USA > Maine > Maine; a history, Volume II > Part 29
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Encouraged, perhaps, by this division among the prohibitionists, the Legislature neither re-established a State police nor made imprisonment the sole punishment for liquor selling, even in the case of a "first offence." The radical Prohibitionists then became extremely active. The Eastern Maine Methodist Conference resolved that the Legislature had violated their high duty in failing to create a State police.
The Maine Grand Lodge of Good Templars voted to request the State committee to call a temperance convention earlier than the party conven- tions, to consider the temperance question, and, probably, to nominate some true temperance man for Governor. The Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance voted that a preliminary convention should be held and that if neither of the principal parties should make a satisfactory nomination, then another convention should be called to nominate a temperance can- didate.
The Maine conference resolved "that esteeming it the duty of Christian men to vote as they pray, and viewing the ballot box as one of the most appropriate and powerful instrumentalities that can be made use of in the interest of morality, we will neither vote ourselves, nor encourage others to vote, for any party's measures, or men, not practically devoted to the cause of prohibition. That the course taken by the Legislature and the Chief Executive of this State, during the past two years, has so crippled and destroyed the influence of the prohibitory law, that it is no longer enforced except in rare instances, and there accordingly prevails such an
"Rhodes, "History of the United States," VII, 194-206.
"Whig, Jan. 30, Feb. 13, 14, 1865.
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amount of degradation and crime, as must fill with sorrow and indignation the heart of every true friend of temperance."
On June 24, the Republican convention, as it may again be called, met.13 Governor Chamberlain had served three terms, and both Governor Cony and Governor Morrill had declined being a candidate for a fourth. Gov- ernor Washburn had refused a third nomination and special circumstances had prevented Governor Coburn from serving more than a year. Governor Chamberlain had determined to retire, but a letter was written to him by a number of prominent citizens, including ex-Governor Coburn and George F. Shepley, highly praising what he had done for the development of the State and begging him to allow his name to be placed before the conven- tion. The Governor replied in appreciative terms that he would respond to the call of duty. He did not, however, receive an uncontested renomina- tion, as had been the case in 1867 and 1868. He had given great offence to the "temperance" men. He had declined to preside over their conven- tion, he had used language in his last inaugural which was not pleasing to thorough-going prohibitionists, and it was reported that he had said that if the Legislature passed a constabulary bill that he would veto it. Under such circumstances it might well seem unwise to nominate the Governor for a fourth term, but the convention did so. The temperance men put forward as their candidate Sidney Perham, long a worker in the cause, but he received only 375 votes to Chamberlain's 694, there were 36 scattering. The convention resolved "that we emphatically renew our adhesion to the principles of prohibition and a vigorous enforcement of laws to that end." It also declared for a development of Maine's great material resources "with a due regard to her present indebtedness."
The Democratic convention had the unusual experience of nominating a candidate who refused to accept. There was a strong movement in the party in favor of putting up new men and bringing forward new issues. The party had been led by extreme copperheads like Marcellus Emery and Eben F. Pillsbury, but opposition to the war was a dead issue and of unsavory memory, and the younger Democrats were anxious for a change both in leaders and creed. The convention accordingly nominated Mr. Charles P. Kimball, a wealthy and popular carriage manufacturer of Port- land, who was persona grata to the younger element, but Mr. Kimball rose in his place and declined the honor.
On the second ballot the number of votes fell from 546 to 330. Of these votes 217 were given to Franklin Smith, of Waterville; the rest were scattered among various gentlemen. Mr. Smith was well disposed toward the "Old Guard" and they to him; the Whig in some caustic comments asserted that the whole thing was a skillful plot of the managers. The
"The request for the choice of delegates did not indeed use the word Republican and it was addressed to all who endorsed the principles of the inaugural of President Grant and favored a judicial and economical administration, but the signers of the call described themselves as the Republican State Committee.
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platform declared for free trade and the taxation of government bonds."
But if the Democrats went into battle with the progressives in their own ranks baffled and sore, they had the satisfaction of knowing that the radical prohibitionists had formally bolted the Republican ticket. A State temperance convention nominated N. G. Hichborn, of Stockton, for Gov- ernor, and declared themselves in favor of the payment of the public debt, the passage of laws for the development of the resources of Maine, total prohibition, and a State police. Mr. Hichborn had been State Treasurer from 1865 to 1868. When it was decided to nominate a candidate for Gov- ernor, the secretary of the State temperance committee, Mr. Shorey, of Bath, and three other members, Colonel Fred N. Dow, son of Neal Dow, and Messrs. Jordan and Moulton, of York, resigned their offices. John J. Perry, a vice-president and a member of the committee on resolutions, did the same."
Many of those who led in the third party movement did so because they felt that they had been cheated by the politicians, and that they were fighting in a holy war. Rev. D. B. Randall wrote to the Lewiston Journal that he had been engaged in the temperance cause in Maine for nearly forty years, that he and thousands of others had acted with the Republican party during the Civil War, being assured by the leaders that when the crisis was passed they should have such legislation as they might desire, but that these promises had not been kept, and that for the last two or three years the action of the party had been contrary to them. Mr. Randall said that he had been averse to political action on the part of the temperance men and had hoped first that the State and then that the county conventions would take a stand for enforcing prohibition, but that nothing satisfactory had been done, and that he was constrained to say that he could no longer act with the Republican party.1
But there were earnest prohibitionists who were not ready for extreme measures. Among them, beside those already mentioned, were Dennis L. Milliken, Lyndon Oak, Ebenezer Knowlton, Nelson Dingley, Sidney Per- ham, Woodbury Davis, the two Morrills and Neal Dow. John J. Perry, who had resigned from the resolutions committee of the State temperance convention because he believed that it was not advisable to form a party antagonistic to the Republican party at the present time, said in a public letter: "As for the question whether or not a consistent temperance man can vote for Governor Chamberlain, I express no opinion, for I believe that class of men generally, have some very decided convictions as to their duty upon this subject, but I cannot see the expediency of forming a new party, when its inevitable result will be to divide up and scatter the temperance men of Maine, and destroy that harmony of action which has so happily existed in their ranks for the last fifteen years.
14Whig, June 30, 1869.
"Whig, July 1, 1869.
16Quoted in Whig, Sept. 7, 1869.
MH .~ 36
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"If the temperance platform of the Bangor [Republican] convention is a party trick, a cheat, a swindle, as alleged by the friends of the third party, we shall all find it out in due time ; and in such an event, there would be then but one voice and one opinion among the fifty thousand temperance men of Maine-raise the temperance standard high above all party organiza- tions and around it rally to the polls and 'fight it out on that line until victory perch upon our flag'."
On election day the number of votes fell off considerably, not only as compared with 1868, a presidential year, but with 1867. General Cham- berlain was, however, elected by a good majority. He received 51,314 votes, while Smith polled 39,033, and Hichborn only 4,735.
Governor Chamberlain in his inaugural address of 1870 discussed with some vigor the subject of a constabulary law and the character and motives of the Hichbornites. He said :
"It is proper that I should inform you that there seems to be a gen- eral falling off in respect for our liquor laws. The enforcement of these laws comes in no manner within the power of the Executive. It very properly devolves upon municipal officers, and the degree of their zeal and efficiency is measured by the prevailing local sentiment. It is not an unrea- sonable theory that the State should secure the even and impartial execu- tion of her laws throughout her jurisdiction. So far probably all good citizens would agree, but the erection of a special police for the purpose mainly of enforcing (a) liquor law beyond certainly, if not against, the wishes of the municipalities, has been urged by some as a proper measure and proclaimed by a few as a test of allegiance to the cause of Temper- ance. But in a government like ours one of the most delicate things which a State could be called on to do is to invade the ancient rights and dignities of towns, which the historian and statesmen know, are at the foundation of our liberties. It is still more difficult when the issue is upon a contested question of social ethics, or public morals, upon which even good men might be divided, and bad men find pretexts for giving the most dangerous pas- sions sway.
"Unfortunately, we have made the experiment our own; and the salu- tary lesson to be learned from it may warrant me in taking public notice of it here. A principle prized by all was arrogated by a few, and made the placard if not the watchword of a political organization. The result, as might have been expected, was to give a worthy and sacred cause the appear- ance of defeat. The cause has suffered, but should not be held to blame. Its very virtue was its misfortune. The strong hold which it had upon the hearts of the people was the occasion of its being seized upon to cover sinister contentions. Serious elements of disaffection availed themselves of the confusion which their cries had raised and rallied in a strange com- panionship, under a banner which had never been so entrusted to them, and which lost its consecration by their laying on of hands. The elements which conspired in this movement and the animus which impelled it, appear to have been so well understood by our people as to require no analysis by me. Four thousand votes in a total of 100,000 after the unparalleled resorts of that campaign prove that whoever else voted that way the tem- perance men of Maine did not. They answer to a longer roll call. They muster a nobler host."
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The Governor referred to and reproved the bitterness of the recent campaign and in order that those who had followed him on another field might not be led astray "by the false fancy that they are following me still," General Chamberlain asked leave "to lift my standard for a moment that they may see where I am. Let them not think that the record of a lifelong loyalty is so easily reversed. I shall not seek safety in the lines of the enemy to escape the mutinies of the discontented, more anxious for their own way than for victory, nor turn back to camp because some raw recruit on picket, with the impetuosity of terror, unable to discern front from rear, or friend from foe, shrieks at me for the countersign." Passing to the nature of the question of prohibition, the Governor said :
"Any law which proposes to abridge personal rights should be ventured upon with the utmost caution and administered with the widest charity. There are other things to be thought of besides restraining men from the use of intoxicating drink. Tho' this be a parent of crime and begets monsters from which all the good avert their faces and seek to save thei:" fellows, yet we must not expect that it can be wholly subdued and driven from among men. The laws against intoxication are as well executed and obeyed as the laws against profanity, theft, unchastity or murder. Even if they are executed they will not aid to extinguish crime, nor banish evil from the hearts of wicked men. These are questions which go to the founda- tions of society. We must consider what can be done. Restrain and intimi- date as much as you can by law ; it is only by the Gospel still that men can be converted from evil."
The Governor may have shown courage in this part of his message, but he manifested little tact. The personal note was too prominent and the attack on the motives of the supporters of Hichborn was both unfair and impolitic. Probably most of those who voted for him were honest if im- practicable idealists, and thousands who remained away from the polls or even voted for Chamberlain had much sympathy with the seceders, but were unwilling to turn against the party in whose ranks they had served so long.
The Whig, no blind or fanatical supporter of prohibition, said that the Governor "gained nothing in our estimation by rehearsing the deeds of men who differed from us last year in action, and that his ideas of the manner of enforcing temperance are of questionable wisdom or expediency, scarcely worthy an able public officer." But the Whig especially regretted the state- ment that the prohibitory law was as well enforced as other laws. It declared "without fear of contradiction that in no such sense as we view other prosecutions, is the liquor law enforced. We assert that in a great majority of the cities and villages of this State the law is shamefully neg- lected. We believe that in almost every city the police know and could easily learn of cases of violation almost under their hourly view. The law is not enforced as it should and can be enforced, and as it must be enforced ; and the Governor has been lamentably deceived in relation to it."
Certainly the Governor's address did not daunt the radicals. The State temperance convention met at Lewiston late in January. Nelson
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Dingley, the editor of the Lewiston Journal and a leading politician as well as a sincere and consistent temperance man, was appointed chairman of the committee on resolutions. He reported seven. One of them declared that it was the duty of the State to provide for the uniform and impartial execution of its laws. But this resolution was not strong enough to suit the convention, and an amendment was carried calling in explicit terms for a State Police. Another resolution of the committee which was duly passed declared it the duty of temperance men to support only the party which stood by prohibition.
The Legislature referred the part of the Governor's message relating to temperance to a committee, and public hearings were held. Two measures were chiefly favored by the radicals, one was the re-establishment of the State police, the other a provision for fining municipal officers who failed to enforce the law. Mr. Dingley declared that nothing short of a State police would do. He was supported by Mr. Stickney, of Presque Isle, who explained with great frankness why a law fining town officers would be in- effective in some places. He said: "Suppose these officers neglect their duty, who will commence action against them? They are respectable citizens, no one wants to meddle with them, and the rum selling will go on as ever. We get our best men for town officers, men who will look after the financial interests with careful attention; but generally they are men who would not be mixed up in a 'rum affair'; if we get the right men to enforce the law against rum selling, they will not be fit for anything else."
The Legislature did not re-establish a State police, but provided for the fining of municipal officers who failed to prosecute on receiving a specified kind of notice that liquor was being sold. The law also directed that a warrant for search and seizure should be granted on the complaint of one person, instead of three, as formerly; an officer was allowed to seize with- out a warrant, keeping the liquors in some safe place until he could pro- cure one ; condemned liquors were in all cases to be destroyed, and it was made the duty of every county attorney to have all liquor sellers who had been convicted in the Supreme Court sentenced at the same term, "unless for reasons satisfactory to the court the case may be continued for sen- tence one term, but no longer." Additional provision was made for pun- ishing misconduct on the part of municipal officers authorized to purchase liquor.
The Republicans made a further concession to the radical prohibition- ists in their selection of a candidate for Governor. Governor Chamberlain had been spoken of for another term, but his name did not come before the convention. The candidates were Mr. Perham, General Chamberlain's oppo- nent of the year before, and Samuel F. Hersey, a wealthy lumber operator of Bangor. The contest was close and at times warm, but as there were only two candidates one ballot was sufficient to decide it. Mr. Perham was nominated, receiving 667 votes to 627 for General Hersey.
Sidney Perham was born in Woodstock, Maine, on March 27, 1819.
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He had a school but no college education, and became a farmer and teacher. He served for two years as a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and in 1855 he was Speaker of the Maine House. He was subsequently county clerk of Oxford county, and from 1863 to 1869 he was Representa- tive in Congress. Shortly after his governorship he sought in vain an elec- tion as Maine Secretary of State, but a little later President Hayes appointed him appraiser of the port of Portland, and he held the office for eight years. Like Governor Washburn, Mr. Perham was a staunch Universalist and was actively interested in the work of the denomination. He died on April 9, 1907, having just completed his eighty-eighth year.
The platform of the convention announced, "That we rejoice in the vast and varied natural resources of our State, and hold that it should be the constant effort of every department of the State government by wise, uniform and foreseeing State policy to develop these resources and bring them into active operation, and then to furnish profitable employment for our industrious people, a home market for the produce of our farmers, so as to stay the tide of emigration from our State, and increase our wealth and population." It declared that the public debt should be paid according to the letter and spirit of the contract, but favored a reduction of the debt when not contrary to the public promise and to industrial interests, and opposed the fostering of one branch of industry at the expense of another. A separate resolution stated that "the shipping interests of the State and Nation demand the care and protection of the Government, and the adop- tion of such measures as shall relieve the owners and builders of vessels." The convention also resolved "That we renew our adhesion to the principle of prohibition, and a vigorous and impartial enforcement of the laws to that end."
Nothing was said about a State constabulary, but Candidate Perham was one of the most radical prohibitionists in public life and the State tem- perance committee declared a convention summoned for June 18 indefi- nitely postponed. Nevertheless the convention was held. The attendance was not large, though some of the most earnest temperance men of the State were present, Hon. Henry Tallman, of Bath, presiding. The convention, by a unanimous vote, nominated as a candidate for Governor, Hon. Sidney Perham, and adopted resolutions demanding thorough-going temperance legislation, a State police, and the continuance of the temperance party organization. A State committee was appointed, and arrangements made for independent county and representative nominations. The convention severely censured those members of the State committee who had caused notice to be sent out that the convention was indefinitely postponed, thus preventing a larger attendance.
The campaign for the Republican nomination had been a sharp one, but at least the convention had maintained decorum. The Democratic con- vention was marked by great disorder and bitterness. The progressive wing believed that now there was a golden opportunity for a new departure.
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The nomination of Perham had slighted the East and offended the liberal Republicans and the friends of Chamberlain. Before his first nomination for Governor there was considerable doubt whether he would support President Johnson or Congress. Now, notwithstanding the declaration in his address in January that he would not go over to the enemy, many Democrats felt that it might be possible to form an alliance with him and his followers.
The convention met at Portland on June 28. After it had organized and chosen committees, Mr .. George F. Emery, of Portland, offered a reso- lution that the convention adjourn until August 9. The motion was received with cheers and hisses.
"Mr. Emery said that in making that proposition he expressed the unanimous desire of the Portland delegation, who wished to wait and see what action the people of Maine would take in view of the recent conven- tion at Augusta. He believed the people of Maine would desire to bring forward as their candidate that eminent patriot and statesman, Joshua L. Chamberlain.
"At this part loud and long-continued applause broke out, in which a yellow dog on the platform took a prominent part. When the cheers sub- sided, vigorous hisses succeeded.
"Mr. Emery went on to say that no Democrat has any cause to com- plain of Governor Chamberlain; that, under the circumstances, he is the best man available for Governor and the best man for United States Sen- ator. (Applause.)
"General Roberts, of Bangor, with excitement: 'Is the Democratic party of Maine dead?' (Voices, No, No!) 'Have we come here to witness the burial of the remains and act as pall-bearers?' (No! No!) 'Are we to adjourn for thirty days to beg of the Republican party some of the crumbs from their tables? For his part, he considered the adoption of the resolution a most disastrous affair.' (Cheers.)
"E. W. Farley moved the indefinite postponement of the resolution. It digs the grave of the Democratic organization. General Chamberlain and the Democratic party have nothing in common except on the question of prohibition.
"W. G. Chadbourne, of Portland, sprang upon his feet and with much vehemence at the top of his voice cried out: 'You must get out of the old ruts. Where are you(r) young men? In the ranks of the Republican party. Take this recess. Let us then come together again and put in nom- ination Joshua L. Chamberlain (hisses) and we will hang around him a majority that will astonish the hard-cider campaign.'
"Mr. Simpson, of Belfast, vigorously opposed the resolution. He had respect for Governor Chamberlain, but did not see how he could step from the Republican prohibition platform of last year to the one which the con- vention would construct.
"Gen. S. F. Nickerson said he was tired of being led to defeat year after year. He believed General Chamberlain would give this success.
"Mr. Madigan, of Aroostook, sneered at the idea of going to the lib- eral Republicans and begging them to give us a candidate. Has any gentle- man any written pledge from General Chamberlain that he will accept any nomination from this body, which will warrant our adoption of him?
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"Mr. Rice, of Rockland, opposed and Mr. Clifford supported the reso- lution, saying that the Democratic party has slept for ten years, and we must wake up and welcome recruits. We do not propose to surrender Democracy, but to make it successful.
"After three cheers led by H. W. Ripley for the Young Democracy, and three more led by Mr. Clifford for the Old Democracy, the convention took a recess for dinner.
"The convention re-assembled at 2.45, and the debate rambled on, growing fiercer and fiercer. A motion was made to adjourn to August 16th, instead of 9th, and Mr. G. L. Boynton proposed to adjourn to Bangor instead of Portland, remarking that he had seen quite enough of Port- land."
Marcellus Emery criticised Governor Chamberlain. "Mr. Wilson, of Thomaston, added his protest against adjournment. He learned from Gen- eral Chamberlain's friends that he will not accept any nomination from us ; that it will embarrass him. He is a candidate within the Republican party for the senatorship. W. G. Chadbourne told Emery that the Democratic party owed him nothing, but that he owed everything to the party. If it hadn't been for Democracy he would have dangled from a Bangor lamp- post during the war. The hall was a perfect pandemonium. At length quiet was partly restored and Mr. Chadbourne finished his speech. Virgil D. Par- ris moved that the whole subject of adjournment lie on the table. His motion was defeated by a vote of 252 to 162. This settled the question, and the resolution was thereupon amended, making the time August 16th, and the place Bangor, whereat the Young Democracy let themselves out in a prolonged war whoop of victory, the opposition charging . mis- takes and cheating in the count.""
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