Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-03
CITY ELECTION.


Our annual election for city officers of
Augusta will take place one week from
next Monday. In previous articles we
have spoken of the duty OF republicans to
give special attention this year to their
CITY and town elections. What we have
thus said applies to Augusta with as much
pertinency and force as to other munich
palities. The republicans here need to
be alive, watchful and wise. Vigilance
and work are always necessary to politi-
cal success, and especially necessary in
cities like Augusta where parties are near
ly equal in strength.
We tell no secret when we state that
the democrats of Augusta were never more
busily at work than at present to carry the
city election. They are fully organized
in every ward. They are holding private
meetings. Every grog-shop and sink of
iniqIity is recruiting station for them.
They will muster in full strength at the
polls on the day of election, prepared to
take advantage of any neglect on the part
of the republicans to perform their whole
duty.
OF the Importance of retaining control
of the check lists our republican friends
ought not to need reminder after what
they witnessed in 1868 of riot and fraud
in consequence of the city government
passing that year into democratic hands.
That lesson has never been or ought to be
forgotten in this city. Let the democrats
obtain a majority Of the aldermen and the
scenes of 1868 would be enacted again in
our midst next fall. Fraud, violence and
corruption are the instruments of the de-
mocracy to carry elections, from Tam
many down, from elections in Georgia as
described by Robert Toombs to elections
In Maine and New Hampshire. The in
telligence we have from New Hampshire
in regard to the pending election in that
State is that there is much to fear on the
part of the republicans from villainous
manipulation of the check lists, opening
the door to repeating and other frauds.
In the city of Manchester, which is under
democratic control, it is notorious that
hundreds OF fraudulent names were placed
on the check lists last year, and that men
were sent there from Massachusetts and
went from ward to ward voting the dem
ocratic ticket under names thus prepared
for them. The same thing is to be tried
again this year in that city, on larger
scale if possible than last year. The only
way to prevent such outrages is to begin
at the town and city elections, contesting
them with all our might, remembering
that they are the key to success in more
important struggles.
Under the circumstances which attend
our city election, we feel sure that all re-
publicans will feel deep interest in the
success of the republican ticket If the
grog shops are alive with democratic ac-
tivity, as they evidently are, then places fire.
quented by respectable men and women,
friends of temperance and good order,
should be equally active at least in pro-
noting the interests which they have at
heart. We earnestly invite all republic
cans to weigh well their responsibility in
the matter, and as they love order and de-
cency at home, and the supremacy Of re-
publican principles over the broad land,
to fail not to bestir themselves to the best
of their ability for the success of the re-
publican ticket in our city election on the
18th.