Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-08-27
THE POLITICAL HORIZON.

The political air is heavy with the
sounds OF the coming struggles in the
East and West, and naturally all eyes
turn toward Maine, the mental Mecca OF
all true stalwart Republicans, to learn
how the people Of that hot-bed OF Prohi-
bition take to the lingo talk OF Blaine.
In order to base claim for his great
straddling act, it was necessary Tor the
great straddler to make some claim, care
less of the fact that he had no right to,
and SO he claims for the Republican
party, now that he is forced to do so, that
1t always favored Prohibition, and is the
founder of all prohibiting legislation in
that State since the issue first was made |
among its people. If the Republican
party favored Prohibition in 1884, when
Blaine was its head and front, why did
he cause the ladies Of Agusta, who were
in attendance at the polls to further the
interests OF Prohibition, to be sent away
from the polls before he went to deposit
his ballot, so that he could dodge the
vote as he did do? Why did not he vote
for Prohibition then, when he was the
chosen leader OF the party for whom he
now claims the honor OF supporting the
measure? Was not his act then direct
lie to his professions now? Ii he be-
lied his professions then, when in the ex-
alted position OF national candidate,
suppliant before the people, will he not
do 80 again? In one sense the Republi-
can party can truthfully claim the author
ship OF prohibition, and that is that the
men who have been foremost in bringing
it into public attention, and standing by
its fate, were all Republicans Of standing.
but for many years they have turned
their backs on the Republican camp for
the very good reason that they met moth
ing but treachery and deceit from the
leaders OF that party, and all the prom
ises made by that party to them, were
continuously broken or violated in the
spirit, il not in the letter, and the men
who were of that party found they leaned
upon rotten support when depending
upon its help, and four years ago, they
bolted and organized for their own inter-
ests, Independent Of any party. Their
leading man, General Neal Dow, who, by
his rabid utterances on the subject, is
sometimes held to be cranky on that one
issue, but who in the main is one of the
most honorable and upright OF citizens,
addressed large and influential audi
ence OF temperance people in Philadel-
phia in 1884, and in speaking then Of the
Republican deceit and treachery prac'
ticed toward the movement said 'We
appealed to the Republican State Central
Committee OF Maine to aid us in oui
struggle, and they personally pledged
themselves and their party to aid us ant
help to bring about the desired enforce
ment Of the laws, but they lied to me
yes they lied and basely deceived me
and through me the Prohibitionists o
: Maine, and now We have decided .henco
forth to quit the Republican party ano
trust to God and our own merits for sue
cess" Such man as General Dow il
not likely to publicly use such expires
sions unless he is right, and it was no
ticeable at the time that no man or pape
called his assertion in question. He i
the man to whom "blue-bellied" Fry
alluded, when he spoke OF scoundrels il
the Prohibition party who were trying t
beat the Republicans in Maine, and Il
whom Blaine referred as dangerous t.
the interests OF the party. He is danger
GUS to the party and he has good caus
to be so, for that party has all along
studiously ignored his plea for help afte
help had been promised, and now h
knows that the hollow mockery OF takin
up his cause with their tongues but no
their hearts, is simply a beginning OF
repetition OF the former outrages again'
truth and fair dealing for which the Re
publican party OF Maine has nations
reputation. Dow has publicly declare
that he would join his forces with til
Democratic party, as under them h
would at least obtain an enforcement c
the State law, though the tenets OF tn
party as national organization, hold tn
liquor traffic to be amenable only
such laws as govern the production an
sale OF other articles OF manufacture an
commerce. 1t is long time until I'll
National Conventions meet, and the pee
pie will have plenty of opportunities
analyze this new break OF Blaine's an
Judge it for what it is worth.