Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-06
CONDITION OF THE DENOCRACl


democrats of Maine are about to dissolve,
giving up their organization and scatter
ing and dividing like the Jews after the
destruction of their city, each man going
whithersoeyer he pleaseth politically.
The chairman of the State Committee is
expected to resign at a meeting soon to
be held, and this abandonment by him of
his position on the quarter deck is to be
the signal for the hauling down of the
democratic flag and the surrender of the
ship. 1t is said there is serious intestine
divisions in the party, for which no reme-
dy can be found but dissolution hence
the coming resignation of Mr. Leavitt and
the funeral rites. The division aforesaid
is announced to be occasioned by differ
ence Of opinion in regard TO the policy to
be pursued in the future, some favoring
stiff adhesion to democratic forms and
principles, and some desiring a kind of
catchpenny policy, neither democratic nor
republican. What the relative strength of
these parties is has never been settled. II
is worthy of notice, however, that the
democratic newspaper organs established
in the confidence Of the party, and the
largest portion of its leading men, are in
favor of sticking to the ship and keeping
the democratic colors flying; while the
reports about the disatfection of large
portion of the members, the pulling down
of the flag and dissolution of the demo-
cratic organization. all come from news
papers managed in the interests of dis
gruntled republicans, who see no hope for
themselves except in forcing the demo-
Gratis to surrender their organization and
name and enter into new combinations
with new title and new leaders
Now what the Chairman Of the State
Committee may do when that body meets
we will not undertake to anticipate, nor
shall we predict that all will be serene in
their meeting, but that the democratic
party will then and there give up the ghost
and consent to be finally buried is not
among the possibilities let whoever will
assert to the contrary There arc few
unhappy, forlorn liberal republicans, that
wish the democratic party to disorganze
itself for their sakes. and they are the
gentlemen, with a few democratic asso-
ciates, that make clamor about its dying,
and hope to have the pleasure of witness
ing its immediate demise but we venture
to say they will be greatly mistaken. We
sympathize with those who desire its
death. We think it should have died sew
eral years ago, but we have no faith it is
going to die this year or next or even in
the year of the Presidential election to
crafty disalfected republicans who are
too squeamish to accept the name or
ashamed to ally themselves openly with
its fortunes. That thing will not be done
Mr.. Leavitt may resign but the democrat
ic organization will stand. He might as
well try to move Mount Katahdin into the
ocean as to give over the democracy into
the hands of the few Adventures that seek
its formal dissolution. The opponent
which the republicans will have to con
tend with in the next State election and
the next Presidential election is the same
democracy which the Maine correspond
ent OF the New York Tribune announces
is about to draw its last breath We wish
it were true that we were about to see the
last OF the party, but we are faithless,
having been deceived many times before
in regard to this very matter
According to the best of our observation
the party is alive and likely to continue SO.
For many years it has not been so well
organized in the legislature as this pres
ent winter. 1t is well led, and marches
in perfect obedience and with military
precision to the word OF command. Ac-
cording to its numbers and opportunities
it is strong, far stronger than the repub-
licans are aware Of There is no sign Of
relaxation of dcpline, much les, of an
early deceasc.
We simply speak OF The reports which
have been sent abroad in order to prevent
any of our republican friends from being
led to believe that the democratic party is
dead or about to die, Though often beat
en- in many hard fought field the party
still fingers TO be beaten in many more
battles. 1t may change its form, as when
it supported Mr.. Greeley for President,
but the foe of the republican party will be
the party which still wilhholds justice to
the colored men oil the South. panders to
the vlest elements in the North for sup
port al the polls, and carries upon its ban
ners the black record that it made in The
rebellion.
The elections in the Dominion Of Cana
da have made q complete rout of the
Conservative party. The Ministerialsts
have majority so large that great skill
will be necessary in order t. manage it
successfully. According to appearances
there will be lively times in Canadian
politics when the victorious party get the
rains comniefe1y in their hands