Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-05-15
The Maine Republican Platform.
REPLY or HON. JOHN L. STEVENS 10 CRIT
ICIsNS ny THE BOSTON ADVERTISER.

The Boston Airef,scr having criticised
the platform Of the Maine republican con
,ention and ntimated tina, i, VAS inspired
by Mr.. Blaine. the chairman Of the commit
tee on resolutions, Hon John l. Stevens Of
Augusta. writes the .idrertiser - follows:
Tire two resolutions which give special
umbrage 10 the .idrerfiser. are those on
temperance and the civil service We here
rrrieai them. ami their exAc, purport MAY
be obvious
We reafiirm our approval of the polio, Of
prohibiting the dram-shop. and our syn
path, With every judiciou. mo,emen, look
Ing 10 the amellorati1n of the evils Of in
Temperance.
Resoirc5 That the crea, number of Of
fetal agents necessary Ia the administration
Of the affairs Of people - numerous. aud
possessing interests 50 varied and vast as
those of the United States. demand that our
CIVIL service should be controlled bs strictly
business principles. that Il should have
every Improvement indicated by experience
and patriotism, and # any further legislation
Is required TO render II safe from the en-
oroachmen, and dangers Of partisan slufe.
Congress should prompt, provide such le:
i>alion. and the President and hi consiiia
iiona adviser. should enforce il IN spirit
and letter
The fir, resolution was not written by
any member Of 10. committee On resolutions.
but b, one Of the pronounced and chief rep.
reseniailSe proh.hiilonl,t> o! the State. once
an hpuorcd governor. now a trusted pubic
man. |, vas adopted by the committee on
resolution, and the convention without
change OF word or letter. and !; vas and i
10 accord with the rxpressrd wishes Of the
friends 81 the prohibition constitutions!
amendment. official, made hnoNn To the
committee on resolutions. With tt!s tenn
perance resolution Mr. Blaine has had a,
little TO d. a. the editor OF the .ffccrtissr.
That the .i3rcifiscr being understood To
be Ia favor Of !lc,nse and opposed to pro
hihiiinn. should care about this resolution
j. a matter We Do not feel called on 10 eN-
plain or crtlcise.
A. To suggesting. inspiring OF drafting he
clti.-ser,icc resolution, Mr. Blame had a.
little to DO a, he did with that On temper
ance. The author uf il received from no
person IN OF oat Of the State the slightest
HINT or suggestion as 20 writing i or any
other resolution on the subject lie has
no, been in Washington for nearly eigh,
wears. Mr.. Baire never bS oral written
+ opInIon on the subject. The writer ha, never
been accustomed TO take hi, political opln-
I ions from Washington or Boston They
are both beautiful and interesting cites. bu.
IN their mids,s one does not feel the warm.
bounding palse Of the country. For more
than 10 years be has been "a The way Of d.
ing his own p1litiol, thinking. no, always
the best. II may he. hut it has been such a.
has guided his own political action. On the
ci,i! service question he has quite as adj
'anced and uncompromising opinions as the
editor Of the -ifrertiSer. believing that not
only additional congregational iegis alton
will he found necessary, but that TIE ciyi.
service Of thi. great people will never be
entirely independent and securely guarded
from the evils Of partisan strife until the
Constitution Of the United States shall have
had an Important amendment The resolu
/ tion plainly implies whatever legislation or
other action time and experience shall show
/ TO be necessary TO the most effective aud
3 honest civil service.