Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-19
Fighting the "Greenback Lamb
ATupNa Anu ia 1879


To the Editor Of the Eennebtc JourHal
| 1t was fine weather yesterday and in grain hsr-
vest but Athens rallied and filed her town house.
Many ladies were there. 1t motley gather
| ing, with good and poor, and no-promise men all
mi xed, the good out numbering the bad.
| Confused by their danger, the horse runs into
fire, the advocates of bad money gathered with
be friends of good. They got a doubleender
which sent them Keeling, and led them to doubt
whether really moonshine and sunlight are the
same.
| Hitherto it has been popular to think the moon
green cheese, and all the better for being green
since that is the color of greenbacks, and green
peas aud fresh lamb have rated high for the same
reason. Indeed, wolf, flesh painted that color has
sold freely. The trouble about it is, it sometimes
bsras, and at such times don't sell well How.
ever (as our national friends hiuk) If governmen
would only make it legal tender il wouli be very
easy to chew.
TIVE long hours the audience listened, while
words of burning eloquence and resistless logic
came forth from the speakers lips. Unauswerable
because they were the simple and honest stale
ments of the truth; clear and invincible reason
ing, resting upon proved and certain facts. Our
greenbsck friends believe there's such thing as
| truth. AS well might they try with their hands to
press back the rifle ball in its course as to refute
such reasoning. One could as we'll stand before
a charge Of grape and canister as for an intelli-
gent and unprejudiced man to listen and be I'M
convinced. The nationals are badly hurt. and the
dead and dying stretched in every direction 1t il
no use to talk empty words, and sheer and violent
assertion of improved facts, and baseless theore:
may first gain the popular ear, but sharp and GER
tain reasoning W i'll prevail in the end.
| To such argument the people listened for two
hours, when Hon. s. D. Lindsey and Gen James
A. Hall discussed the finances.
| The fallacy of the doctrine that taking up
good promise with poor one is payment, was
clearly brought out, and gold shown to be vslu
able, stamped or unstamped, because Of its rarity
adsptsb.ily and cost 10 labor and because it:
value does not depend upon the life or honor Of
the nation. After each speech, the room rang
with the plaudits Of honest money.
! At the close of the speaking, that re loubtable
champion Of irredeemable money, l.. d. Arnolt
of Skowhegan, rose and announced that there wa.
another side to the question, and he would like tt
|
| in the evening. Challenged and invited to speak
then in the presence of Hall and Lindsey, h,
Id not, for fear of wearypg the audience
Wen knowing said speakers were advertised t.
speak in Harmony that night, he appointed hi
own meeting at hsf-past seven in the evening" a
which time he unfoded his manuscript and com
menced to read the old threadbare story--the
republican kite Of honest money that wonld Dol
us all TO the devil if didn't pull 1t down ;--ant
the room then rang with democratic applause, ant
the democratic wolf stood bravely by him. A
democrat called the meeting to order and nomi
mated another democrat TO preside. while Marcel
| lus Emery democrats comprised the greer bacl
part OF the audience and their cry is, anything II
beat the republican party here in Athens, and WI
don't care but little about the nation, but give u
Athens and we'll be "happy as the day is long"
BY the way, our greenback friends hav' mt go
Athens yet. Arnold really Is a very fine speake
for greenbacker. He didn't put forth the irs
scintls Of argument it is tlue but then Their
! isn't anything ia the whole realm OF reason tina
can be thought Of OF imas ined on their side. Thi
morning., however, our ional friends are en- nl
| him as stupid. They II look in vain, however, 70
logic on their side, for there is none and OF cours
he s stupid They have got along without an.
reason for the faith that is in them, far and de
pended on sheer assertion. They expected by tn
aid Of democracy to shove this thing through. II
their awful chagtin they have found that the peo
pie think.
| think. however, the real trouble with Arnold
was bis imprudence. The intelligence of the count,
was, Che said) 9s% per cent. of it, srrayed agains
them, and agricultural and religious newspaper
and ministers were all in the ring. This campaign
was struggle between gold ring composed o
one twentieth of the country with the other nine
teen. gksELAt
1t is evidently the impression Of these national