The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-03
BY TELEGRAPH.
MATTERS in MAINE.
DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT CON-
VENTION.
John MI. Goodwin Nominated.
lSpecial to the Press.1

SOnh OVOu Will INOAlAlkhGttCus
Special to the Press.l
BIDDEFoRD, Aug. 1.-The Democrats of the
First District met in convention at Biddeford
yesterday and nominated a candidate for Con-
gress. The convention met in the best of spir-
its and adjourned in the blues, the delegates
displaying the usual Democratic aptitude for
filling the dish and ching it over. At ten a.
m. they were confident of carrying the district;
at high noon they had lost all hope; and it was
chiefly because of the indiscretion of young
man from Standish named Nash. The young
man was apparently emulous of the fame of
that immortal ass, Shakespeare's Dogberry,
and his fellow delegates were disposed to ac-
knowledge that he had achieved his high am
bition.
The delegates. too, had their ardor cooled by
the reception they met with. They evidently
expected to see the streets of Biddeford alive
with disaffected Republicans, and they were
deeply disappointed; still they would have ad-
iourned their convention feeling tolerably well
had it not been for the young man from Wind
ham.
The convention came together about eleven
o'clock in the morning, being called together
by Mr.. G. Fl. Haskell, who nominated Gen. S.
j. Anderson for chairman. Gen. Anderson
accepted the position in speech in which he
expressed the hope that the convention would
nominate a true and tried Democrat. As the
convention had little idea of doing anything
else, the suggestion seemed superfuous. The
General also expressed the conviction that the
day of paper promises had passed forever. The
delegates fearing that hit at Hendricks was
intended, did not dare applaud, but reserved
their appreciation for the close of the speech
where Mr.. Anderson mentioned reform. He
did not renew his endorsement of Marcy 8
maxim, "To the victors belong the spoils," but
all that was understood by the hungry Office
seekers who gazed up at him from the floor.
After the chairman sat down the committee
on credentials announced as present 119 dele
gates from Cumberland and 81 from York. The
protesting yell which might have been expected
from York at the injustice of the apportion.
ment was not heard, and the chairman ap-
pointed a committee on resolutions, headed by
the venerable N. S. Littlefeld.
A lull now came upon the meeting, and dele.
gates withdrew to the ante-rooms to consult in
regard to the nomination. The wise conclusion
was reached by them to put their best man
forward, and when they returned the Hon.
Bon Bradbury rose, gave hasty sketch of pol
itics from the formation of the Republican
party in 1856, characterizng that party as
made up of Federalsts, old Wings and rene.
gade Democrats, and prophecying that the
Democratic party is about to receive a great
reward for its steadfastness and fidelity to prin
ciple. He denounced the Republicans for per
sistent mal-administration, for continual disre.
gard of constitutional obligations, for mischiev
Gus legislation and for hideous corruption. In
conclusion he said he surrendered all claims
which Cumberland or he might have upon the
nomination, and suggested that the candidate
be taken from York.
A ballot was then taken, resulting in 90
votes for John NJ. Goodwin, and one for S. J.
Anderson. Contrary to custom in Democratic
District Conventions. the vote was an honest
one. The result was received with applause.
The candidate was informed of the nomination
and appeared, accepting it in brief speech de-
claring that the only way to reform was to
place the government in good, firm, honest,
Democratic hands," This queer collection of
adiectives seemed to amuse the convention.
Bion Bradbury was then nominated by &C.
clamation for elector, and after a short wrangle
over the District Committee, in which S. r.
Lyman and his ring came out triumphant. a
committee reported four resolutions, one en-
dorsing the st. Louis platform, one praising
John G. Talbot, one pledging support to the
nominee, and one commencing Representative
Burleigh for his course in Congress.
Thoco I'D o6 nd Mash ~
Windham saw his opportunity. He rose and
moved the following addition to the platform
Resolved That we, the Democracy of the
First District of Maine, in Convention assem-
bled, forgetting all party prejudices, but remem-
bering we are American citizens, do regard
with shame and indignation the recent act of
the Chief Executive of this state in appointing
to the high and important office of United
States Senator a man against whom there ex.
ist grave and we'll founded suspicious of NAL
feasance in Office and we do most especially
regard the appointment as an act of official tur.
pitu1e from the fact that it shields the
appointee from any punishment which an
investigation of his case may show that he
merits.
Who Nash was no one seemed to know, that
he had written himself down an ass all were
ready to admit after adjournment, but his reso.
luton carried the convention by storm. 1t pre-.
malice and SANDER of the winter and spring
that 1t appealed irresistibly to the party pas.
sions of the delegates and was adopted by a
laundering aye. Some of the cooler heads en-
deavored to table it, but were over-ridden, and
it was not until after adjournment. which took
place amid some confusion, that the delegates
realized what blunder they lad made. One
prominent Democrat declared that it would
cost the party three hundred votes in York,
and many others were loud in their complaints
that it had lost them the District, for they
could ask,no Republican to vote for man who
stood upon such platform. AS the members
of the convention came to calmly consider
their action they very generally acknowledged
that whatever hope they once had of carrying
the District was now lost, and they went home
lamenting over day lost.
Sudden Death.
RocKLAND, Aug. 2.-Capt. Josiah Pinkham
of s teuben dropped dead in this city to-day, of
heart disease. He was about thirty-fiye Years
of age. A.
ITO the Associated Press.l