Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-03
LIGHT UPON 4 DARK SUBJECT.

The correspondent of the New York Her
aid who came to take notes of the democratic
State convention in Maine, gives that paper
an account of a conversation he had with one
of the delegates on the way to this city, and
his own impressions of the ''dear departed"
democracy.
Speaking of ''hunkers," by the way-for I
think Maine furnishes the best preserved
specimens of this class that l ever saw-a
sample block sat beside me in the train as 1
journeyed hither yesterday. He was a finely
gotten up specimen of bald-head respectable
ty, with gold watch chain and spectacles,
the traditional blue claw-hammer, with brass
buttons, and big ivory headed cane. which
he placed between his knees and clasped both
hands tightly upon as he continued the con-
versation. The Democratic State Convention
which met in this city to-day, was evidently
uppermost in his thoughts, and he seemed to
swell with the conviction that the fate of the
entire nation depended upon the result of
what that body was to do.
"Going to Augusta" he inquired blandly
after clearing his mouth of an enormous quid
of tobacco.
"Yes, sir; that is my destination"
"You amt delegate to the Convention,
are your"
"No sir.
'Then suppose you're going to make a
visit2"
''No sir; l am Journeying upon business. "
"Might inquire what business you are
following now?"
81 am newspaper correspondent, SIR"
"a newspaper correspondent! BY gracious !
Why, you are just the fellow wanted to see.
My name is Blank-Mr Blank, of Blank
town, and am going to the Convention. You
fellows in the newspaper Offices don't under
stand just how things are going on down here.
The papers have been telling the people that
everything has been arranged harmoniously,
and that us old Jeffersonan democrats had
agreed to keep still and yield up the manage
ment of affairs to the young folks. We've
read articles which said that the ''conserva-
tives" of the democratic party are to be laid
on the shelf, but tell you that the fellows
who wrote them lied. The real truth is Just
TINS. For years past we democrats have had
to contend against q majority of from twenty
to thirty thousand votes. We put the best
men we had in nomination, enuncated our
principles clearly and in vigorous manner,
out II was no go. We couldn't elect a page
In the Legislature. Finally, after wears of
struggling almost against hope, we arrived at
the conclusion that it wasn't so much the I'M
popularity Of our candidates as it was the
general opposition to our platform which in
sured defeat, and So in 1870, we took advan-
tage of local disagreements among the re-
publicans, put Colonel Charley Roberts-one
of the best fellows and most popular among
what 10 called the ''young democracy"-in The
field, and the result was that we reduced the
radical majority to a little over nine thousand
votes. Bion Bradbury, Ed. Pillsbury and the
rest of us kept our ultra ideas to ourselves and
gave no public expression of the opinions
which gained for us the odious title of ''cop-
perheads" during the war. That's the way
we won that victory-for it is victory when
q majority of twenty thousand is reduced
more than one-half in twelve months time
and we are so well satisfied with the result OF
the experiment that we are determined to try
it again"
s.What Is the programme Tomorrow"
inquired, as the old fellow stopped moment
to take breath.
1.-THE programme" he said, sis to put some
young and popular business man in nomina-
ton for Governor--probably Charles L. Kim
ball--avail ourselves of all the advantages
we can gain by vallandigham's new depart
ures' and the public feeling against Grant