Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-01-08
AUGUSTA. Jan. 6. 1874.


AUGUSTA. Jan. 6. 1874.
This, my initial letter, is dated on the
morning of the fifty.th annual convoca-
tion of the Assembled Wisdom" of the
State. During the session. which opens
! to-day. what deeds of wisdom. and OF folly
too, will be 'enacted. Ere 1t adjourns
sine die, what petroleum speeches-what
unwritten ebulltions-what frothy har.
sngues-what linear measure of gas
eous exhalation-what plots and plans for
that failacious glory and fictitious attrac-
ton which gather around political life.
Tho. members now walk Estate Street
with eyes and wishes uppard when the
heat and struggle of the session are over,
very many of these Legislature stars. will
90 out, to glimmer and shine no more
THE TINS" AND THE outs"
Already are the 'anxious seats" of the
ms and outs, filled to a squeeze. and their
petitions for preferment come to our ears
In all the semi-toncs of the gamut. or with
the confusion of tongues" of modern
sewing circle. The Gins" entrenched be-
hind their experience. hope to make their
position impregnable to the appeals of the
"onts." while tie latter belI.erents plead
the virtues OF rotation" and that they
too, have fought, and bled, and died. for
the good of the cause.
COUNCILLOR.
There are, no less, than six candidates
from the eth, Di-trict,-the assignment to
Hancock for the rest OF the decade, being
! 1874, 1875, lSs0, lssl all good men, Who
have demonstrated their ability and fitness
| for the honors which they seek.
Every man cannot be wear OF Bow
den" one must be taken. and the others
/ len. Which Is To be The taken" so
evenly matched, numerically considered.
are the hackers" OF each of the rivals.
that poll OF our delegation. must de-
terminc the winner.
IA Old English poem begin, with these
words.
| To write Of Iceland there /, liit, need
Save Of Siocki,h."
| 80 10 write of the Ancient cu~hnoc lAu-
| gu>tal there is little need, save OF the
Legislature. The Legislature OF Maine
/ first met in the Court House. Portland. in
! May, ls2o, aud continued it, sions there
! until, ls3a. In Feb. IS21. an act vas pass
ell fixing the seat of government at Au-
gusta. The present Capital was first oc-
/ cupied by the Legislature In lS32, sine.
which. there have been 80 regular sessions
/ The shortest sessions OF 80 DAYS each
were In 1865, and 1850, and the longest, Of
/ IL! days, In 1850. Average of sessions.
| IS days. Since Maine became member
/ OF the Federal Union. her 81 annual
| guberpatorial elections have elevated but
81 men to the Chief Magistracv. The
longest term OF service was that of Albion
! X. Paris, who was so ineloriousy defeat
ell when the Democracy were made to
iremble at the daring of the Know kuoth-
| ings. in 1854, and when that oemtdur
| politician 4. Z. Morrill, strobe into power
| The closest Governor vote, was that of G1
| plurality, which elected Kent in 1910; the
largest majority that Of y &c given 10
| Chamberlain, In 1866.
! PARTY NAMES.
A brief history Of party names. may be
OF interest, especially TO yonr younger
readers.
The first occasion for the formation OF
political parties in the United States, grew
out OF different views in regard to the iu-
tent and meaning of the Constitution The
conflict of opinion gave birth 10 two par
Ties which took the name, of Ftderdiists
and Antifederali>ts. In 1912, Il question
OF foreign policy absorbed il.at Of con-
stitutional construction, and called out
new political organizations, which as.um-
| ed the party names Of National Republican.
and Democratic Republican. In 1892, when
| the new question arose of tariff. Internal
Z Improvements, and slavery, new alliances
were formed-the name of Democratic
| Republican. was pruned down TO Demo
crat,' and that of National Republican,
| gave place 10 the term of Wing In
ls4s, the slavery question had hopelessly
divided the VIII. party, and had sown its
seeds of discord In the ranks Of the Demo-
cracy, when, 1854, the suddenly developed
hnou hnothiRgs. killed the Whig party.
and terribly accliInated the ranks of the
"Hydra-headed" Democratic party In
1850, refugees from all other political or
ganilations-fromt the Wings, Democrats.
MasorS, AEti-Masop>, Maine Law, Liber-
ty, and Free Soil, united 10 constitute the
great H'paJiicaa Parry, which has Il
name to live il it speedily NIB mierize
itselt OF that shameful grab game" steal.
LEGISLATIVE WORK TO BE DONE.
Some weeks must elapse before the
pressure Of legislation comes. The gather
Ing in nrce, Of Lobbyists. indicates sharp
work bye and bye. One Of the main cues
tions To be. is that of bridge across the
Penobscot. ut Bucksport. Many of its
foes are already on the war path" Don't
fume, gentlemen, that bridge is TO be built.
RJ+p.t