The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-01-12
Take No Backward Step"

The political situation in Kansas is strikinglv
like that in Maine, so far as the temperance is
sue is concerned. The Topeka Capital says
''The Third-party Prohibitonists have but lit
tie strength in Kansas because the Republican
party has kept its pledged faith and has closed
the saloons" That is true of Maine also Our
Topeka contemporary says further: "With
very few exceptions Prohibitionists know that
their Withdrawal from the Republican party
simply means giving aid and comfort to the
party which is in conspiracy with the saloon
against the welfare of the community That
also is true of Maine in the abstract, but needs
qualification. There are honest. well-meaning.
but certainly misguided men in the Third
party of Maine; there are others who figure
in it for the notoricty it gives them as candi-
dates for office; and others again who are ''Pro-
hibitionsts'' for the money they get as organ
izers and speakers. Others again are simply
sore-heads from the two parties. in some in
stances not even pretending to be temperance
men, but actuated only by motives of re-
venge. But to return TO Kansas. Having out
lined the situation as above, the Topeka Capital
says:
In this condition of things, any man who can
| see a hole in ladder can see that the continued
supremacy to the Republican party in Kansas
depends on our taking no backward step.
Backed by the will of the people. reinforced by
the highest legal tribunal of the country we
should go forward in the fearless enforcement
of the law. Anything less than this would be
the suicide of the Republican party. 1t would
be base betrayal of the interests of the people.
In our contest with the mighty liquor power
| monopoly hoary with age, and welding
riches vast beyond computation-we have a
right to claim the support and cooperation Of
men and women of all parties, and of every
class and ayocation.
The Republican party of Maine cannot afford
either to take a backward step, and we are con.
tdent it has no intention of doing so. Its long
and honorable record as the party OF temper
chcc and morality, and the aggressive warfare
| it has begun against the saloon interest, alike
forbid. With the change of single word, that
Of Kansas to Maine. we adopt the closing para
graph of the Capital editorial. as follows:
''There is not in the world today Il more
sober population than that of Maine. There is
not in the world a population more thrifty and
prosperous than ours. Our people read books
and newspapers. Our children are comfortably
clad. and they are in school. Our men and wo-
mcn--cven those who have to work very hard
are dccently dressed, and they have enough
to eat. and they are laying up something for a
rainy day. While many influences have COM
binel to produce this scene of peace and plenty.
no factor has been more powerful than the
suppression of the saloon. If any man. under
any excuse or pretcNt, attempts 10 clou. this
scene of domestic peace and business prosperi-
ty, let him be marked as an enemy of the pee
| pie. If any man attempts to turn back the
hands ON the dial plate Of this glorious progress
i'll ever! department of individual and social
life-lct him be marked as an enemy of the pee
| nile -