Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-08-08
What the Papers Say About the
Developments Concerning Major
joseph l.. Smith.
From the Boston journal. ]

Joseph l.. Smith.
From the Boston journal.
The revelations concerning the intrgues of
the past and present candidate of the green
back party for Governor in Maine, as astOund-
ing as they are. would not find place in
these columns if the slightest doubt existed
relative to their authenticity. The accused
is his own accuser, and he furnishes incon-
testble proof of his attempt to sell out the
party which had made him its standard bear
er.
1t is not our duty much less our desire, to
characterize this conduct of Mr.. Smith The
mast charitable view to take of it is that he
has been completely overwhelmed by single
desire to reach the Gubernatorial chair of
Maine But this view of the matter does not
pallate his offence which i, no less than de-
liberate treachcry to the party which gave
him forty thousand votes.
From the Portland Press.
The picture the Journal presents is of a
man who attempted to sell himself to the re-
publicans last year, and. failing in that has
entered into bargain with the democrats this
year. If the portrait be faithful we wish the
greenbackers joy of their candidate. Unless
the allegations brought against him are dis
proved they must feel that they are support
ing man who has deliberately swindled
them. and will hasten if they are honest men
to Withdraw that support. The revelations.
if sustained will destroy whatever chance
Major Smith had to be next Governor of
Maine.
From the Bangor Wing and Courier
Very few men who have known Mr.. Smith
for years, have believed that he ever had any
sympathy with the fat financial doctrines for
which he consented TO act as figurch head,
solely on account of his ambition to be gov
ernor. A large capitalist, a bondholder a
usurer of pretty stiff type, he was about the
last man to think of as the leader of a par
ty which made its war upon capital, howlcd
against the bondholders and denounced usur-
ers as the blood-suckers of humanity. The
Journals revelations show that his devotion
to his fiat party was the merest sham, and
that at the first opportunity ne was ready to
kick over his greenback ladder, if the repub-
Leans would only help him climb in at the
State House window.
From the Lewiston Journal
Our readers will remember that Mr.. Smith
practically surrenderedth the fundamental fiat
idea of greenbackism in an interview last
December with our reporter, when he said
that gold must be somewhere behind paper
1t now appears that in an interview with a
prominent TtDuDllCaIl, WHOH MI.
knew would make his views known to the re-
publican senators who would elect the gov
ernor. he actually proposed and put has pro-
posaiin c,iting to write message that would
practically commit him to the republican
party and platform by taking strong republic
can views on the Southern question: and de-
claring that resumption had settled the finan-
cial question, and that the situation should
be accepted by all good citizens ! 1t is re-
ported that Mr.. Smith makes quasi denial
OF this, but it is understood that documents
in his own hand writing-which documents
will be produced if called for-contirm it.
What do honest grecnbackers think of this
proposition to sell out, What do they think
of man who seeks votes on principles which
he is ready to throw overheard in order to
get an office.
From the Belfast journal.
Mr.. Smith i'll denying the charges through
the columns of the Bangor Commercial be-
fore they had been given to the public, has
denied altogether too much and his counter
charges weaken rather than strengthen his
case. With regard to the Lewiston journal
interview, that paper has repeatedly chal-
lenged Smith to impugn its statements and
is ready at any time to substantiate them.
After ALL these disclosures should astonish
believe, a bond. holder, and that, in the green
back vocabulary, is synonymous with every
thing that is bad.
From the Ellsworth American.
1t was firmly believed at the time that Maj
Smith had made such overtures, but the full
details were not given to the public, probably
with the expectation that if they were with
held, the greenbackers in their anxiety to
take men free from the faint of office, would
renominate him. The party has fallen into
the trap and now we shall witness the expos
ure of the man who is, presumably, the expo
nent of the party in this State. Maj. Smith,
like most of the leaders in his party, has been
persistent Office seeker, and if greenback-
er, only for the loaves and fishes it will bring
him. The sooner the rank and file discover
the ''true inv ardness" of the men they are
bindly following the better it will be for
them.