Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-08-12
The Truth Of History INDICATED.

4
original foundation law of prohibition, and
Democratic governor Governor Hubbardl
approved it.-EdSterH .irgas.
Among un,ruthful men there have grown
into use two methods of uttering false
hood. One is TO lie squarely. directly. with
out ciroumlooution or arts Of ooncea lment.
The other is so 10 state a fact or seeming
truth as to make it declare what Is really
false. The argus adopts the latter method.
which it deems an adroit historic manner of
lying. that may deceive the present genera
ton. BY its language that paper means that
its readers shall understand that the Dem
ocratic party and the Democratic legislature
Of 1851 favored prohibition. The reality Is
far otherwise. 1t is true the Democrats had
a majority Of the Legislature Of 1851. It is
true that the FIRST prohibitory law was passed
by the legislature of 1851. 1t is equally
true that majority Of the Democratic mem
bers Of the legislature Of 1851 we're opposed
TO that law. The measure was adopted by
the votes Of a minority Of the Democrats
three-fourths Of the wings. and the small
number OF free sollers in the legislature or
that year. II 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 veloing
the bill which the friends of temperance
generally favored. Did the Democratic par
~ silently acquiesce in what minority Of
lis members in the legislature endorsed
Not a bit of H. War was at once pro-
claimed against Governor Hubbard. An
other Democratic candidate was placed in
the field. \ large proportion Of the wings
and free-soilers came TO the support Of Hub
bard 81 the polls in the following Septem-
Der. and vet he was beaten and driven from
political life. What followed Nearly al
those Democrats who had favored prohibit
tiou were ostracized from their party BY the
predominating influences which nominated
Pl.lsbury 10 take the place Of Hubbard.
whom they had broken on he wheel Of
party wrath. The prosecuted Democrats no
longer a. home IN their own party because
Of It's pro-slayery and free-rum policy. we're
driven into the Republican party. which the
wanton repeal Of the Missouri Compromise
in 1854, precipia,ed and made a national
necessity. \, the first State Convention Of
the Republicans IN February. 1855. when
the organization Of the party was fully com
pleted. II took square ground for prohibition
in these terms:
H,,plrtd That the existence and execu-
ton OF the Maine Temperance law i vital
element in the organization and lifc Of the Re
publican party In rhi- State. and i one Of the
chief safeguards Of the lives. reputation. prop
crty and home, Of our people.
Both in platform committee and in the
Convention itself this resolution had uuan-
lmous assent. Al this State election Of
1855 the Republicans were beaten. though
{.
er vote than had ever been thrown for any
preceding gubernatorial candidate. The
Democrats and the pro-slavery and rum
'1mP Of the Wing party having secured a
majority Of the legislature IN the winter Of
1916 a, once repealed the Prohibitory law
and in a high handed manner drove from
the Supreme Court one OF the Judges pre-
sumed 10 be the most earnest supporter Of
prohibition, for previous to his appointment
he had been on the Platform Committee Of
the Republican Convention Of 1855. AydiHst
thtS repeal IF the frst prohibfory lar and
the violent eJectmeni Of Judge Davis from
the Supreme Bench, every Republican mem
Der of the Legislature voted. and every
Democrat who raised dissenting voice was
at once prescribed and driven from the party
Subsequently when tneRepublicans came into
power the prohbitory law was enacted. then
submitted to the people for ratification. 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 prohibition amendment Of
the Constitution in 1884. is too well known
to require repetition. That the Repuhli-
cans OF the State have not retrograded an
inch. OF gone back on their record. is strong
" ev!nced il the fact that al the convention
in Lewiston which nominated Jos r. Bod
well for Governor, they gave prohibition the
same emphatic endorsement which their
first State Convection did more than thirty
years before. supplemented by the declara-
ton that the practical workings of the law
have been conducive to the public welfare
A. in 1875, neither in the Committee on
Resolutions nor in the large Convention it.
self was there any dIssen; from the emphat-
lc endorsement Of prohibition-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 yindicat-
ed against the mendaclous assaults of the
-4rgaS. and the democratic party of Maine
has added TO its record of infamy by oppos-
ing prohibition as it opposed Freedom in
Pro-Slavery days, a vigorous prosecution Of
the war against secession and rebellion, and
resisted to its utmost the emancipation Of
the slaves in the trying years Of Reconsuuc-
ion.-kenRebec Journal