The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-20
NATIONAL TEMPERANCE PARTY.
General Dow Accepts the Presidential
Nomination.

Gen. Neal Dow has written the following
letter:
Hon. Janaes Black andlRe A. A. Miner, d. D.:
Gentlemen-Your note of the 18th June,
notifying me officially of my nomination by
the National Prohibitory Convention at Cleve-
land as candidate for the Presidency, is re-
ceived. am very sensible of the honor i'm
piled in spontaneous and unanimous selec-
ton by such an assembly to represent their
opinions and purposes as to the relation of the
liquor traffic to the interests of the nation and
people. There is and can be no difference of
opinion among intelligent men as to the tre-
mendous evils coming necessarily from that
traffic to every public and private interest
Such men may and do differ as to the best
methods of providing remedy for these evils.
and each must judge for himself upon that
point according to his light.
In our country there can be no change in any
public policy which depends upon law, unless
the people desiring the change shall indicate
their pleasure through the ballot box Parties
and their policies came into power among us
and go out of power only through the ballot
box. There is no other way than that by
which the people can express their will effec-
lively. All important questions of public
policy are decided only in that manner.
The question of deliverance to the country
and emancipation of the people from the inf
mite evils of the liquor traffic may well chal-
lenge the closest attention of patriots, philan-
thropists and statesmen. This question touch
es the interests of nation, State and people as
no other does or can; deliverance from it can
never come In any other way than through the
ballot box.
1t is said by men whose opinions are entitled
to the highest respect, that the present is not a
suitable time for making this issue. No man
can be more sensible than am of the magni-
tude and importance of other questions of pub
lie policy which are to be tried by the people
at the next Presidential election; but am
confident that none of them. nor all of them
combined, are SO important as this to every
national and social interest Whatever mis-
chiefs can arise from an unwise popular YER
dict upon these issues, cannot be so great as
those coming from the liquor traffic. at the
same time that the former can continue but
for two years, the Congressional term, or at
most for four years, the Presidential term, I'M
less the people so determine by their votes;
while the far greater evils of the liquor traffic
will continue indefinitely unless the people ex-
press their will against it emphatically by the
ballot.
Men who hold this question to be of minor
importance can never find suitable moment
for making it political issue. Their will al
ways be some other question in which they feel
more interest," which may be crowde out by
bringing this question to the front. As there
is never suitable time for a summer rain in
the view of everybody, however dry and
parched the earth may be, there will ALWAYS
GUS or inconvenient.
In the old anti-slavery time, the authors and
promoters of the anti-slavery agitation, were
always thorn in the side of political parties
They were always nuisance and an ex-
ASPIRATION to those who were out of office and
trying to get in, and to those who were in
office and striving to retain their places. These
two classes comprised pretty much the entire
body of politicians. But the anti-slayery men
bent only on overthrowing the dreadful system
OF human bondage, having no personal in
terests to promote, except as such might be in
volved in the general good, were true to their
convictions and steadfast in the line of policy
which they believed to be right and wise.
They encountered and overcame all possible
modes of opposition-bitter denunciation,
great personal violence, humiliation and Of
fensive ostracism; but against all and over all,
in the love and fear of God and in devotian to
the right they won.
There was never time, before the final
victory, when the anti-slavery movement had
SO large following as Prohibition now has
nor ,! was it SO influential, except in the great
ability and singular devotedness of those who
We're engaged in it. Very few in numbers at
first and uninfuential il many parts of the
country they put their resolve in the form of
votes into the ballot box, only to be laughed at
BY the politicians and to be stigmatized as
tive movement in this country is now SO
respectable for its magnitude and so Influential
from the numbers and character of those en-
gagged in it that it cannot be laughed down.
There is and must continue to be an "irepressi-
BILE conflict" between the liquor traffic and the
prosperity of the nation and welfare of the
people.
The result of the recent general election in
England marks very distinctly what L con-
slider to be the best mode of carrying on the
agitation against the liquor traffic. Since 1858
the Prohibitionists of that country have been
striving with great ability and persistence to
procure such a change in the law, as would
enable the people of any locality to forbid the
liquor traffic there, if they should choose so to
do. But very little came of the agitation
practically, until its friends adopted the policy
OF ignoring party ties and voting only for this
one obje ct. AT the late election their adj
versaries were thoroughly defeated.
consider the object of the Prohibitionists
of this country to be of supreme importance to
the interests of the nation and people. Aside
from its bearing upon the moral and religious
welfare of the people I consider the sup
preston of the liquor traffic to be an object of
far greater political importance than any
other now claiming the attention of the
country.
My life has been largely devoted to the &C
complishment of that purpose. Perhaps !
may live to see my dearest hopes in relation to
it realized, at least in this, my own State; but
however that may be, in the future as in the
past, shall keep that object in view.
While sincerely wish that the choice of q
candidate by the Cleveland convention had
fallen upon some other than myself 1 accept
the nomination willingly, being sure that it
will prove to be- the humble beginning of
triumphant end.
am most respectfully yours,
NEAL Dow.