The Republican journal., 1877-09-06
II. Williams and the Bangor Commercial.

We believe thoroughly in an independ-
ent newspaper press. Indeed, it is diff
cult to understand how a paper can
achieve a position in public estimation,
or maintain it after has been achieved
how the conductor can be self-respecting,
or his publication usetul-unless it shall
be pervaded by a large share Of that in
dependence which is guided by fairness,
honesty and honor and which treats with
equal and exact justice each and every
question which arises. A public journal
can advocate and defend Democratic
principles without being obliged to follow
and obey the wrong headed faction that
may by chance or cunning get possession
OF the party assmblages- without being
bound to endorse dishonest knave who
may get nomination from packed con-
vention. 1t will be an evil day for the
country when the press of either political
party shall be tethered to the unfailing
support of whoever may be put forward
by the irresponsible and often corrupted
majority OF party conventions-Whe it
shall be wholly subordinated to the I'M
wholesome reign Of King Caucus. There
may be such a thing as righteous revolt,
demanded and sustained by the facts of
the ease. The Judgment of a newspa-
1An, ilv.t In ,-Atl n
should be, on proper occasions, interposed
between the hasty, ill-judged or corrupt
action of nominating conventions, and
the welfare of the party and the public
But there is more than this required. 1t
must be made apparent that the remedy
is not worse than the disease-that the
censor and Judge is influenced by proper
motives, and is correct in judgment.
The nomination of Hon. Joseph H.
Williams by the Democrats of Maine has
been severely denounced by one of the
Democratic presses of the State, ostensi-
bly, for two reasons first, that he has
been too recently a Republican; and
secondly, that he has given a construc-
ton to the platform unwarranted by its
text. To his personal character, his
abilities, or the fairness of his nominal
ton, no objection has or can be made.
In respect to the first objection, it may
be said that the purpose of the DEM
ocratic party, now in Il minority in the
State, is to swell its ranks by accessions
enough to place it in the majority. There
are but two feasible methods of doing this
first by recruiting the ranks of the party
through the natural increase of the race;
second, by converts from the Republican
party. The first would be a slow process.
Boys are not born twenty-one years of
age, and if they We're, the party might
engage in begetting with all the zeal of
the patriarchs of the Old Testament, and
still be for long time in the minority. 1t
is clear then. that in rejecting the class
of which Mr.. Williams is the type, we
should forecose our only chance of sue
cess. 1t is not best to do that, either
for ''principle,' upon which our Brother
Emery plants himself so firmly, or in the
interest of that 'policy," for which he is
accustomed to call others to account
The second resolution of the Conven-
ton, to the Interpretation of which, by
Mr.. Williams, the Commercial objects, is
as follows
The reversal Of the verdict of the American
people, as expressed at the ballot box in NOvem-
Der last electng Samuel j. Tilden President of
the United States, was the most monstrous politi
cal fraud recorded in the history. The Democracy
submitted to it III the interest of peace. 1t must
not be repeated; and we call upon Congress to
propose for ratification an amendment to the con
stitution which will render its repetition impossi
Bile, and subject conspirators attempting it to con
dign punishment.
This is to q considerable extent am
biguous. 1t says that fraud was COM
mitted, but it directs the accusation to
no particular point, or against any man,
or body of men. 1t may be intended to
arraign Congress for the creation of the
electoral commission, for anything that
appears to the contrary in it's language.
1t may point at certain states, or at the
commission as whole, or at Mr.. Justice
Bradley individually. And yet this reso-
luton had the assent Of Mr.. Emery, for
he was of the committee, which unani-
mously reported it. The candidate, it may
be, somewhat puzzled at the labyrinths
which our brother had constructed, placed
the fraud where it originated, in certain
states. 1t was hardly expected that Mr..
Williams would, in the spirit of the ia
nous Etna resolutions, declare the Pres
ident to be "a traitor to his party, his
country and his God" Mr.. Hayes is in the