Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-07
The Campaign Opened.


The political campaign in this State has
opened unusually early this year. and it bids
fair to he an unusually active and aggressive
one. The Grcenbackers, as was the case
last year. are first in the field A special re-
port of their State Convention, held at Port
land on Tuesday last, is published in other
columns Ii was a disorderly assemblage,
and indicated that the greenback party Is not
So harmonious as their newspaper organs
have represented il to be. The causes of the
disorder which interrupted what can hardly
be called the deliberations of the convention
were apparently Of trivial character, but in
reality they represented internal dissen-
sions. rivalrics and iealousies of which the
last has not yet been heard. The platform
adopted was not satisfactory to many of the
delegates and to the Chase's Chronicle free
love clique the resolution denouncing COM
munsm gave mortal offence Then the del
cgates were really cheated out of nominating
the man of their choice-Solon Chase. Smith
carried off the nomination, but Chase wears
the laurels of the occasion, such as they are.
His name and his presence called out all there
was of enthusiasm, and if Smith, by ways
that are dark, and tricks that are vain" re-
ed the nomination for Governor of Maine,
was not Scion nominated for 1. :. Senator
and for President of the nted States?
The editor of the Progressive Age was, as
usual, recgated to a back seat, so far as his
nnlitipal ends and aims were cnncprenpd hut
he must by this time have become accustom-
ed to that sort of thing-as cells become ac-
customed to being skinned. The spread eagle
oratory of Perry, Fogg, Gove and other less
er luminaries of Greenbackism, was summa-
rily squclched, and their love of notoriety
was but poorly gratifed. Altogether the
spectacle presented at Portland was not one
calculated to advance the Greenback cause.
but rather one to make the friends of honest
money rejoice and take comfort
1t would he most clearly impos sible for the
greenbackers to carry the State, unaided un-
der any circumstances. They could only
hope to do that with the aid of the democrats.
But it was within their power to have made a
better fight than they are now likely to make
They have saddlei themselves with candidate
who is at bottom a hard-money man and bond
holder, who is devoid of personal magnetism
and who is not even an ordinary public speak
er. If the gubcrnatorial contest is triangu-
| lar one it is safe to predict that the green
back vote will be less this year than last.
The democrats have also taken preliminary
steps in the campaign The State Committee
was in session in Portland on Monday last.
Finding that no bargain could he made " it'll
the grcenhackcrs it was determined to issue
call for State Convention, to meet at Ban
gor July LIST. The prevailing sentiment
seemed to be that Gov. Garcelon would be re-
nominated. 1t has been suggested, however,
that he may decline TO run again, and there is
also talk of a new candidate. 4 Lewiston
correspondent of the Boston Globe Green
back says
/ There is considerable feeling in the demo-
cratic ranks against the denomination OF Gov.
Garcelon. His course in relation to the re-
/ publlcahs has been very unsatisfactory. A
! large number of the more progressive of the
democracy are bringing forward the name of
the Hon. J. c. Madigan of Toulton. as the
democratic candidate for governor Mr.. Mad
igan is greenback democrat, and would be
a very strong candidate. Unless this is DONE
it is quite probable the democrats will lndorse
the greenback nominee and the two parties go
into the fight solid against the republicans.
The Globe correspondent thinks this would
ensure a victory for the coalition, but this is
by no means certain. We are credibly in
formed that the hard money democrats of
Portland and vicinity will not accept anything
short of fair and square endorsement of hon
this class of voters throughout the State.
The republican call has already been issued
Their convention meets at Bangor June 26th
1t is still an open question who will carry off
the nomination for governor, but the candi-
date is pretty sure to be one who will poll the
full strength of the party, with the possible
addition of the votes of the hard money dem
ocrats. 1t is possible, also, that many dis
contented republicans who cut loose from
their party last year will return to it this. A
republican politician who is second to none
as II party manager, says the republican par
ty is always at its best, and attains its fullest
strength the year after it has met with defeat.
But whether it will be able this year to poll q
majority of the votes in this State is at least
Il sufficiently open question to make the On m.