The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-08-23
Joshua Nye's New Party.

Mr.. EDIToR,-Despitet the outcome of Mr.
Nye's convention Thursday, when by the aid
of trumped up Greenback and Democratic
following that gentleman succeeded by his re-
markable tactics in out-witting the temperance
men and placing an Independent ticket in the
field, there was an expression of sentiment of
State not wholly dispiriting to the friends of
the cause throughout the State.
There was a very general misunderstanding
as to who were invited to the meeting, the
great mass of the temperance people having
in mind the afternoon meeting and supposing
that only those who joined in the independent
movement were expected to participate in the
forenoon meeting. For this reason hundreds
of Portland temperance men, thoroughly dis
gusted with the leadership OF Dow and Nye.
held themselves alocf from the meeting; and
this accounts for the small attendance OF local
temperance workers Nevertheless there was in
attendance from abroad goodly delegation of
representative men, coming from all sections
of the State. There were of our trusted lead
ers such distinguished and well known tenn
perance workers as ex-Govs. Arson P. Morrill,,
Nelson Dingley and Sidney Perham, that ven
cradle old war horse Rev. d. B. Randall, Rev.
John Allen, Rev. BENZ. Freeman,J. S. Kimball
and Col. G. V. Crossman of Bangor; d. B.
Pride of Windhan; Rev. Messrs. Howard,
Littlefield and burlington; Hon. Geo. Pierce
of Harrison, Hon. Benjamin KiLgsbury, H.
X. Morrell, Esq. of Gardiner, and others,
whose names will be recognized as a tower of
strength among the temperance men of the
State. There were present eight gentlemen
who have occupied the position of Grand
Worthy Chief Templar of the Grand Lodge of
Good TemplarS of this State-an organization
numbering from fifteen to twenty thousand
pledged temperance people. And the signifi-
cant and gratifying fact regarding the meeting
is that these gentlemen, who may justly be re-
garded as representing the real sentiment of
the temperance men of Maine, stood united
against the ill-advised action of Mr.. Nye-the
only exceptions among what may be consid-
cred as representative temperance men
being Joshua Nye. j. X. Osgood, A.
j. Chase and Mr.. Kelly of Win
vote OF censure was passed in opposition to the
wishes of these gentlemen, and by men-the
majority of them-who have no more right to
vote III temperance meeting than Bob lnger-
sOii Lao W lC1u d uctuOulSt GLASS meeting.
This fact is significant as demonstrating that
the great body OF temperance men in the
State fully understand that the true interests
OF the temperance cause are best to be sub
served by an adherence to the party which,
now, as in the past, has been the consistent
and unylelding supporter of enforced prohibi-
ton.
The truth about this ridiculous movement
on the part of Mr.. Nye-for he is the 'head-
center" of the rebellion.may thus be stated
Naturally arbitrary and dictatorial, he has un-
dertaken to do little 'bull-dozing," and in
Gov. Davis has run against a ''snag'' he call
ed his first convention as an intimidating pro-
cess; finding himself not only unsuccessful
but wholly unsupported by his associates in
the temperance work, he became enraged and
even if he stood alone. This he openly avowed.
He stood alone and hence the necessity
OF the Greenback and Democratic following
which Tabulator Chase summoned to
his aid; and this extremity accounts
for Nye's arbitrary and discourteous rulings
could vote, as he couldn't 60 about the hall
smelling OF peoples breaths!'' 1t is simply an
iliustra ton Of the old adage, "Whom the
gods would destroy they first make mad"
From the best advices to be obtained it is
safe to predict that Mr.. Nye will signally fail
in his effort to turn over any considerable
number OF temperance votes to the fusionists
True in the past he has been influential but
only when following straight forward and
consistent course His aninaus is now so clear
~ seen that he will be unable to delude any,
body Like Horace Greeley, when he turned
his back on the teachings of his life, our
Joshua is shorn of his strength. Osgood will
obtain but a few Republican votes Now and
then Democrat or Greenbacker who is a re-
formed man-and perhaps who, like jordan
Rand, Robert Murphy George Washington
Murch and Kelly of Winthrop, has occasion
ally voted the Republican ucket-will find the
new party a convenient halfway house," es-
pecially this year when SO many honest Demo-
Gratis are hestating about giving endorsement
to the infamous practices of last year. 1t is
very certain that the new party will draw two
votes from Plaisted to one from Davis; and on
the whole Republicans can we'll afford to join
Mr.. Nye and Tabulator Chase in their con-
CALCULATIONS. ENFORCED PROHIBITION.