The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-03-01
The Neal Dow Democracy.

The Democratic party SO seldom recognizes
the eternal fitness of things that the action Of
the Portland Democracy in nominating Neal
Dow as their candidate for mayor should be
commended. not only as step in this direction
hut as recognition. though somewhat tardy,
OF the services the nominee has rendered their
party with his third party machine. There is
hope now for Ben Bunker. who only last week
was lamenting through his paper that those
who had served the Democratic party, perhaps
not wisely but too well, were generally ignor-
ed when the time came to distribute the spoils.
The fusion of the third party. with its war cry
of Anything to beat the Republicans" and
the rum-ridden Democracy-''two souls with
but a single thought, two hearts that beat as
one'-is the most natural thing in the world,
and that is really the only surprising feature
of the trade. The Democratic party has never
been mt all fastidious in its loves. Originally
for hard money it fused with the fiat money
party. and is ever ready to fuse with any
party. whether its prefix be pro or anti, if it
sees a possibility of capturing few votes
thereby. Naturally it sometimes grasps the
shadow only to lose the substance, and SO it
may be in this case.
The third party no doubt includes small
percentage of conscientious men, who believe
that only through their efforts can intemper-
anee be stamped out and the Nation placed on
a cold water basis. These will hardly vote for
the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Port
land Others are disgruntled Republicans or
Democrats who feel that their claims for pre-.
ferment have not had sufficient recognition,
and what they want is revenge. This vote
will naturally split. As to the great mass OF
Democratic voters in Portland We doubt
whether they will enthuse over the candidate
selected by their leaders. We doubt if they
will rally at the polls with great alacrity to
vote for Il man who has certainly tried, how.
ever mi>directed his efforts. to restrain their
personal liberty by preventing them from sell.
in@ rum in violation of law, at profit to them
selves but to the moral and peculiarly detri.
ment Of their customers The third party
slogan of Anything to beat the Republicans
may be alluring: but-vote for Neal Dow
Really. is not that too much to expect of them
But on the whole, as said at the outset. we
think the Portland Democracy have done i:
very Nise and proper thing. and as their party
organs have gone back on them they are fairly
entitled to commentator from their oppo
nents. The Prog. Age, with tears of anger
trickling down its expansive cheek, solemy
declares that. ''This Portland go-as-you-please
movement is one of the first fruits in this State
of dvorcing the offices from party" (N. b.
The editor of the Age was recently divorced
in his mind, from the Belfast Custom House,
The Boston Herald, while .'mad clear thrC ugh. :
takes more practical view Of it. The Herald
warns the Democratic leaders to ''cease from
their present foo!i>hness": tells them that
this is Presidential year." and that. every.
body knows that the control of the city gov.
ernment means hundreds of votes to the part,
that has it, Yes. and with New York city in
the hands of the Democrats it means thou
sands of votes: and in that way Cleveland wa,
elected. Still, we think the Portland Demo.
Gratis are rather to be commended than other.
wise; and in due season the Portland Republic
cans will proceed to re-elect the present very
efficient Mayor.