Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-27
A WORD OF EXPLANATION FROM
MR.. J. X. OSGOOD.

There was large crowd present at the Old
Orchard temperance campmeeting, Wednes-
day. Speeches were made by Rev. Mr..
Boyd, J. X. Osgood, Rev. A. G. Lawson of
Brooklyn, N. Y, and Mrs. Crosby of Ban
+sor. In the evening ex-Gov. Dingley gave
an address on Causes and Remedies for the
Evils Of 1ntemperance."
J. X. Osgood, Esq, Of Gardiner, late indie
pendent temperance candidate for governor,
was then introduced and was received with
great applause. After referring to his own
rescue from the paths of intemperance nine
years ago, and to the work in which he had
been engaged in rescuing the fallen, Mr..
Osgood thus spoke Of his late gubernational
candidacy:
l observe that have subjected myself to
unsparing denunciatiou by class of papers
with whom have had nothing in common
since entered on temperance work, because
I have seen fit to withdraw from the temper
ance candidacy for governor. can stand
this as long as have the approval Of my own
conscience. Indeed, il was the enthusiastic
approval Of such papers as these that first led
me to question the wisdom of our independent
temperance movement, for l know that they
never favor anything In the interest Of prohi-
bition.
When hastily consented to unite in the
independent temperance movement ut Port
land, under the influence Of the enthusiasm
of the hour, ] was sincere, and thought was
doing right But when I went home and
found myself congratulated by every would
be rum-seller and rum-sympathizer, and re-
proved by every lifelong worker in the cause
of temperance, began TO feel unpleasantly.
When found my course heartily endorsed
| by the Argus, / began to look around and
ask myself what il all meant. talked with
| my wife, who has ever been my faithful
| counselor, and she felt, too. that had got
| into the wrong company. took my case to
God. in prayer, and asked for light rs to my
duty and the more ] comnuned with Him,
| and the more thought Of the matter, the
stronger became my conviction that my can
didacy would tend to divide and weaken the
| I importance men, and injure the cause of tenn
| perance.
The Argus says that have been bribed by
republican politicians. No republican poll
| ticians have approached and no suggestion
| of an improper character has been made to
| me from any source. ] have conferred only
with co-workers in the temperance cause and
taken counsel with my own conscience and
my God. have the approval Of these, and
| / care not what the enemies Of temperance
may say. see clearly that was wrong in
my first step, and that am right in my with
drawal. ! could never have forgiven myself
| if had allow ed the use of my name to d.
vide the temperance men and help our enc
mics into power.
The Argus says that am mean enough to
be q republican. That may be- but I am not
mean enough to be a cats paw for the party
which has always opposed temperance and
prohibition. see clearly the situation, and
God helping me, shall 20 forward with our
great army Of temperance, giving my voice
and vote in that direction. which meets the
approval of my own conscience and of the
great body Of temperance men and receives
the condemnation Of our enemies.
Mr.. Osgood was applauded frequently and
spoke with great feeling and evident sincerity