Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-23
pailp Aenntbtt Journal.
Augusta, Thursday Morning, Oct. 23, 7s.
Massachusetts.

Massachusetts.
The criticisms of our correspondent, in
another column, in relation to the charac
ter of the political canvass in Massachu
sets. appear to us to be eminently Just
and proper. Much Of the labor of the
campaign is devoted to abusive personal
tiles between prominent men. that serve
no purpose except to belittle the State, put
the real issues out of sight, and disgust
the better portion Of people. What does
the State or the republican party care
abont the personal quarrel between Mr..
Beard and Mr.. Simmons, that it should
be dragged into the political contest to the
exclusion of matters of vital interest to
the public of Massachusetts and other
States9
The republican party stands face to
face at this present time with the issue
upon which the national election next
year will be fought Every election that
has been and will be held this year has had
and will have direct and important bear
ing upon the struggle to come in 1884
struggle upon the result of which great
events depend. With this issue presented
as it might be, in observation-disclosures as
some of the ablest and most sagacions re-
publican speakers are doing-there would
be victory in that State which would
help immensely in paving the way for
national republican victory in the cam
paign of 80. The great heart of Massa-
chusetts beats strong and true for the
principles of the republican party. but I'M
less the leaders make grand effort to lift
the canvass above the level of low and
dirty personalities into which Butler and
his lieutenants have designedly led it, and
show to the voters that there is something
more involved than the trivial issues
harped upon by the opposition, the result
will fail to have the significance and wide
reaching influence which the voice of
Massachusetts might and should have at
this time Such words as ex-Gov. Bull
lock uttered in recent speech speak to
the soul of Massachusetts. He said:
The South is acting under the plea and
doctrine of State rights This doctrine, in
the sense of overshadowing the national
authority, has afflicted the people of this
country for so long period of time and in
so many ways that we have now reached
that epoch in orr history when the people
of the North must have final settlement
of account with it. For all that it has
done, for all that it is now doing, for all
that it threatens to do in the future, ap-
prehend that it is now the resolute purpose
of the American people by their final de-
cree next year, to give to State rights its
everlasting quietus. We are
engaged in struggle, my friends, in de-
fence Of the constitutional principles Of
this government, which were never more
fiercely assailed than at this moment. The
days Of war and bloodshed have passed,
but the South seeks to obtain ascendancy
by other methods as effectual. Let there
be q united North from Maine to Califor-
MIA, determined that at all hazards the
rights Of every citizen shall be vindicated,
however humble he may be or whatever
he may be. Once more unite the North
as it has not been since 1860, and the day
star will already have arisen which shall
usher in divided South"
Such language as this has meaning
that takes hold of republican sympathies
and brings men out to the polls to cast their
votes in real earnest. 1t is what the Old
Bay State republicans need. If they
could have sufficient quantity of it Long
would get the 10000 majority to which he
is entitled and Ben Butler would be snuffed
out forever as an aspirant for guberna-
torial honors.