The Republican journal., 1875-07-08
For Governor,
CIIA RLES W. ROBERTS,
Col. Smiths Open Letter,
of Bangor.

Col L A. Smith. Of the Portland Daily
Press, addresses, in the columns of that
paper 4 letter to Gen. Roberts, the Dem
ocratic candidate for Governor 1t is the
first instance OF the kind which we recol
lect in the history Of political campaign
ING in Maine, and the fact that such a
document is put forth shows how thor
oughly alarmed the radicals have become
in view of the enthusiastic convention
which nominated Gen. Roberts, the de
termined front of the Democracy ami the
people of Maine Hence this desperate
attempt to break down the great personal
popularity of the nominee - an attempt
that will only bring confusion to the plot
tiers. Gen. Roberts can never be injured
by such attacks. He is 'sclothed so strong
in honesty, that they pass by him like the
idle wind.n
The open letter comments upon the
record Of Gen Roberts from two points
Of view first, his conduct as a soldier
while in the service second, his acts as a
civilian after his retirement from the
army In respect TO the first, the open
letter says
do not intimate that You ever failed to do
your duty III that position, or that yoa We're
wanting in true soldiery qualities. 1t is with
great satisfaction, on the other hand, that |
and your general popularity with your com
mand.
That is enough. The friends of Gen.
Roberts claim no more, and as his oppo-
neits concede rs much, there is need of
no further waste of words on that head.
But Col, Smith alleges that Gen. Roberts
resigned at q time when the fortunes OF
the country looked dark and every man
was needed - turned his back on ;he
Union cause" But the Adutant Gener-
ais Report better authority than any
open letter, says
In the fall of 1862, Col. Roberts rendered his
resignation ON account of impaired health, the
result of unremitting and faithful service on
the field. He had never left his command for
Il single Gay.
His friends appeal from The CHARGES
made in the heat OF party alarm and ran
cor to the calm facts OF official records.
The open letter then proceeds to state
that the General became the political
| associate Of the enemies of the country
TO wit, the Democratic party-and is there
tore unworthy Of public confidence. This
is the old argument over again. 1t is say
ing in effect that all political sagacity was
monopoliZed by the party in power-that
the leaders were intalible in wisdom and
incoruptible in virtue-and that to differ
from them on questions Of public policy
was treason. 1t is saying that in free
and elective government there was the
right to vote, but that no vote could be
cast by a patriotic and honest man save
the one dictated by the party in power
which was seeking to perpetuatc itself!
This may not strike the reader as very
convincing reasoning, but it is upon such
that the charges of the open letter against
Gen. Roberts rest.
The whole TRADE consists of good deal
OF smoke and a very little fire. Gen. Rob
crts went into the war us a Democrat, he
served rs n Democrat, he came out a
Democrat, and he is q Democrat to-day
member of the majority party of the
country and the one to which its control
and destines are to be committed