Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-26
The Temperance Convention.

ueIuOcrdt> WHO were HcNci SCH AZ "a 'Si'A
peranee convention before were present
taking deep interest in the proceedings.
Was it the good of the temperance cause
which prompted them and their followers
to applaud the denunciations OF Gov Davis
and the republican party made by some OF
the speakers, Was it temperance that
brought them there, or were they allies
in plot against the republican party?
Those men seemed TO understand that
there was a purpose at the bottom OF the
convention to make trouble in the repub-
lican party. This being so it is very easy
to account for their attendance and their
active cooperation in applauding every
thrust made at the republican party. Who
before ever knew such men as-well no
matter about the names at prcsent-take
an interest in temperance meeting? And
who ever knew them to vote anything but
the straight democratic ticket, with its
steady opposition to prohibition and tenn
perance for the last twenty-five years.
In a special sent to the Boston Globe,
by the correspondent of that paper in
this city, the evening before the conven-
ton. appeared the following:
For some time Mr.. Nye, General Dow
and others hare been rorking up the Prohtji-
tion element to a high pitch, and have sue
| ceeded in frightening the Republican leaders
greatly by their action. II IS expected that a
| good attendance will be here tomorrow, and
that dee,sire steps will be taken toward orga-
nizing and pushing the claims Of the temper
ance party in the coming contest. ID as nm
dersfood that the nomination Of William joy
of Ellsworth. the nominee of the Prohibition
| lists, WILL BE ENDORSED. and Neal
Dow 9 nomination for president RATIFIED.
Now how did this democratic attache of
the Maine Standard and Boston Globe get
the information in the above paragraph ?
How was it that HE understood what Mr..
Nye's convention expected or intended 10
doo Was he let into the secret?
Since the convention is over we notice
that the democratic papers have fearful
stories to tell about the proceedings and
how the temperance men were insulted
and abused. The Lewiston Gazette pre-
faces its account of the convention with
such headlines as the following: The
Convention at Augusta Driven out of
Town"-"Its Members Insulted and
Abused''-"The Party of Moral Ideas in
its true light" The Portland Argus also
spreads itself to make it appear that there
was terrific fight. 1t says:
Then began scene that beggars descrp-
ton. Ex-Gov. Morrill, raved and tore
Sheriff Libby mounted the stand and said.
This convention must be adjourned in le
gal manner delegate shouted, "Who are
your" II am the sheriff of kennebec cOun-
ty," replied the doughty warrior who had
charge Of the republican mob that kept the
legal legislature out of the State House last
winter. You can't run this temperance
convention if you do run the rum party of
Kennebec county," replied the delegate in
question. Libby subsidized
At ten o'clock the gas was obliged to be
extinguished and the crowd reluctantly dis
persed.
The members of the convention who came
to the city to attend this convention in good
faith for the purpose of aiding the cause they
love. are completely dumbfounded at the in
reference by the republican ring of Augusta
in the proceedings of the convention.
These gentlemen are nearly all Of them
republicans. who say they will do no more
voting for party that countenances such
wild and unwarranted actions.
As matter of fact ex-Gov. Morrill, was
entirely cool and gentlemanly in all his
remarks ard conduct, although Mr.. Nye's
chairman would not permit him to speak
at the evening session. and insuted him.
Sheriff Libby was not upon the stand at
all until after the chairman had declared
the convention adjourned. The gas was
not turned off until the last member and
spectator of the convention had retired
And instead OF members of the conven-
ton finding fault with 1.-THE republican
ring of Augusta" they retired that even.
ing, the great majority of them. feeling
that they had been duped into meeting
to aid the contingent conspirators in OBJ
tanning an endorsement from the voters
OF Maine for their outrages committed last
winter. and that the meeting was not in
tended or calculated to promote the cause
of temperance.
With all the efforts of the democratic
organs to make it appear that the conven-
ton was utterly opposed to the republi-
can party. the fact yet stands out promi-
nently that the convention squarely re-
iected the resolution to support an indie
pendent prohibitory ticket. and that the
resolution of censure upon Gov.
Davis would have metthe same fate could
a fair vote have been had upon it. The
plot failed and no men are more indig-
nant about the game that was played up
on them than those who came to Augusta
expecting to attend an honest convention
for the promotion of the temperance
cause.
There has not been the slightest doubt
about Senator Blaine's attitude in this canvass
That he would be loyal to the republican par
tv and its candidates went without saying
The knowledge therefore. that he has writ
ten to General Garfield assuring him of his
support is only what was expected of him