Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-14
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CoNTEN-
TTON

The Portland papers have the following
editorial comments upon the democratic
convention held in that city on Tuesday
The Argus, after praising the conven-
ton and Mr.. Titcomb, the latter particu-
larly for his Jeffersonian democracy, says
of the platform:
at speaks for itself. If it is not broad
enough and emphatic enough for every friend
of honest, economical government to stand
upon, we fail to perceive wherein it is def
cient. 1t deals to salary grabbers and cor
ruptionists, of all parties, the vigorous con-
demnation which they justly merit, and when
a wronged and indignant people feel; ana IN
other prospects it is equally strong anu
square.
The Press thinks the convention was
rather lugubrious affair 1t says;
"Hitherto, for ten years the democracy
have resembled the traditional Irishtnah
turtle, who, though dead, was not conscious
of it; now they seem painfully aware OF thelr
condition. and profoundly conscious that
any movement on their part is purely and
simply galvanic. To the younger men, with
futures before tbcm the situation is specially
disagreeable, and a vigorous effort was made
by them to finally break up the organic alton,
declare the party dissolved, make no nomina-
ton, and wait for something to turn up.
Prior to the convention, these aspiring youth,
with some elderly confederates, were quite
hopeful of success, and announced openly
that such action would be taken; but when
the "old guard" as the reactionists delight to
call themselves, appeared on the scene and
marched into the hall with the determination
to die in the harness imprinted on every lin
eament of their hard drawn features, the
hopes of the young ''reds" faded, dew like
away. And when +. O. J. Smith, the chosen
apostle of the new faith, was unceremonious-
ly hooted down and not even allowed a hear
ing, the last faint hope ceased and mingled
disgust and dependency took full possession
of the baffled and disconsolate agitators, who
had presumed to lay violent hands on the in
animate body of dead democracy. Proeul.
este, p,oeM o profant.
And SO they met, went gravely through the
ordinary exercises, made nomination for
Governor, appointed the usual committees,
adopted fearfully long and complicated set
OF resolutions, indicative OF dyspepsia, and
adjourned"
The Advertiser takes the same funereal
view of the convention as the Press It
as follows:
Gan Irish coroner, being asked how he
accounted for the extraordinary mortality in
Limerick in the year lS49, replied with a
eoleful shake of the head, Faith, can't tell
there are people dying this year that never
died before" And it really seems as if the
tough old democratic organization in this
State, after enduring the steady pounding of
the last eighteen years and coming up smil-
ing for each new round, is about to give up
the ghost.
The delegates assembled here last evening
and this morning conversed quietly at the
hotels and on the street corners, with sober
faces and subdued voices; and when the con-
vention met this morning, every man of them
imagined that the flag raised at half mast on
of the late Councilman SWEET, was
intended to betoken the moribund condition
of the party assembled under its dropping
folds. Mr.. Hubbard even made speech,
accepting the omen, and interpreting it to
signify the decease of "American liberty"
which in the orators estimation is synonym
for the democratic party"
In the mean time, the patients friends are
like the hardhearted husband who advised
his expiring wife not to try to talk but to go
on with her dying. Greeley Republican,
whose letter we print in another column
wants the democratic party to ''move out of
the way" and the Machas Union, speaking
the opinion of the sturdy democrats of Wash
ington county, openly advises the disband-
ment and dissolution Of the party, citing the
historical example of the wings, who in 1852
'bravely declared themselves dead"