Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-07-03
From the Bangor Wing and Courier.
The Democratic Exhibition.

The Hon. Abraham Sanborn made the at
tempt to preside, and in his opening speech
made what he apparently designed for per-
sonal attack upon Senator Blaine. In that
respect it was not particularly successful, but
in exhibiting Mr.. Sanborn in the role Of
political backyard we think It must have
been regarded as a very happy effort. We
can hardly impute 10 Mr.. Sanborn any spe-
cial malice toward Senator Blaine, because
we cannot believe he entertained the slightest
notion that Abraham's Sanborn's little rant at
one of the foremost of American statesmen
would be regaoded as of any consequence to
ANYBODY. If Mr.. SanbOrn was thinking of
the fable of the frog and the OK, he may sure
ly fcicitate himself upon suggesting a much
more striking comparison.
1t was the settled purpose to drive Cover
nor Garcelon ont Of the field, and either
Watts or Madigan was to replace him. The
Governor, however refused to be coaxed or
driven into withdrawal, and although he had
but bcggarly array of supporters, the fear
of grand row controlled the wire pullcrs and
the word was passed around that Garcelon
must be taken again. The thing was there
fore done by acclammation to avoid the ex
posnre of opposition that wOuld have come
from ballot.
OF course the great feature of the day was
the discussion of that essentially Democratic
topic, the rum question. When that was
! brought out the Convention at once proceed
ed to business in the most thoroughly Demo-
cratic style. For nearly an hour there was a
scene compared with which Babel would have
seemed solitude and a silence. Half the
men in the body of the house were on their
feet shouting either the Divine authority for
free rum, or urging that tor policy's sake the
troublesome question should be lodged
II was an edifying spectacle, and when it
was brought to close by heavy ma jority
vote against attacking the prohibitory laws
the republicans present smiled at the present
eagcrness of the democracy to avoid any as
sault upon feature Of republican policy
that has been fought year after year by the
democratic party of Maine.
The platform adopted boldly champions
fraud at elections and revolution by Con-
gress. 1t demands the repeal of the only
laws that furnish any safeguards for the puri-
ty of the ballot, and asserts the revolutionary
doctrine that democratic majority in Con-
grcss shall refuse to appropriate money for
the execution of the laws which are dislked
by the democratic party. That is simply
notification and revolution, as even leading
democratic journals admit, and as the people
of the United States thoroughly understand
1t was emincntly proper that such revolution
airy doctrines should be read from the plat
form by +. +. Pillsbury, one of the most no.
torious sympathizers with rebellion through
out the late war;
The financial plank has no meaning except
in the final clause demanding the free and
unlimited coinage of silver. That is an en-
dorsement of the biggest swindlc ever at
tempted in this country and puts the so-called
straight democracy" in open partnership
with the wholesale debauchers of the curren-
cy.
When the rum question had been disposed
of the chief interest was at an end, and when
the Governor of Maine, the just nominated
candidate appeared on the platform, he was
treated with an indignity and contempt never
before witnessed in Maine. The crowd would
not wait to listen to him, but while he was
speaking deserted the hall in body, so that
he was compelled to cut off his remarks amid
an uproar that rendered his speech inaudible.
He had an astonished and scared look that
was somewhat painful to witness, and he must
have thought it Il questionable honor TO
receive the sullen suffrages Of such body.
| The contrast between his reception and
treatment and that awarded the republican
candidate by the grand convention of last
week, was but a type of the colt asst sug-
gested throughout the proceedings of the
democratic sham convention.