The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-06-10
Al qy 81, ls6v
THE RADICAL PLATFORM IN MAINE.

I The call for the Radical Convention at Ban
COR is headed with a short description Of the
kind Of people that are expected to come-or
rather of the belief which is expected will be
/ held by those who sit down with the saints
on that happy occasion. This is the way
| they express it
The citizens Of Maine, who endorse the policy
cnunciated in the Inaugural Address Of President
Grant. and who are in favor of judicous and eco
nomca administration of State and National affairs,
are requested to send delegates to Convention to
be held in Norombega Hall. Bangor, Thursday,
| June 9th.
Il seems & little queer, in view OF the fact
that the question just now agitating our State
is that of rum rum, to refer the anxious
inquirer after the probabilities Of the case TO
Grants inaugural, where not word is said
about it. This was not the case in former
times. The great cause of temperance used
to be treated with proper respect, and its dis
eiples and promoters recognized as entitled to
he mention of their object in the call. They
ti>a pillars i'm tho ,or. church.
Now ii seems the State Committee is not 50
poor as to do them reverence, or even Justice.
Having assisted to build up party to keep
certain men in office, they can now go their
ways unrecognizod.
The State Committee say nothing them
selves as to the dividing line between those
who are hidden TO this yirtuous gathering and
those who are not-but leave the whole mat
ter to Gen. Grant. If they agree with Grant
they can come, if not they can't. In old hard
cider times, when the Wings had nominated
Harrison, distressing his discretion, they
wouldn't allow him to answer questions, but
had a committee to whom all inquirers were
referred. The reply of the General to all
such was Ask my committee" And the rad
icals Of the State, in imitation Of that discre~
ton, have referred all their inquirers about
their principles to Grants Inaugural!
Such being the case, il we are to know how
these patriots feel, we must give attention to
that document. What says Ulysses that can
illuminate the footsteps of the faithful in
Maine? Why, firstly that he has taken the oath
An act i'll which the radicals can sympathize,
| for they swear tcarfully at times. Then
Grant says he isn't afraid Of taking the office.
And here, to, the patriots to assemble will be
in full sympathy--for they are not afraid Of
office, not a man Of them.
| Ulysses runs on through Il host Of minor
and unimportant matters, and utters q great
many sounding words, which may mean any
thing or may mean nothing. But at last we
come TO the public debt, and there we strike
hard pan. On this subject the message is
bold, and consequently the Convention at
Bangor will be bold also The bondhoders
who elected Ulysses knew their man, and he
had his Instructions to talk right out in favor
Of the biggest claim Of that patriotic class.
Consequently, we have the following
ITO protect the national honor, every dol
lar of government Indebtedness should be
paid in gold, unless otherwise expressly stip-
ulatcd in the contract"
| This is the principal, the all-important diff
ference which is to separate the radical from
the democratic element Of the people of Maine
If you believe that the bondholders are a
sacred class, to be accorded special privileges.
and paid in currency Of higher value than
any other public creditor, you are invited to
come If, on the other hand, you hold that
the capitalist, who has loaned his money to
the government at usurious interest, is entitled
to the same and no better pay than is tender
ed to the merchant. mechanic and laborer
you are invited to stay away That is all
there is to it. The whole thing is in nut
shell.
With an issue so sharply defined as this,
and one in which the right and justice Of the
question IS so manifestly against the radicals.
there ought to be no hesitation in any fair
minded man regarding his position. And we
here take the liberty to invite all who don't
agree with Grant on paying the bonds in gold,
to be represented at the Democratic Conven-
ton at the same place on the goth, where a
great many others of the same way Of think
ing will assemble.