Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-08-16
Close I'D the Ranks.

The time has come to close up the ranks
of the republican party in preparation Tor
the contest at the polls in September.
The holding Of the State Conventions OF
both parties at later period than usual
this year. affords but a brief space for
preparatory work. 1t is but little more
than three weeks to the election. The
time is short, but ample it actively and
wisely employed.
We give no credence to the rumors
abroad of dissatisfaction among republi
cans plotting or threatening revolt against
the organization. Similar reports are in
the air before every election. The pre-
dictions of "uprisings, "boltings," tidal
waves" and earthquakes that were to
rend the republican party, have come
down in regular annual succession from
the earliest period of its existence, and
yet the party has passed its twenty first
birthday without a solitary defeat, and
to-day is as strong in the confidence of
lnc OtdtC Us IL CNCi w 10. 1t 10 lIut lldt
individuals through disappointed ambition
or fancied personal grievances or hope OF
Office, have occasionally gone over to the
democracy, but they have carried nobody
with them, no matter what the pretext
they urged for their course or the induce
ment they offered for following. The
republican party of Maine has always
stood and stands to-day as firm as a rock
in its fidelity to the organization. The
winds of faction cannot disturb it. The
plain, common people who do the voting
are As true to the cardinal principles of
the party as the needle to the pole.
Where these lead they follow, leaving
malcontents to the consequences of their
own folly.
The Democratic Convention proved it.
self imbecile, cowardly and weak. 1t was
afraid to nominate the man who was en-
titled to the nomination and slaughtered
him outright. 1t nominated a renegade
from the republican party, with not a
drop of warm blood in his veins, not
single characteristic that can inspire a
farmer, laborer, mechanic, or anybody
but bloated bondholder or silk stock
ing aristocrat, to vote for him. The plat
form is cowardly. The convention dared
not declare any opinion upon the liquor
question. 1t was strongly in favor Of IL
cense but did not dare to say so. 1t
wished to endorse the Presidents South
ern policy but was afraid to do it except
in ambiguous terms. 1t did declare his
title to the Presidency fraudulent, and
with this all its courage oozed oute
To such a candidate and such plat
form the republican party will stand unit
eddy and actively opposed from Kittery to
Calais. We shall support Selden Conner
and our county and town tickets with
straightforward earnestness and success.
Bot it is high time the ranks were formed,
the party preparing for decisive action
We must organize at once. We do not
credit reports of "uprisings" or "bolt-
ings." OF anything Of that sort. This
would imply idiocy in those who would
undertake such aJob. But our plain duty is
to carry forward our campaign, inviting
all republicans to stand equally with us
in support of it. 1t is certain that the
lapse of time-and probably but short
tlme-will efectually dispose of any TEN.
porary disagreement of honest opinion
now existing within the republican ranks,
and all will eventually stand shoulder ia
shoulder in the common cause.