Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-19
From the Belfast journal.
Whittier is this Leadership Lead
ing?

The editor of the Progressive Age having seen
his Lew Greenback party rent and scattered in its
attempt to form battle line in this Congressional
district, is casting about for the means of repair
ing damages and resssurng his dsnayed follow
ers. Iii. tactics are OF the Nspoleonc order-a be-
wilderng Of his opponents by and unheard
Of maneuvres. la the Age of the llth inst. is
found the following editorial suggestion in the
course of an article headed Let those who think
alike act together"
ave favor an alliance with the democia Attic party
whenever our principles can be promoted. There
NAV be As good reasons Tor the democratic party
declining to throw up its Organization aud joiu the
Greenback party rs ior that PAT to dissolve and
Join the democrats. But there Is no reason why
both shall not act 10 concert 10 carry out the prln
ciples common to both.
That nine-tenths of the democrats in this coun.
ty and in this state are fully III accord with the
democrats of ONO and the west cannot be doubted.
What's TO hinder an alliance between the two or
CARNATIONS IN the coming election by that means
We believe it would be practicable to elect one OF
more representatives to Congress and secure the
control OF the legislature. Without such an all-
ance the chances that both paite will be
beaten IN detail.
The first conclusion which the reader will evolve
from the above article in connection with the re-
cent political history of the editor of the Age, is
that his severance from the republican party is IN
tended to be final aud complete. The next one Is
thai he believes that new and successful party
may be built up from The material of the old ones
of which the Grcenback notion should be the
corner stone
The reader who has teen accustomed to observe
the course Of political events, will see that to be
successful, tins plan must be able to harmonic
many discOr1ant elements. A fortress has no
more resistance than its most vulnerable point a
chain is no stronger than its weakest link. When
the General OF this proracted campaign has
placed in battle array his motley army of original
Greenbackers, disappointed republicans and dis
Outraged democrats, he will find that the fore es
he proposes to rout will not stand 10 be charged
upon by his Falstaffa an army. The motto. LET
those who think alike act together will have a
significance to them as well 10 the forces
under the command of General Rust.
They too will follow their convictions. Tie
advocates Of honest money must and will have a
rallying point. And, under these circumstances
the sound currency men will be as little likely as
the Age recruits to inquire what have been the
| former associations of those with whom they
affiliate They will 20 where principle leads. If
Greenbsck resolution, and Greenback invita-
ton are to cause stampede from the Democratic
party in one direction, hard money resolution
and the suggestion from the advocates of sound
currency will appeal with even greater force to
Democrats who believe in that principle, and who
know that 1t is right. Burke says, "When bad
men combine, the good must associate" Without
applying to the deluded Greenbackers the term
bad, except as badly Informed, we cannot fail to
see the truth and force Of this sentiment.
We have been led to make these remarks no
less by the suggestion of the Age. than by the
tone of certain Democrats and Democratic news
papers that seem TO be acting 10 concert with the
editor Of the Age. They have been for some
time mutually engaged in the work Of attempting
TO undermine the Democratic sentiment in favor
of sound currency-in persuading the Democracy
to overcome its natural disgust Of irredeemable
paper money, that il may first "endure then pity,