Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-16
Political Pro,,;b,.iop,sp,.

concord IN H. Independent Salesman
We COPY below a thoughtful editorial
article from the Lewiston (Maine) ,Joarnaf,
whose editor, Congressman Dingley, is one
of the best known temperance men in the
country. Without any changes, what the
Journal says of Maine is true of New Hamp-
shire:
However it may be with some of the
leaders in the Independent prohibitory
party movement, we do not by any means
question the sincerity of the most of those
who are inclined to favor it. To these sim
cere men it ought to very suggestive that
while all the supporters of license encour-
age this third party movement in Maine,
95 out of 100 of the friends of prohibition
believe that far more can be done for the
cause of temperance and prohibition by
non-partisan appeal to all citizens and By
making this political influence of temper
ance men felt through existing parties, than
by attempting to organize separate poli1-
cal party.
The path of temperance progress lies in
eleyating the temperance cause above DO
litical parties, and making fri endship for
the fundamental principles of the temper
ance movement, rather than mere member
ship of an independent political party, the
test of fealty to the cause. The former
course will win support from right-minded
men of all parties. The latter. course will
divide and weaken the friends of temper
auce and prohibition-a result for which
the five friends of the cause who disregard
the judgment of the 10 will be clearly re.
sponsible, and will repel thousands who
would be glad to aid the cause in practical
ways so long as it can. be done by support
ing its principles in the way which. seems
to the great body of temperance mel TO be
most elective.
The prohibitdry party in Maine is organ
lied on the plea that neither the Rep1bli-
can nor Democratic party will enact salts
factory prohibitory laws or enforce them,
and hence that it is necessary to organize a
new party that will do these things So
far as laws are concerned, ii is clear that
the friends of prohibition have been
granted whatever legislation in this State
the great body of them thought wise by
the Republican party. There is no ground
for complaint in this direction. The conf
plant can have no bearing except on the
question of the enforcement of these laws.
Now the problem is to secure the election
of such municipal and county of6cers, by
the various localities. as will enforce these
laws faithfully, and such Il State Executive
as will appoint constabies in the ex-
ceptional cases where local officers of the
mind always that the most essential thing
is to secure the local and county officers,
for if these fail it is difficult for outside
officers to make up the deficiency. The
friends of temperance can usually control
the nomination OF reliable candidates by
one of the existing parties far more easily
than they can form neW party and place
that in the majority. As a rule me
friends OF temperance cen control the nom-
inations of the Republican E.arty in Maine.
Now instead of organizing so as to insure
the nomination and election of faithful
officers to enforce the law, the practical re-
suit of the. independent prOhibitory party
is directly the reverse. Ii ii was organized
on the basis of securing the election OF re-
liable Temperance Enen. 1t would support
such aen when nominated by either OF she
two leading parties, and thus bring a pcg-
erfut lever to bear 70 induce them to aoDl>
mate only such men. But, instead OF
that, the policy of the third is 10 nominate
members of thRir own Organization, as in
dependent candidates, and to DO tbiS- lpst as
certainly when the other party dominates
. reliable temperance man anas plohlbi-
zionist, as when il nominates man salts
/ factory to the liquor element, Such a
course not only most effectrally destroys
| the political influence of tks. tliizd party
so far as the election of reliable Temperance
men IS concerned, but actually tends to de
| feat true men and TO Strengthen the powe
of the liquor element, which always com
bines its strength on ths candidates OF til
| old parties most favorah,e.to them.
| IL is for these and ctbsr reasons that s
out of 100 friends os T. appearance and $50
hibition regard the independent prcliibi
tory party, under the policy whish ba
thus far controlled It's operations. 80 an in
jury rather than benefit to TIE cause c
temperance and prohibition.