Ellsworth American

There seems to be a variety of opinions as to the proper course to be pursued by the Republican State Convention the 25th inst. Many well meaning temperance men are in doubt as to what ought to be done, and as to the position, on this point, which the Republican party as a party ought to assume. We have heard some of the pioneers in the cause, men who have been as true as the needle to the pole, to the temperance enterprise, and who have been ardent advocates of the "Maine law," say that they had about come to the conclusion that the law had failed to effect what its friends desired and expected of it, and they therefore felt but little interest in the re-enacting of another law of any kind.

We apprehend that this class of temperance men are largely in the minority, and that a large majority of the people desire and expect a different law from the present one, and something similar to the old Maine Law. We take it for granted also, that the temperance men of this State are not all embraced within the folds of the Republican party; we know that there are men anxious to vote for a more stringent law, who are members of the so called Democratic party and who desire to have the privilege of voting on this question disconnected with other matters. Why not let them have this privilege, and why make this strictly a party question? Can any one see any reason for it, or any good to be gained by it? We think not.

Our position upon this point is, that the Republican Convention should pass a resolution, in favor of a temperance law, and also in favor of leaving the people in the several Representative districts to decide the kind of law they are in favor of, and send to the Legislature men who will truly represent them; and when the wish of the majority of the people is embodied in a law, let it be submitted to them to be voted on, at a special election. We go in for "Squatter Sovereignty" on this subject, and will abide the decision of the people in relation to it. They are wiser in their action than any Convention can be, and know better what they desire than any Convention can tell them.

If the Republican party select a candidate for Governor who is a friend of temperance, and is willing to be guided in this matter by the public feeling, manifested through the proper channels of Legislation, and will respect that feeling and conform to it, it is all any friend can reasonably ask, or has any right to expect.

We hope for one, that the question of temperance will not be made so prominent in the coming political campaign, that all other issues will be lost sight of. The true interest of temperance will not be best subserved in so doing. He is not a considerate man, or does any counsellor to the party, who advocates such a course of procedure.—Let temperance men be temperate in their demands, and satisfied with seeing the Republican party acknowledge the superior claims of the temperance enterprise and willing to obey the popular voice in regard to it.