Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-14

0AxDuEs, Feb. 10. 1889.
1assov kesHebee Journal:
aoef editorial in to-day's (Priiay's) issue
urging harmony and unity in die sepublicar
pety n the costing musieipal elsesious. con
taiss soand, Wholesome adviee at I wish
every republican could read snd vo.ld prac
.'ee no precepts-especially in our own city
for years our party here hiss Seen divided and
suo-divided into fsctions, and though the
numbers in each faction diminish vish every
DIVISION, yet the rancor is msrvellously
inte nslhed. The reason of this factional
s'rHe may be because the shadow of a dem.
oc!atic element here furnishes 80 little oppo.
.n .ion, because every other republican
LINKS himself more worthy of promotion
'han ms neighbor. However this may be, the
eVli effect of these chickering's are only too
houceable, and is we'll illustrated BY the
nHstory OF last years elections. At the time
OF the September election, some Offices in the
local organization of the party had to be
niied' and necessarily part Of the candidates
were defeated. That part gave only a
iukewarm support to the republicans in the
stare election. The result was the fusion vote
mere was ninety votes nearer the republicans
than ever before
Inc Importance Of the national election
caused one Of the most united and harmonious
efforts in November, 1880, that the republi-
cans ever made in this city, and the result
was an old time victory. But the municipal
election soon followed, and then the factional
struggles were carried on with redoubled Wig
or. The words citizens caucus" and ..tem-
perance' we're made to cover a multitude Of
ambitious plans and revengeful motives.
Many who would resent any insinuation
against their republican principles, forgetting
that IN the long list of our republican mayors
there had not been one who had failed in the
faithful execution of his trust, whether it re-
ferred to Intoxicating liquors or other matters,
appealed to by over jealous advocates of tenn
perance, voted against the republican nominee
for the so-called temperance candidate
greenbacker in politics. The temperance
candidate was elected, and for one year rum
has run riot in Gardiner. To-day. although
we are within few weeks Of another munich
pal election, as yet not one thing has been
done by the republicans towards perfecting
their organization. No candidates are openly
talked OF. Why? Because it is feared that
II one faction presents a candidate and he
should be nominated in caucus. the other fac
ton will make use of than inalienable fright
of bolting." Where to! To the opposition,
whether 1t be temperance or citizen-the op-
position always wear one Of these masks in
our municipal elections.
If the republicans would reflect for one
moment upon the danger of such a course,
which will cause the defeated faction to carry
its feelings into the September canvass. and
there endanger State election by their in
action, they would give up contentious which
have no worthy motive as their object, would
didates. and by cordially supporting them
perfect their organization for the fall cam
paign. A united effort cannot be relied upon,
as last years elections proved, unless all
fractional strife is swept away; it would
seem that no other argument is needed to
secure this desirable result than to call atten-
ton to the next falls election. fraught as it is
with matters Of so much Importance to the
State at.arge.
The temperance portion of our citizens can
well see from last years record that the good
results of their cause is much better secured
in the republican rank than by organizing
any pOliticO-temperance party, and they can
now vote the republican ticket without fear
that in doing so they are injuring that cause.
Moody, the evangelist. says: "If l can in
duce man to look at the follies of his past
life, l am sure of his conversion" 1t is this
hope in regard to the republicans of Gardiner
that has Influenced me to write this letter.
REPUBLICAN.