The Portland daily press., 1878-06-06
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE GREENBACKERS.
The Lewiston Convention.
SMITH OF OLDTOWN NOM
MATED.
The Toledo Platform Ratified.
The Toledo Platform Ratified.
[Special to the Press.1

The Toledo Platform Ratified.
Especial to the Press.l
LEWISTON, June 5.-The Greenback State
Convention in this city today was large 10 num-
oers, respectable in personnel ard thoroughly
In earnest 1t was not to be sure quite clear as
to what 1t wanted, but was emphat caly loud
In its desire for change. Men of varying and
opposite opinions made up the convention.
Some there were who opposed the national
banking system and only wanted its abolition;
others were in favor of "absolate money!;
Others still had no particular and few general
opinions on the currency question, but, to use
their own expressive language, were "bound to
bust things" There were many young men in
the convention and fair sprinkling of grey
heads-these last being solid. substantial look
ing citizens, farmers mostly. The young men,
who looked rather oppressvely wise, and evil
IDENTIFY labored under the impression that they
thoroughly understood question to which the
foremost Of the worlds economists have given
lifetime of study, took charge of the organ
ization and shaped the action of the conven-
ton. They had all devoted quite as much
time,-six weeks,-to a consideration of the
currency question, as had their candidate for
governor, and sre doubtless as we'll acquainted
with it as he. Behind these earnest men, and
quietly working were the men who have failed
in politics, those whom the people once honor
ed and have now forgotten, or those whom the
people have quite ~forgotten to honor. The
politicians proposed to capture the convention
and succeeded.
From the first there were divisions. Many
OF the delegates desired to form conbin alton
with the Democrats. A few had hopes that a
candidate might be nominated who would be
acceptable to the Republicans. Oshers, thor.
oughly in earnest, insisted that the Grsenback-
ers should make no alliances, but should nom.
mate man who had been identified with the
movement from its start. But these, though
led by the apostle of the new faith, Scion
Chase, were overruled at the very start. Indeed
last night there was every prospect of al sur
render to the Democrats. Doctor Jordan, rep
resenting Marcellus Emery and the Penobscot
Democracy, was on hand with bargain. He
proposed that the convention nominate Abra-
ham Sanborn of Bangor, and gave assurances
that the Portland convention would ratify the
nomination. The proposition was received and
seriously discussed The majority of the
Greenback leaders were however of the opin-
ion that the nomination of Sanborn would
ALLEVIATE many Of their followers who had been
Republicans aud that they could not afford to
make the bargain. But they offered to throw
Chase and Rust overheard and select Penob-
scot man who would not be unacceptable to the
Bourbon Democrats of that section. They
named Joseph L. Smith of Oldtown as their
man. These were the best terms Jordan could
obtain, and he had to accept them.
This morning the convention met-and met
to ratify the choice of the caucus
made the night before. Its sentiment
was Enthusiastically for Scion Chase, and the
"brainiest' man of the new party. But the
leaders made such earnest appealsfor Smith,
representing that he could carry the Eastern
Democracy and was the only man that stood
the least chance of election, that the conven-
ton yielded its convictions. The opponents of
Chase too were secretly aided by traitors in his
own household. Men who had obtained prom
inence by climbing on his shoulders gladly ig-
nored him, hoping that his services to them
might bs forgotten. Mr.. Chase himself made
no fight he must have felt grieved, but un-
like some of the other disappointed candidates,
made no sign. As slight atonement for their
ingratitude the managers made him chairman
of the convention.
When the convention got together the differ.
ences of opinion showed themselves. Those
Republicans whose merits had not been sufi-
GENTLY acknowledged by their own party-that
is who held office until the people grew dread
fully tired and dismissed them from the public
servce-were afraid that the Dsmocrats-who
had abandoned all hope of getting Office from
the old organization and seek for better luck in
the new-would get possession of the new ma
chine Perhaps their fear was intensified BY
thelghmpse they got of the gold bowed specta-
Giles OF 5. G. Andrews bestriding that gentle
mans nose as he paced up and down the lob
Dies waiting to hear that cali from the people
for which he has been all his lifetime listen
ing. The Democrats for their part were
equally suspicious But all jealousies were for
gotten and all quarrels postponed in face of
greater danger. The earnest men, those who
really believe that the country is going to the
dogs, who mistake the first break of the dawn
for the last CLEAN of the sunset, were resolved
to nominate, without any regard to policy, the
man who struck the first blow for s'the cause"
in Maine, Scion Chase These men were for
tunately for the politicians, in minority, and
the men of expediency in majority. Convic.
tions did not count. The Ginning drives for
which Chase has so long been hoping, took
place, much to his surprise. in his own conven-
ton, and the result was the defeat Of the father
of the Greenback movement in Maine. The
man who "wore No. II boot, with hayseed in
his hair and brains in his head"-the boots
and the hayseed are open for doubt, but there
is no question about the brains-was whipped.
The convention came to order at 1905. The
Rev. Mr., Maddox, alleged to bs of Portland,
offered prayer, and Mr.. Chase was called to the
chair. He spoke at some length of the ia
nous steers and again advanced that extraor-
binary proposition of his that the supply Of
gold is unequal to the worlds wants. The sup
ply of gold was certainly adequate in 1860, and
has since increased more rapidly that popula-
ton. But the speaker did not care to take these
facts into account. His solicitude for England
was really painful. He entertained the idea
that England is to be drained of her gold and
will not be able to buy grain from this coun-
try. Lombard street however does not seem to
be much alarmed. He still holds that when
ever the paper currency in England is more
than triple the sum of gold in the bank there
must be an immediate contraction of the cur
rency, and that the same course must be pur-
sued in this county after resumption. That bee
has been buzzing in his bonnet long time.
AT the conclusion of Mr. Chase's speech the |
temporary organization was made permanent, |
some secretaries and many yice-presdents be. |
ing chosen.
Committee on Credentials,
Androscoggin-Solon Chase. Turner
Aroostook-Wm. III. Ryan Presone Isle
Cumberland-J. f. Turner, Portland.
Frankn-D. III. Chandler. Farmington.
Hancock-Horace Davis Ellsworth
Kennebec-Chas. A. White, Gardiner
knox-W. W. Perry, Camden.