Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-04-08
The Goper,lor Question.

so fashionable of late, cannot be too
severely reprobate,l. 1t has already been
productive Of much mischief 10 the party
OF progress in this and other States, by
elevaiing men to responsible places which
they arc not qualified TO fill. and whose
minds are so warped by prejudice AS to
render them incapable of repi esenting the
moral and progressive elements of our
party.
The efforts of certain journals in this
State TO put General llersey of Bangor
prominently before the people, as can
dilate for gubcrnatorial honors, in nd.
vance of The nominating convention, is n
good illustration Of the practice above
referred to. The Bangor Wing, published
in the city where the General resides, a
paper Of which he is said to be part
owner. strikes the key note and according
TO prcconcerted arrangement, the Port
land Press, Bath Times. and other lesser
lights follow in The same strain. To the
uniniijated who do not understand how
such things are done, this would seem TO
be spontaneous development of popular
sentiment, and one which could not be
easily resisted But could they look be-
hird tho scenes and see tho few schcmers
and c.pullers who inaugurated this
movement, see how carefully the work
was laid out. Just what each one should
do. and what each paper should say, they
would then know just how much it Is all
worth. The plan was all blocked ont at
the State Capitol by n few schemers who
failed To get certain pet measurcs through
the las, Legislature and who have com
menccd mining thus early. in order not
to fail in the next.
BY the newspapers which have favored
this scheme. Gen. iIersey is made every
thing to all men. aud is seemingly The
only man in the State who is capable of
filling that high office Now against his
private character we have no word 10
say, rs we believe him to be "A gentleman
of enlarged views. high-mindcd and
honorable. We also know him 10 be- an
active, capable business man. who has
amasscd large fortune by his own in
duStry and business tact. and that he dis
pcuscs charity with liberal band, but
when we are told that he i, the man for
the present emergency-criSis. we might
say. who alone is capable Of uniting the
discordant elements OF the republican
party, the existence of which ii is no use
10 deny. and of restoring that harmony
which has been wanting Tor the past year /;
Tor ourselves we must empha,icaIly
differ. We have no doubt the Generals
knowledge OF finances. OF water power
and manufactures. and III railroads. is
such rs 10 we'll qualify him for the position
of chief magistrate. but We have had one
Governor during the last decade who
possessed all this knowledge in aprccmi-
ncut degree. In. whether he reelected
credit upon the State In This high position,
is no longer n question.
II there were any scarcity of men who
are we'll qualified in all respects for the
responsible Office of Governor. there
would bc some excuse for bringing lor-
ward those who are recommended by
their capacity for business only. But we
have plenty OF men whose knowledge of
business i'm MI its relations 10 the State
government, is such, rs To- 'mincntly
qualify them tor the office Of Governor
and who also, ut the same time possess
those literary qualifications, without which
no one can fill the Office creditably Ia him
self or with honor 10 the State. In re.
spect TO literary qualification, we believe
General Herscy 10 be untitled FOR the
high Office of Governor Of the State Of
Maine. and for this reason il there were
no other, he is not our choice.
We suppose General Jersey TO be a
temperance man, that is according TO the
definition which is sometimes given TO
iha. word temperance but We have
never heard il claimed for him that he is
a total abstinence man. In fact. we have
always understood that he believes in
taking 4 little wine for the stomach's
sake" and is not adverse 10 taking =
social glass of something stronger when
with his friends. We have no personal
knowledge on the subject of his views on
the question Of prohibition, but 1t is
generally understood that he favors
license law At any rate. he has never
identified himself with temperance move.
mcnls in this State TO make il certain
who're he Isl and no person who is imbued
with much of The spirit Of the cause can
remain neutral in such times rs we are
now passing through. His position is
such that he cannot be acceptable to the
temperance element of the l&rty, and this
we hold to be another important reason
why he should not be nominated. The
great strength Of the Republican party
lies in its moral element What Samp-
sons hair was TO him, is the temperance
element of the Republican party, and
deprived of this source of strength, it can
no more withstand the assaults OF the
coppelhead democracy than Sampson
when shayen of his locks could resist sue
cessfully the assaults of the ancient