The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-05-10
Temperance in Politics.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: Whel
say that regard the third party moyemen
as detrimental to the cause of temperance,
speak with full knowledge of the fact that
am going directly against the opinions Of som'
who desire to see the work of temperance reform
prosper, not only in Maine but In the who'll
country.
That they should raise the question, why i
it injurious to our work? is not to be won,lere,
at. Not for political reasons, but for the SAX,
Of temperance, l propose to briefly answer
their question at this time.
| would first ask you to consider this on,
fact: Temperance has never yet made any
permanent progress strictly as a political ques
tion. 1t certainly is fact that the prohbi
tory party have been in existence long enough
to accomplish something in this respect if they
are ever going to.-which they will not Sc
far they have succeeded in gaining the well
merited rdicule of the people. Calling them
| selves the apostles Of temperance, the public
| feeling awakened by their acts cannot but af
! feet the temperance cause outside of politics.
| n very little thought ought to be sufficient tC
convince the most obstinate that temperance
or prohibition. is not a matter that can be
made the foundation Of a political party il
this country without degradation to itself
| PrOhlbltion depends entirely on the mora
standing of the people. 1t is pre-eminently .
moral matter; and ! regret to say politics arc
| not apt to adhere very strictly to morality. nc
subject has ever yet been carried into politics
which has not been turned into a stepping
| stone to power by ambitious office holders, or
| by their less fortunate but equally ambitious
brothers, office-seekers.
In the exciting race of politics. most mel
follow the principle that ''all's fair in love and
war;" The third party man, who happens to
be a candidate for political honors, is Just as
there is no reason to suppose that he lives
above political intrigue simply because he is
not Republican or Democrat.
1t is not my purpose to cast reflections upon
| the Prohibitionists; but for the purpose OF
proving to you that am not dealing with an
imaginary matter, wish to call your attention
to the remark of third party candidate. made
just prior to the last State election. During the
course of conversation, the remark was made
BY temperance man. that Bodwel was to be
elected; to which the Prohibitionist replied that
we would get a rummy. Kind reader, can YOU
see any motive for such an utterance, except
that which stoops to slur one man in the vain
hope of laudino another? This alcEe would he
sufficient to convince one that the political Pro-
hibitionists are willing to work against the
cause they profess to favor, for the sake of
gaining political victory.
Iy by the temperance laws of our State, and
when dying. he refused to take intoXicants.
could but wonder what the thoughts of that
third party man and his colleagues We're.
have but given you one sample out of the
many. With all due respect to the opinions of
others. let me ask you if such things can work
in any manner except to disgust public senti-
ment: All people do not always stop to con-
slider that same in name is not of necessity same
in kind. Taking unto themselves the name of
temperance reformcrS. they are apt to he link
Ell with the cause of temperance under all con-
ditions.
Temperance has no connection with our poll
ties furthermore than this--the party in power
is bound to conform their laws to the demands
of the majority of the people. A man may be a
Protectionist or a free trader according as he
believes his business interests demand prOtcc-
ton or free trade. But the we'll being of al
people demands temperance. The high tariff
man stands lust as much in need of the prohib-
itory law as his neighbor. who may believe in a
tariff for revenue only. Each of these men may
desire constitutional prohibition. yet their poll
tics are directly opposite. Freed from all poit-
ical connection, each might vote for prohibi-
ton; with prohibition as the foundation of Il
party one of these men must be debarred from
voting in that party. If the ProhibitionstS are
Free Traders they have no right to ask the vote
of an honest Protectionst: if they are for pro-
lection they cannot gain the votes of the free
trade men.
Turn which way you will. view the subject
in every light possible, be as unprejudiccd in
your opinion as you can, and YOU will find no
way to gain the hearty cooperation of all men.
except you carry the question beyond the pale
of political action. The good of the temperance
cause demands that the third party should re-
ceive the opposition of every friend Of temper
ancc. +, G.. Dew
Monroe.