The Republican journal., 1874-06-18
Men OF Character Demanded.

AS the time approaches for the nomira-
ton of candidates to be supported at the
coming election in this state, the claims
and fitness of the various aspirants begin
to be discussed. There are strong reasons
why the Democracy should have especial
care for the fitness of their candidates.
fitness not only in respect to qualifications
for the intelligent discharge of the duties
incumbent upon the positions to which
they aspire, but in those essentials of per-
sonal character and reputation which COM
mand public confidence The news re-
ports have for years been filled with ac-
counts Of official extravaganza, fraud,
pecuiation, and every form Of misconduct
by which those in Office may disgrace
themselves and those who supported them.
People are wearied and Disguised with all
this, and demand reform.
The differences that in principle divide
the two political parties has come to be
very slight. In Connecticut, at the April
election, the platforms of the two parties
were almost precisely alike, except that
one denounced and the other supported
the national administration. The demo-
Gratis won their splendid victory upon the
high personal character Of their nominees
and because the people desired to rebuke,
by their election, the personal dishonesty
of those in power. The same is true OF
New Hampshire, and of any and all the
states that the democrats have carried the
present year.
This explains the splendid votes which
the Democracy of Maine have polled for
their candidates for Governor With such
men as Pillsbury, Roberts, kimball and
Titcomb, unassailable in personal charac
ter, and commanding public confidence,
more than the party vote has been receiv-
ed
The same care should be had in select
ing candidates for the other oifices-for
members of Congress, of the State Leg
islature, and county officials. Let them
be men of reputation in the community,
fair dealing men who do not need to be
hed,-honest men. If this is not at
tended to at the nominating conventions
and caucuses, the ticket will suffer at the
polls. The time has gone by when a nom
nation was sufficient to float candidate
over all the rocks and shoals OF a dam
aged character, simply because he was
the regular candidate. Voters see that in
sustaining VIGOROUSLY bad man they de-
grade themselves. No longer can
scheming and cunning politician, with
capacity only for ring swindling, by care
full forelaying pack convention and Sc
cure nomination that will bind voters to
his support The rank and file of the
party will bolt such nomination. and
they ought to. No intelligent conductor
of a newspaper will suffer party ma
chinery to force him into the endorsement
of candidate like that, to the damage of
his reputation and the injury of his jour
nal. The injury which would result from
an open denunciation of such nomina-
ton would be for less than would attend
timid acquiesence in fragrant wrong
The time has come when the voters of
the country care not half SO much for the
platform on which a man professedly
stands as they do about his personal char
acter The ,Jeffersonian requirements
g Is he honest, is he capable ?" has come
to have by far the most emphasis on the
first half If the Democracy of Maine
are to have any hope of success. this
must not be forgotten.