St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-13

BY some sort of bargain Blaine secured the
greenback vote that united with the Demo
Gratis on Plaisted two years previous, and
secured his election to the Governorship
He thus gain ed some four or five thousand
votes from the opposition, which counted
double for him in the majority. But his
greatest stroke Of policy was the formation
OF a combination with the Prohibi tionists
who were pledged to an iron-clad consttu-
tional amendment, prohibiting the manufac-
ture and sale of liquor. He pretended to
Prohibitionists to be in favor of the amend
ment, and pledged himself to Neal Dow,
the great apostle of Prohibition in Maine, to
vote for the amendment. In consequence
of this pledge Neal Dow wheeled into line
with Blaine, and exerted all his force, power
and influence in behalf of Blaine at the
polls, only to be enthusiastically cheated
by Blaine in the end by breaking his pledge
The following is the constitutional amend
ment for which he pledged Neal Dow he
would vote, and for the support of which he
did, either openly, or furtively, as circum-
stances seemed to demand, urge his camp
followers to vote. This is the constitutional
amendment which was carried overwhelm-
ingly at the late election, making the result
more Prohibition, than Republican vic
tory, though Blaine falsely turns it to the ac-
count of the latter:
1.-THE manufacture of intoxicating liquors. not
including cider, and the sale and keeping for sale
OF intoxicating liquors, and shall be forever
prohibited. Except however, that the sale and
keeping for sale of such liquors for medicinal and
mechanical purposes and the arts, and the sale
fnrC ola Of ofd ho
under such regulations the Legislature may
provide. The Legislature shall enact laws with
suitable penalties for the suppression of the
manufacture, sale and keeping for sale of intoxi-
eating liquors, with the exception herein speci-
fed
Mr.. Blaine seemed to favor the foregoing
amendment, and did favor it before the cleo
ton, and Neal Dow and his followers not
only voted for the amendment but also
for Balne's Republican ticket. The Demo-
Gratis hopeless of success made no vigorous
thoroughly organized canvass. But Blaine
and his cohorts turned the state upside down.
Money was freely used, and great host of
campaign stumpers was imported into the
state, and every precinct was harangued for
Blaine, and Prohibition stumpers advocated
the adoption of the amendment. Now look
az Vic manly SluGGI4Il Vi MI. DldluG. ne
campaign having been fought through on the
prohibition constitutional amendment, Mr.
Blaine left his home in Augusta on the Satur-
day prior to the election, for the northern
part of the state where he spent Sunday.
Monday the day of the election wore away,
till afternoon, and Mr.. Blaine did not appear.
to vote. Anxious enquiries for him were
made. Prohibition ladies guarded the polls
all day, and offered to any voter a ticket with
the cabalistic words inscribed upon it, Soon
stitutional amendment. Yes.h
The polls closed at o'clock, p. m. At
half past three O'Clock, as if by concerted ar
rangement the ardent prohibition ladies all
left the polls and but few persons fingered
about. At ten minutes to four O'Clock Mr.
Blaine and his son Walker drove to the polls
went to the ballot box, without greeting any
one, and voted the regular Republican ticket,
and neither he nor his son voted either way
on the amendment, and no lady cleo
tioneerer asked them as had all others to
vote on tie amendment. Evidently he held
the people of Augusta well in hand, and it
was arranged that he should vote at the last
moment unem barrassed by request to
vote for the ame ndment.
Six weeks before he was publicly pledged
by Neal Dow and others to vote for the
amendment, but at the last moment he for
feited his personal pledge which ne never
meant to keep. At that hour the canvass was
| over, the battle had been fought on speceus
pretense, and all there remained was for Mr.
Blaine to cast up his magnificent triumph!''
| How much this Prohibition Blaine victory
| in Maine will insure to the benefit of the Re-
publican nominee for the Presidency in 9th
| er states remains to be seen. It was regard
ed as political necessity by Mr.. Blaine to
carry his own state even on a Prohibition ba-
sis, land he could have carried on no other
however damaging it might be to him else
where. Not to carry his own state, triumph
antly, would be, to be thrown practically
out of the race, then and there, but to carry
the state, on whatever basis would prolong
the prestige OF bis candidacy.
The great shout of applause over the re-
| suit in Maine is designed to conceal from
the public eye the real root and spring of the
contest in that state. Stripped from ell show
and pretence it is Prohibition success more
than a Republican triumph, and by the vote
| of last Monday, an iron-clad prohibition
amendment is made part of the organic
law of the state. The necessities of Mr..
Blaine's state canvass secured this. 1t re-
mains to ask what will be the effect of this
Republican Blaine Prohibition triumph in
Maine, in other statesl'' The answer is a
very easy one. 1t will have a damaging, and
without doubt fatal effect on the Republic
ans in the states of the West and Northwest
This Prohibition victory in Maine secured
on a Prohibition basis, added to other wreck
ing and damaging injuries viii be sure to
carry Ohio in October against the Republic
ans, and with the loss of Ohio, the refuent
Democratic wave will roll on to a glorious
victory in November. Blaine, by his usual
treaehery, insincerity, broken pledges, and po-
litical chicanery, will have achieved bar
rem victory in his own state, for there he
1 will have laid the foundation for his own
| overthrow, and final political extinction.
|
| Col. John p. Owens.