Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-08-27
The Democratic Conventions.
THE FIFTH DISTRICT CONVENTION.

I'M tif II Dl- XIII NpNN IN tlpN-
The multitudinous assemblage of the
great unterrited. that was to occur al
Ellsworth last Tuesday, under the exten.
sive call of the District and County Com.
mittees did not occur so much as was ex-
peeted, Very likely they were kept away
by fear lest the Hall would be crammed "a
suflocation. When the time for the Dis
trict convention came. some fifty demo-
Gratis, (by actual count could be discern.
ed by the baked eye lonesomely scattered
among the empty seats. and Ellsworth
alone was entitled 10 twenty-six. One soli-
tary delegate, and he almost scared By his
soiitarinesS, appeared from Waldo, but
the counties of Knox and Washington had
not one to break the silence for them
Their places knew them not, and the
wheels moved without them. Ii was EVIL
deut that Hancock was master of the sit.
uatiou.
At half past ten John b. Redman o,
Ellsworth, surnamed the Rotund, mount
ed the platform. with firm step. and called
silent before. lie called Arno Wiswel
Esq. OF Eil>wouh to assume the chair
Mr. Wiswell expressed some reluct ance
but as he had on some good clothes anc
hi> gold. bowed spectacles added TO hi.
natural dignity, he could not be spared
and 30 had to take the helm. Another vel
dressed gentleman. with incipient mustache
aud smooth brushed hair. was invited &c
keep the record, and the convention was
underweigh.
1t j. well known that there are no rings
nor cliques in the Democratic party.
Every member of that party utterly ig.
nores, and abnegates self. His own wish.
eS and preferences are put behind him
He labors solely for the preferences OF
his fellow. Hence Ellsworth most dis in
tcrestedly took charge of the convention
and proposed to run ii. 10 was called To
order by an Ellsworth man. presided over
by an Ellsworth man. and Ellsworth men
did all the moving.
The first difficulty was the matter oil
credentials, a. nobody but Ellsworth men
had any such articles. Judge Peters OF
Ellsworth proposed a a way out, that all
democrats present outside of Ellsworth. be
added TO the Ellsworth delegation. and
made part Of the convention. Then
Era>tus Redman of Ellsworth moved that
The Ellsworth delegation who had creden.
tlals be admitted to the convention. Thi.
was done and the Ellsworth delegati on. the
'-twenty-six. no doubt were profou ndy
grateful for the cOndescension shown
them. John b. Redman of Ellsworth
moved for ballot for candidate for Con.
grcss which was had. and 66 votes were
cast. Mr.. spoflord OF Hancock County hay.
ing large majority. The number OF
votes east seemed 10 surprise every one.
especially the Republican lookers-on. and
there was general counting of heads in
the hall. Ii is still my stery 70 those Re.
pubicans. how so few democrats could
cast 50 many votes. but the democrats
themselves did not seem 10 worry over II.
Mr.. Erastus Redman of Ellsworth again
came TO the front and moved a committee
10 hunt up Mr.. Spoford and notify him OF
his nomination. This was done. and Mr..
Redman and Colleagues left the Hall on q
voyage OF discovery. While waiting the
return of the voyagers, Mr.. Thomas Know.
Is of Eden, an cid wheel horse of the DEM
ocratic coach reproved the democrats pres.
cnt for being SO disconsolate, and tried TO
stir up little enthusiasm over the North
Carolina election, but il was evident the
convention did not propose to take any
stock in the enthusiasm business. He
complained OF the late call, aud the small
attendance and desired 10 know why il
had all been put of so long. Mr.. John b.
Redman answered that the matter had
been left TO the chairman OF the Commit
tee, and that gentleman had thrown I'D
the sponge, and took no further interest
IN democratic eonve ntions. The convei-
ton smiled sickly smile. and instructed
future committees to do better.
In order to insure another funereal ex-
hbition next year, Judge Peters of Ellis
worth. moved the selection of a District
Committee which was done in manner.
and with result highly satisfactory TO
che Ellsworth delegation. The President
now suggested that there ought to be
some resolutions. There was a dead ST.
lence, aud long waiting. 1t could do
considerable voting for so small q conyen-
ton, but resolving was another matter.
Hamiltnn nf
rallied and moved the ADOPTION of the re-
solutions of the First District convention.
Nobody seemed to know what they were.
but they voted them with feelings of re-
lief About this stage of the proceedings
it being little past eleven O'Clock. Mr..
John ID. Richards of Ellsworth, moved a
recess till afternoon. The President sug-
gested that the convention should wait the
return OF the visiting committee. Mr..
Richards retorted that Whatever might be
the practice in other parliamentary bodies.
a democratic convention could do as it
pleased. At least il had the power to ad-
journ. 1t was suggested that eleven
O'Clock was "high noon'' for democrats.
They seemed anxious for the recess, but
there being some watchful Republicans
present, they hardly liked to 60 out. After
sometime longer of waiting, the peri-pste-
tic committee returned, and announced
that they had endeavored to preform the
duty assigned them and had failed. Mr..
Spofford evidently unsuspecting any such
honor could not be found, but they had no
doubt he would accept. Thereupon .
recess was taken till half past one.
At thar hour Mr.. Charles A. Spofford,
who may be styled the Cicero of Eastern
Maine, was introduced, and made bis