Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-10
What the Greenback Organs say
of the Greenback Convention in
the Fifth District.

tne L lItn DtSLTlCts
The two greenback organs in the Fifth Con-
gressional District, speak Of the greeDback con-
vention held at Belfast as follows:
From the Progressive Age.
The attendance upon the Congressional Conven-
ton in this city, Tuesday, was limited to this and
Knox counties and few towns in Hancock coun.
ty, mostly those where stone and miners
reside or are employed. There was no represen-
tation from Washington county except Z. X.
Whidden, Esq, of the Calais Times. The Con-
ventlon was manly controlled by the lab0ring or
stone-cutting element of the greepback party
whose unions extend through many OF our shore
towns.
As soon as the organization was effected Mr.
Campbell, OF Rock land, took the floor and made q
very violent speech. His argument, in effect, was
bread or blood. lie depicted the waut and suffer-
ing OF the laboring classes in the most distressing
colors. His argument was substantially that
which has been advanced by the Camden Herald
that unless the condition Of the iaboring men OF
the country was made better they would be justi-
fed in appealing to force. He bitterly deHounced
the action of Congress IN refusing to reduce the
my, characterizing 1t as menace to the suffering
iabOrlng people. 10 regard TO nominations ne de-
clared with great vehemence against the nomiua-
ton of any for office who had been proml-
nently identified with tue old parties, and sdvoca-
Ted the nomination only of those in the ranks of
the woTkingmen.
Knowton, Esq of Liberty, who seemed deter
mined TO 60 one better. lie alluded TO certain
contributions TO paper, some ten or twelve years
ago, in regard to taxing bonds, that it WAS the
pioneer oil the greenback party in this county.
II is surprising how many pioneers there are.
de then proceeded TO deDounce the action OF past
Congresses 10 the most bitter terms And the
convention listened with surprise to his declsra-
ZION that the Republican platform WAS erected up
on bsyonets, and that the Greenbsck party was
resolved TO pull it down. We mnst condemn such
utterances Is those, not less than those Of the
prev ious speaker. We cannot afford " do injus-
nee 10 any party. The Republican party has, in
our view, taken u wrong position 10 regard to the
currency question, and we cannot support 1t; but
70 represent 1t rs attempting to establish bsyonet
rule in this country, is most unjust and out
rageous. Ii Bro. knowlton's object was TO Sc
cure the nomination be certainly fell very far
short of it.
When the question of nomination of candidate
was 10 order, q Rocklsnd delegate presented
Murch's name as the candidate Of the Stone Cut
ters' Union, which 1t was represented numbered
two thousand members in the district, and the
threat was made that they would not support the
ticket unless their candidate received the nomina-
ton. This produced considerable commotion.
Mr. Murch subsequently repudiated the threat,
and d, clared they would support whoever was
nominated, but this only after it became apparent
that he would receive the nomination. The de-
termination VI us supporters was openly kvOWe0
both in and out of the convention not to support
any other candidate If nominated. Their conduct
throughout was most boisterous and dsorderly,
and it was impossible for the chairman to Preserve
order.
Now at the risk of saying what may appear I'M.
becoming in us, the future welfare Of the green
back party of this State impels us to condemn the
sentiments advanced by the speakers and which
were violently appauded, presenting the slterna-
tive of force ami violence unless the policy de-
manded was acceded to. The question before the
country is whether we shall return to specie
basis. 1t must be discussed like all other Public
questions upon its merits. There is an abundance
of strong, sober arguments against such policy
and inttammatory harangues and appeals to the
base passions of ignorant men by speakers who
do not comprehend the question at ISSUE are cal
culated TO bring swift defeat to the cause
Toward Mr.. Murch, the nominee, we have none
but friendly feelings. And we should be pleased
to present him to the intelligent voters OF our dis
rlct as suitable candidate to represent them did
not his own speech made in accepting the nomina-
ton show that he is unsuitable. He said that it
had been understood that he was an educated man.
when it was the reverse. He had never seen the
inside OF school-house since he was sixteen
years old; that he was not speaker, and Is for
property, he was not worth dollar Now, with
such testimony as this coming from himself, il is
a question to be determined by the people of
the district whether he would be fit representa-
tive to represent one of the most important repre.
sentative districts in heUnion. 1t was singular
speech; mao Boosting of his lack of acquired
ability, and Of his having lived over forty wears
without acquiring, or saving a dollar Whist ever
may be thought of his confessed lack of ACQUIRED
aaiiiiy, or his unsuitableness to take care of
the money of the people. having never
earned, or, at least never taken care of his own.
he certainly deserves credit for candor But we
lear that while his bossted lack of fitness NAV
make him popular with the stone cutters. it will
have an unfavorable effect with the rest of The
people Of the district, even were it not notorious.
as II is that he has been the head centre Of All
strikes and troubles which have occurred on the
granite Islands. -" INV
From the Camden Herald
The friends Of Mr.. Perry were VIEW much spr
prised that he received but IL votes. and vora
of explanation is due him. lie or his friend, aid
not dream that the friends Of Rust would mack a
caucus in Camden and actually secure four or
five out Of the eleven delegates. 1t seemed too
much like the practice Of the old political trick
sters Had anything Of this sort been Anticipated
the delegates wonld have been chosen by ballot.
in which event Mr.. Perry would have had the
delegation by more than ten to one. Delegates
from other towns were surprised to see about one
half OF the delegates from Camden working snd