Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-18
Early Birds.

EaIhy Dhocs
The democratic leaders are in an un-
commonly active state of mind in regard
to the subject of the next Presidential
campaign. They drink over it. sleep up
on it, conspire concerning it. and swear
about it. all as though the event were to
occur next summer instead Of in 1880.
Eighteen smelling committees have been
specially deputizsd and authorized by the
House at Washington to 60 roaming up
and down the country. through the pcni-
tentiaries, warehouses. and cutters, to
rake up all the material possible from such
sources to aid them in the contest yet more
than two years in the future. 1t is rather
an early start. 1t may prove an untimely
one. Buds and blossoms that appear be-
fore their season seldom fail to be bighted
Birds that mate too early find their eggs
added. And democrats that 60 hunting
scandal in 1873 to promote their success at
the polls in 1880. and trot out their favor
ite candidates for the Presidency two years
before the time to enter upon the race, may
by such means experience a killing frost
and have their candidates dsbarred the
course long before the actual trial begins.
Our country. our cities, towns. villages,
are not just now in the mood to begin q
Presidential contest. The people need a
short breathing spell before they plunge
pell-mell into the excitement and dstrac-
ton of another fight about the Presidency.
There are business affairs to attend to
which require the best attention Of Con-
gress. 1t is poor time in the midst oil
the confusion and disaster attending the
business depression on oil sides, caused by
years of overriding in business and the
evils OF an inflated and unsound currency.
to kindle the fires Of political hatred for
the sake of advancing the claims of Mr..
Tilden, or Gen. Mcclellan. or Mr.. Hen
bricks, or Mr.. Bayard. or any other demo-
cratic magnate, in the field of 1880.
Mr.. Tilden and his friends are moving
with might and main-not with perfect
openness. to be sure. but "devilish sly
to keep him prominently before the public
as the democratic candidate for the next
term. They represent Mr. Tilden As hav-
ing been defrauded of the Presidency by
Hayes, as a grossly wronged man by the
decision of the electoral commission, as a
kind of political John Rogers, a martyr
for bis party, an heir foully disinhsrited,
and this picture is kept before the public
as standing advertisement that the dem
ocratic party is bound in faith, In charity,
in justice. and by the bar'ls of money
which Sam Tilden lavished upon the last
campaign, to renominats him az the next
democratic candidate for the Presidency.
Montgomery Blair was piping for Mr.. Til
den the other day when he introduced bis
memorial into the Maryland legislature,
concerning 1.-THE great fraud" and de-
handing an investigation Of the title of
Hayes to the Presidency. The Tlden Or
gans everywhere join in the cry for in
vestigation. Not because they expect to
find any flaw in the title of Hayes, but in
tend to have their reward In keeping the
wounds of Samuel Tiden before the
country and securing his nomination in
1880. 1t is desperate thing thus to trifle
with the great interests of the nation when
quiet and restoration of confidence are 50
necessary to the re-establishmsnt of sound
and prosperous business. but the Tildsn
conspirators care for nothing but his sue.
cess.
Another candidate for the democratic
nomipalion in 1880 10 Gen. Mcclellan
For this. TO give him prominence. he wa,
elected Governor of New Jersey, and in
'his inaugural address at Trenton, Tues
day last. he made his bid for the nomin
alton for the Presidency. Such tim,
New Jersey scarcely ever witnessed Al
at the Inauguration Of Little Mac
Apple jack flowed freely. and great wa
the enthusiasm manufactured for the oc