Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-02
The Maine Campaign.
ATTITUDE OF PRoHIBITIoNIsrs AND DEMO
Gratis.

Correspondence New York Tribune.
The first week of the canvass in the State
closes with an encouraging outlook for the
republican ticket. The meetings have all
been well attended-unusually so for an off
year-and this notwithstanding the hot
weather. The audiences present at the meet
ings addressed by Mr.. Blaine-snd those
present at such other meetings as l have at
tended-were made up of very intelligent
people. who came to hear and not to see. As
| these meetings were with one exception all
held in small villages the people came long
distances-On an average ten or fifteen miles.
II was not curiosity to see Mr.. Blaine, be-
cause he has been speaking in these places in
nearly every campaign for thirty years. 1t
was noticeable that those present, consid-
cradle number of whom were women, all re-
| Inained until the meetings were over, listen
ing to every word that was said. This. taken
in connection with the enthusiasm, is a very
strong indication of the general feeling in
favor of the republican ticket. If the demo-
/ Gratis would make little more vigorous cam
paign and depend less on the still hunt method,
so as to stir up the republican voters, the
| majority would doubtless be larger
One noticeable feature of the canvass is the
efforts the third party people are making to
bring themselves into prominence, and the
aid they are getting from the democratic
newspapers. liz previous years if there was
anv interruption at republican meeting in
an attempt 10 di, ert a speaker, it was always
a democrat. generally under the influence of
liquor, who was guilty of the wrong doing.
There have been Interruptions at this years
meetings, but in every case it has been pro-
| hibitionist who was guilty Of this imperti-
nence. They have had circulars of various
kinds printed attacking Mr.. Blaine. and these
are distributed at his meetings. OF course
all this is part of the methods adopted to at
tract attention and make it appear that they
are strong in numbers. careful canvass of
the State just completed by the State Com
mittee shows practically no gain over the So
called prohibition party vote of 1884. In that
/ year there were 81 ,507 votes cast for the pro-
hibitory amendment to the Constitution, but
only ,l57 votes were cast for st. John And
yet these l57 arrogate to themselves the ex-
elusive right to be called the temperance men
Of the State-the Prohibitionists. In the fl We
States that have adopted constitutional prohi-
bition 656 264 votes were cast in favor of it,
but ST. John received only 2O,7 altogether
in those States. In every instance prohibi-
ton has been carried by the republican
party, anu IL is tnls attempt OF D per cent or
the Prohibition voters to defeat the party
which has done so much for the temperance
cuse that is exasperating the real temper
ance men.
St John, who is now in this State, has
signalled his entry by at once directing all
his batteries against the republican party
Unmindfu of the fact that the democratic
party when last in power repealed the Pro-
hlbitory law. which was re-enacted by the re-
publicans, St. John gives all the credit to
the democrats of bringing about Prohibition,
though they not only openly oppose it but
their county officers have been largely re-
sponsible tor failure to enforce it, These at
tacks, however, are not doing the republic
cans any harm. The canvass of the State
shows that good many democrats will vote
the Prohibition ticket this year because of
dissatisfaction in their own party. In one
town there are ninety democrats Who have so
declared their purpose
The real issue is that of the tariff. AL
though Maine is dotted all over with manu-
: features which give it the greater part of its
prosperity, the democrats here are coming
out openly for Morrison's tariff bill.