The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-24

and constables of towns, are required to en-
force these laws. Second, because of the fact
that the concentration of the foreign vote in
cities often makes it impossible to secure local
officers who will faithfully enforce these flaws,
it is made the duty of the ordinary officers of
the law, to wit, sheriffs and their DEPUTIES to
make complaints and execute warrants and of
County Attorneys TO prosecute such offenders.
And thirdly, by an act of the last legislature,
where both local officers and sheriff are shown
to be derelict in duty, it is made the duty of
the Governor and Council to appoint two or
more cOnstables in such county to temporarily
do the neglected work of enforcement until
the voters of the municipality or county shall
be able to supplant unfaithful officers with
those who will do their duty.
1t thus becomes manfestly the duty of the
Governor and Council to appoint constables in
counties where they shall be satisfied that the
Sheriffs neglects to faithfully enforce the law.
The temperance men of Maine ask and expect
that this duty imposed on the executive de-
partment shall be performed in good faith, so
that the law may not be openly disregarded in
any part of the State. We do not ask flor the
appointment of such officers in any county UNI
less it is clear that the ordinary officers of the
law neglect to enforce the law in reasonable
manner because we recognize the fact that
these officers can best do this work. We do
not ask that these constableS shall be the men
of our choice, but simply that they shall be
entrusted to them without fear or favor.
While thus insisting on the duty of the
State to appoint constables to temporarily en-
force its laws when the ordinary officers elect
ed by the people neglect their duty, we desire
to impress on the friends of temperance the
vital importance of securing faithful local
officers, and especially of electing Sheriffs and
County Attorneys-the officers specially
charged with the execution of laws-who will
do their full duty. Under our system of gov
eminent, where all officers are ultimately
elective, we may temporarily supply the place
of ali unfaithful or inefficient sheriff or county
attorney, but we cannot permanently enforce
any law unless it is sustained BY the popular
sentiment of the people of county. Indeed,
laws against panderers to vice need the active
people in order to be effective. Without this
the best officers cannot secure full measure
of success.
We are confident that majority of the cit-
zens of every county in the State are not only
in favor of prohibition, but also in favor Of its
faithful enforcement. This being the case, it
is plainly the duty of the temperance men of
the State to see that such persons, and only
such persons as can be relied upon to faithfully
enforce our prohbitory laws, are elected to the
office of sheriff and county attorneys-the two
officials charged with the ordinary duty of en-
forcing the laws.
But in order to secure this result constantly,
not only agitation but active effort and if need
be organization, are needed. Temperance
men must make their influence felt in the par
ties to which they are attached, and if their
own party does not nominate candidates for
these offices who can be depended upon to en-
force the laws, they must vote in body for
candidates who can be. And if no party NOM
mates such man, then independent candi-
dates must be put in nomination. To secure
this end, and to arouse and intensity the tenn
perance sentiment in aid of the enforcement
40 IF tha
State Temperance Society will appoint Pro-
hibitory Executive Committee in each county.
The great progress which the temperance
movement has made in this State during the
past half century ought to encourage the
friends of temperance in Maine to renewed
efforts. We are fighting battle not only for
this State but also for other States and other
countries. With patience, fidelity and unre-
uniting efforts we can put Maine in such po-
sition as to demonstrate beyond cavil the sue
cess of legal prohibition as an indispensable
adjunct of moral agencies in promoting the
cause of temperance.
The True Inwardness of the Meeting.
A special despatch from Augusta to the Ad-
vertiser says:
The truth ought to be told in regard to the
State Temperance Convention here yesterday.
In June Mr.. Nye attempted to dictate the
nomination of special constable for Gardiner
and named the man who, he said, must be APP
pointed No other name would suit him. The
man was appointed, but at a hearing largely at
tended his confirmation was resisted by the
county officers of Kennebec all the leading
police and the city government of Gardiner
1t was proved that the head officers were doing
their duty. The appointee being grossly unfit
the Governor withdrew his name. Finally
competent man was nominated and confirmed
MI. Nye had openly Threatened that if his
favorite was not confirmed he should call
mass State temperance convention to nominate
third candidate for governor.
The convention was called, purporting to be
for consultation. At the meeting Mr.. Nye
found himself in a minority and was bitterly
denounced by veteran temperance leaders for
his want of good faith in not declaring in his
call the real object of the convention. The
organization of a new party was voted down
by four to one. Scarcely ten men were in fav-
or of it.
The convention adjourned to evening pend
ing the adoption of resolution censuring
Gov. Davis. During the interim teams were
busy collecting fusionists to fill the evening
meeting. The Young Mems Democratic Club
was out in large numbers. During the evening
speakers in opposition to the Nye programme
were Missed by the audience and even insulted
by the presiding officer. Debate was choked
off. motion was made to adjourn to Port
land, to next August 49, Twelve voted yea,
and without calling for nays, though promi-
-nent temperance men doubted the VOTE the
chairman declared the convention adjourned
amid great confusion The disorder was due
to the attempt to force upon the convention
measure that not ten per cent. of even the rad
ical temperance men favored.