their brethren in other towns and
cities. who have made = gallant and sue
cessful fight against the enemy, to come
up to the polls next Monday with we'll
ordered and full ranks. and strike blow
that will encourage our friends to perse-
we're in the good fight. We have no doubt
Of our complete success in the election If
the republicans do their duty. We can
carry the city with handsome majority.
We can regain control of the city govern
ment. If we do this we shall have power
to correct the evils now existing under the
democratic city administration, and help
on that broader wave which will soon en-
gulf the greenback alliance
and redeem the State from the hands into
which it fell last September.