Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-04

the law against drinking houses and tipping |
shops is as generally impartiaily executed
with the above excepfions) as any law upon /
our statute books
While this success has been gained BY the !
united efforts of the temperance men and
women of Name, it is an occasion OF deep
regret that any who have hitherto worked
with us should have taken course to divide
the temperance men of the State, and give our
enemies an opportunity to reproach u.s. Not
presuming TO impugn the motives of those
who have led off in this work, we beg to call
your attention to their action and Its obvious
effect upon the progress of our cause. On the
10Th of last month a small number of temper
ance men of Maine assembled at Portland,
and by meagre majority OF votes of those
present resolved that Gov Davis had forfeit
ed the confidence of the friends of prohibition
in this State The men who thus assumed to
speak for the temperance men of Maine sub
sequently assembled and nominated Joshua
h. Osgood, Esq, of Gardiner, as their candl-
date for Governor. Such was the action of a
few of the temperance men of Maine, aided
bv a large number of those who have hitherto
opposed the Maine law and its enforcement
and who still occupy the same position That
this action in no wise represents the prohi-
bitionists of Maine has been made evident by
the expressions of disapproval which have
come UP from the friends of temperance in
all parts of the State. Among the large body
of temperance men who have fought the pro-
hibtion battle in and through the republican
party with great success. the feeling is
well nigh unanimous that this action is is not
only unjust. uncalled for and promotve of
mischievous division in the temperance ranks,
but also calculated to overthrow the party
which has given US all the prohibitOry legis-
lation now on our statute books, and to bring
into power the party which has opposed us at
everv step.
The party now in power in this State was
established as a prohibitory as well as an
ant-slavery party, and it has generally been
true to the principle and enforcement of pro-
hibtion. The great body of the friends of
temperance are in its ranks, and whenever
they desire they can control its nominations
and its policy. The present nominee of this
party for Governor was designated by their
votes because they believed him to be a true
friend of prohibition as well as of other re-
publican ideas. He was re-nominated in
June, with their approval. Nothing has hap
pened since that time, notwithstanding the
complaints that are preferred against him.
which affords sufficient ground for the with
drawal of the confidence reposed in him by
the friends of prohibition. We are confident
that time will show that this confidence has
not been misplaced We believe in common
with the great body of temperance men in
Maine that the cause of enforced prohibition
can be best promoted by the election of Gov.
Davis, and the triumph of that party which
has always been favorable to our cause We
are sure that such n diversion of the temper
ance vote to third candidate as would Sc
cure the success of the fusion ticket, would
result in disastrous injury to the cause of
temperance. 1t would be the triumph of the
party and the men who have ALWAYS opposed
prohibition and its enforcement, and would
so divide and weaken the temperance men as
to make them an easy prey to their enemies
The fact that the lifelong enemies of pro-
hibition are rejoicing over this independent
movement ought to open the eyes of every
friend of temperance to its danger. The fact
tina. more than netenths of the prohibition.
lists of this State regard the movement as
preJudicial to the cause of temperance ought
to lead every sincere man engaged in il to
recognize the prOpriety of subordinating his
own views to the judgment of the great ma
jority of his co-workcrs in the cause, and to
induce him to refrain from action which
would tend to introduce DISCRIMINATION and
division where heretofore union and harmony
have given us great triumphs.
But while we thus endorse and recommend
adherence to the republican party. and the re-
election of Gov Davis. we do it because we
wish 10 recognize the eminent services of our
friends in this cause, and further because we
believe the triumph of our cause can best be
promoted by this action. At the same time
we assure the party that continued and i'm
partia! adherence to those principles can
only assure a continuance of our support
1t is a source of sincere qualification to us
that the former nominee of the Portland con-
vention, Joshua X. Osgood, Esq, whose in
valuable labors in the cause are known and
read by all men. has recognized the force of
these considerations and declined to occupy a
position which would only prove injurious to
enforced prohibition. We earnestly hope that
those who have been associated with him will
withdraw their standard bearer from a move
ment deplored by the friends and encouraged
by the enemies of temperance.
We learn, from what we suppose to be
reliable source. that the executive committee
of this independent movement has substituted
for Mr. Osgood the name of Joshua Nye
Esq, of Augusta, as their standard bearer
The past eminent services of Mr.. Nye in the
cause OF temperance and prohibition in the
State cannot be too highly commended.
These services are fully appreciated by u.s.
Yet. notwithstanding his former labors in the
cause, he has seen fit to separate himself
from his former co-workers. and become the
leader of a movement deplored bv nearly
every firm and tried temperance man in the
State, and commended and urged on by those
who have always been the opponents of tenn
perance and prohibition, and cheered on bv
such eminently temperance papers as the
Eastern Argus. Maine Standard and the Ban
gOr Commercial. And what is the reason
urged for this marked change in his course?
In substance, that Gov. Davis has not been as
prompt in the appointment of constables TO
enforce the amendments to the prohibtorv
law passed last winter. as Mr.. I'VE urged he
should have been. The amendment was ap-
proved BY the Governor on the 10Th of Feb
ruary. Up to the time of the Republican
State convention at Augusta, on the 23d of
June. all was right in Nye's estimation for
he was delegate to that convention. when
Gov Davis was renominated by reclamation,
not a dissenting voice being heard not even
from Mr.. Nye. The complaint then is that
from that time to the Sth of July. when the
call for the temperance convention at Au-
gusta appeared. when the resolution of cen
sure of Gov Davis was introduced. the Gov
ernor had not closed up all of the grog shops
in the State-a work which Mr.. Nve failed to
do in nine months while State constable. |
Such. in substance, is the ground upon which