Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-29
was signed by Governor John Hubbard. a

was signed by Governor John Hubbard. a
democrat, who was well-known not to be
personally in favor OF the law; but who
did not feel himself justified in vetoing
the bill which the friends of temperance
generally favored. Did the democratic
party silently aequiesce in what minor
ity of its members in the legislature en-
dorseds Not bit Of it. War was at
once proclaimed against Governor Hub
bard. Another democratic candidate was
placed in the field. A large proportion OF
the wings and free-soilers came to the
support of Hubbard at the polls in the
following September, and yet ne was
beaten and driven from political life.
What followed? Nearly all those demo-
Gratis who had favored prohibition were
ostracized from their party by the predomi
mating influences which nominated Pills
bury to take the place of Hubbard, whom
they had broken on the wheel OF party
wrath. The prosecuted democrats no Ion
ger at home in their own
party because of its pro-slavery and
free-rum policy. were driven into the re-
publican party. which the wanton repeal
of the Missouri Compromise, in 1854,
precipitated and made national necessi-
ty. At the first State Convention of the
republicans in February, 1855, when the
organization of the party was fully COM
pleted, it took square ground for prohibit
ton in these terms:
Resolved that the ext tence and execu ion Of the
Maine Temperance law is a vital element in the or
ganization and life of the republican party In this
State and Is OF the chief OF the lives,
reputation. property and homes of our people.
Both IN platform committee and in the
Convention itself this resolution had un-
animous assent. At the State election OF
1855 the republicans were beaten. though
their candidate tor governor received a larg-
er vote than had ever been thrown for any
preceding gubernatorial candidate. The
democrats and the pro-slavery and rum
rump of the Wing party having secured
a majority of the Legislature in the win
ter of 1856 at once repealed the Prohibto-
ry law and in high handed manner drove
from the Supreme Court one of the judges
to be the most earnest support
err of prohibition, for previous to his ap
pontment he had been on the Platform
Committee of the Republican Convention
OF 1855. against this repeal of the first
la,0 and the violent ejectment
OF Judge Davis from the Supreme Bench.
every republican member of the Legisla
ture voted, and every democrat who
scrbed and driven from the party. Sub
sequently when the republicans came into
power the prohibitory law was enacted,
then submitted to the people for ratlfica-
ton. and amended from time to time as
the friends of temperance demanded. The
history of what has TRANSFERRED in recent
years, including the adoption OF the pro-
hibition amendment OF the Constitution in
1884, is too well known to require repeti
ton. That the republicans of the State
have not refrigerated an inch, or gone
back on their record, is strongly evinced
in the fact that at the convention in Lew
iston which nominated Jos. r. BODwELL
for Governor, they gave prohibition the
same emphatic endorsement which their
first State Convention did more than thirty
years before. supplemented by the declar-
alton that the practical workings of the
law have been conducive to the public
welfare. AS in 1850. neither in the Com
mttee on Resolutions nor in the large
Convention itself was there any dissent
from the emphatic endorsement of prohi-
bition-a political fidelity and consistency
rarely equalled. and of which every friend
of temperance and every Maine republican
should be proud. Truly. if history is the
judicial tribune which judges the conduct
of parties and men, the republicans of the
State are amply indicated against the
mendacious assaults of the Argus, and the
democratic party of Maine has added to
its record OF infamy by opposing prohibit
ton as it opposed Freedom in Pro-Slavery
days, vigorous prosecution of the war
against secession and rebellion, and resist
ed to its utmost the emancipation of the
slave in the trying years of Reconstruc-
ton.
Some Interesting Inquiries
A correspondent of the New York Even