Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-03
The CAMPAIGN,
Addresses Delivered by Hon. ].
4. Blaine and Hon. william
Gibson OF Ohio.
A Large and Enthusiastic
Meeting at Dover.
DOVER, Sept. 3.

NJ AhhChcc &uulcuCt lEOu tOWls t0rOugD-
out the country gathered at the meeting at
Dover addressed by Messrs Blaine and Glib
son, Thursday afternoon.
| The day was perfect. The audience was
Every obtainable position within hearing dis
tance was occupied.
Mr.. Blaine was interrupted many times
during his speech BY enthusiastic applause.
The meeting was held in the open all, excellent
music being furnished by Dyer's band. The
meeting was called to order by j. B. Peaken
OF the State committee. c. II. B. Woodbury.
of Dover was vice president. Mr.. Blaine
was introduced amid great applause, speak
ing about half an hour. Mr.. Gibson follow
ed with characteristic speech in his own
inimitable manner.
After referring to tariff, Mr.. Blaine said
that in fair contest between the republican
and democratic parties the former would al
ways be sure of large majority. The only
hope that democrats have in cutting
the majority down is from the vote of the
third party prohibitionists. and this vote,
probably small in any event, would be moth
ing in this State except for the active inter-
position of Neal Dow. The course of Gen.
Dow is contradiction of the position, which,
even within the last two years, within the
last two months, he has steadfastly main
tanned.
Its perhaps not fair to hold man answera-
BILE for opinions 25 or 80 years old There
should be a statute of limitation, admit, on
political consistency as there is upon pecu-
mary obligations. but | think mans con-
sistency might, at least, in moral and polit-
cal issues, be as long as six years, the respOn-
| slbility for financial obligations. In January,
1885, Mr. Dow was criticised by some per-
sons, by some third party prohibitonists for
maintaining his adherance to the republican
party. He warmly defended his course and
rehearsed in glowing colors the triumph of
prohibition under republican administration
in Maine, and reproachfully said to his CEN
sors, "when you have done the same in your
states YOU will be in a position to advise us
as to what is the best and wisest to do in
Maine.'
Six months later Dow again replied to an
article in the North American Review, which
declared that prohibition in Maine was fail
ure He argued the mode in which the pro-
hibitory law was administered under republi-
can rule, declaring in effect that it DESTROYED
80 per cent. of the liquor traffic in the State,
and added that the ''republican party of
Maine, always, at all of its conventions, pro-
claimed to all the world vast benefits, moral
and material, coming from prohibition, and
they have finally, by solemn vote, put pro-
hibtlon into the constitution" This, said
Dow, II am confident will be held by all un-
prejudiced people to be conclusive that the
Maine law has not been and is not now
failure, but a great success"
Five months later, in November, 1885, Mr.
Dow declared that 1.-THE Maine law is as well
executed as any other of our statutes, and the
effect, good and moral and material interest
is so great that it cannot be measured by any
mode of computation now known to u.s."
Eight months later, in June, 1886, nearly
two months ago, Mr.. Dow wrote to an Eng
lish temperance alliance: 1.-The Maine law"
mark you. administered by the republican
party, has driven every distillery and brew
cry from the State, has stopped nineteen
twentieths of the liquor traffic. and
had added 100000 of dollars an
nuually to the wealth of the State.
After these four public and pronounced attes-
tations to the candor and efficiency of the
republican party of Maine in its support of
prohibition, Dow, at the end of 60 days,
mounts the public platform and declares the
republican party is no more trustworthy in
tIdl tile ueuOCTdtlC party, which
has for all these years been steadilt opposing
prohibition, and now the democrats cunning
ly hiding behind them, are waiting to have
Dow and associates do the work of their own
party. The democrats invoke his aid to de-
feat Reed in the lst Congressional district, to
defeat him though he is the leader of the re-
publican side of the House (great applause)
and represents the political principles for
which Dow has been fighting for nearly life
time. They invoke the aid of Dow's party
to defeat Boutelle in this district although
he has been the most earnest of republicans
and as stringent total abstinence man as
there is in the state of Maine. They invoke
his aid to defeat Mlliken IN the Sd district,
although his zeal and activity in the support
OF protectien are of vast interest and advan-
tage to his constituents. To cap the climax
the democrats invoke Dox's aid, and receiv-
ing it, to defeat Nelson Dingley witt. his long
and consistent record of zeal for the
temperance cause, to elect in his
stead Alonzo Garcelon, whom l hereon say
nothing. Laughter]. And the the demo-
Gratis further invoke Dow's aid to elect a
democratic legislature that will send an anti
prohibitionist and anti protectionist to repre-
sent Maine in the Senate of the United States.
| don't wish TO speak of Gen. Dow in any
other tones than those of personal respect
We have been friends too long to permit me
to speak of his course except in words of
deep regret, to speak of and with the pro-
found belief that he will himself awake from
it sometime as from An ugly dream. OF all
men in the State of Maine who might be ex-
pected to have been in coalition with the
democracy,to be aiding and abetting their de-
signs 10 help elect their candidates, certainly
Gen. Dow, in the opinion of his friends,
would have been among the last. Applause.
Mr.. Blaine spoke at length of the material
interests of Maine, of the vast increase of
wealth in the State since the republicans
gained the national power of 1861, of the
deep and abiding concern which all, with the
great industries of Maine, had in maintaining
the protective tariff, and it was because of
these great industrial presents, and of the de-
structive effects which the repeal of the tariff
would have on the labor of the State, that he
appealed to the voters of Maine to be con-
sistent with the republican party, the repub-
lican policy, and the republican representa-
tives in Congress. Loud applause and
cheering].