Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-07
Greenback Republicans.


back theory OF finance, and yet are not dis
posed to sever their connection with the re-
publican party unless the attitude of the
party towards them compels them to do so.
We think there is some truth in the remark
Indeed we know there is. The fact is the
greenhack party in origin, spirit and pur-
pose is essentially democratic. and there
fore it is no place for republicans. 1t
originated with the fault finding demo.
cratic spirit which opposed the war for the
suppression of the rebellion. and every
measure. financial and all. necessary to
maintain the war and preserve the Union.
When greenbacks were first issued bv the
government they were attacked by the
democrats with storms o! abuse but the
war over. the greenback having done the
work for which it was called into exist
ence, and an effort being made to return
to specie payments, the same faut-fnders
that opposed its creation by the govern
ment turn about and praise the green
back to the skies and demand larger and
continued issues, simply because they
hope by their opposition to stir up so much
popular feeling against resumption that it
will enure to the benefit of their political
organization in the country. The real
question with them is not whether the
greenback doctrine is sound and therefore
to be sustained, but whether it will be
good club in their hands with which to de-
feat the republican party. The greenback
party is therefore, as we said above. dem
ocratic in spirit and purpose. and will
prove a snare and deception to republicans
who permit themselves to be entrapped by
it. Anything to beat Grant" was the cry
of the democrats in 1872, when they nom
mated and supported Horace Greeley for
President; now their cry is Anything to
beat the republican party. and for this pur-
pose and only this they make use of the
greenback party.
In regard to the attitude Of the republi-
can party of Maine toward greenback re-
publicans. we are of the opinion that it will
be characteriz ed by that wise liberalty to
individual opinions which has ALWAYS
marked the course of the party where a
division of sentiment existed among men,
bers. Abolitionist and free-soiler disa
greed as TO measures in the early days of
the party. but agreed to occupy the same
platform and work together in harmony.
So the protectionist and free-trader. the !
prohibtionist and advocate of a license
law, the war democrat and the radical
republican, have let their differences
go in the presence OF greater issues and
stood firmly united at the polls against |
common enemy. Shall we still pursue
this policy of liberation upon secondary
questions? We hope and believe we shall, |
more especially as the greenback question
Is rapidly passing away as political is |
sue. Before Jan. !, 1879. specie payments
will be resumed. Practically resumption
is already established. The greenback as
an issue between parties will be dead he
fore our election in September. This will
be so early and clearly seen that the
greenback candidate for Governor. irI
one shall be nominated. will very likely |
be left without a rarty to support him
al the polls. lnhationists in Congress NAV
try to keep the dispute alive, but their
feeble efforts will avail little against the
power OF the Almighty. from whose bonn.
tiful hand we now have the promise of
even more abundant crops than last year.
with which there can be no such THING AZ
failure to bring about permanent resump-
ton.
In the all-mportant struggle which
will take place this year between the ex-
Contederates and the men who stood bv
the government in the day of its peril.
for the control of the National House of
Representatives. there should be no diyi.
sion among republicans upon transien, or
minor questions. Here is an issue that
overshadows all others. 1t is forced upon
the country by the attitude and purpose of
the Solid South. The men who wore the
gray in the war, are advancing upon the
national capital, under the same leaders
that led them in the bloody assaults upon
the Union from 1861 to 1865, boldly pro.
claiming that they are going to win by
the ballot what they lost by the bullet
going to place the control of this govern. |
ment in the hands of those who fouybt
four years to destroy it. Against this
menace to the peace and safety of The
country Qor the threatened rule of This |
government by men whose souls are
black with treason is a menace of the
most serious kind) there must needs be
union of loyal men in the North, or the
government will be captured by its ene
mics. The republicans can elect ma
jority of the next House if they will. but
not if they spend their energies and d.
vide their strength on questions of lesser
importance, soon to be past and gone,
as the greenback question will be.
Maine speaks early in the campaign,
and because her vote will influence the
elections of October and November In