Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-08-07
COPIES Of HIS OWN MEMORANDA
AND AGREEMENT.
BANGOR Me-. Aug. 4. 1879.

"A lew spent III SDttltl tA'
animation OF the present situation, partic
ularly relating to old coalitions attempted
and new ones perfected. enable me tc
present chapter of political history tina,
will have some interest for all parties in
the Pine Tree State.
After the election of last year in Maine
it became evident that the republican Sen.
ate would have the power to determine
ultimately who should be Governor of the
State. The democrats and greenbackers
uniting their forces had majority of the
House of Representatives, though the re-
publcans had plurality. Underline Con-
stituton of Maine, when there is no choice
of Governor by the people, it becomes the
duty of the House to select two candidates
from the four highest voted for, and send
their names to the Senate, and from these
two it is the imperative constitutional duty
of the Senate TO select the one who shall
be Governor of the State.
1t became at once apparent when the
election was we'll over and there was time
to view the situation. that the democrats
and grecnbackers would unite in the House
and send the names OF Garcelon and Smith
to the Senate. The Senate is composed of
81 members and 20 of these were republic
cans and the minority of IL was divided
between the democrats and greenbackers.
These twenty republican Senators We're
thus to have the duty dcvolved on them OF
selecting the Governor for the political
year 1879.
At once Joseph l.. Smith began to court
his old political associates. He was eager
to assure them that he was still republ-
can in heart-that he differed slightly but
not at all rreconcilably from his old party
on the financial question-but that he was
still heartily with them on the Southern
question, expressing great indignation at
the bulldozing practices in the Southern
States in the elections then just concluded.
He was so eager to conciliate republicans
and gain favor with the republican Senate
that he procured an interview with most
trustworthy reporter of the Lewiston
Journal one of the most careful. correct
and painstaking papers in Maine. The
editors of that paper vouch for the charac-
ter of the reporter who interviewed Mr..
Smith, Mr.. Thomas H. b. Pierce of Dex-
ter and Mr. Pierce vouches for the truth
of every word he quotes from Mr. Smith.
Mr.. Pierce is a democrat, having voted
last year for Garcelon, and is credited this
year with an intention of voting for Smith.
Mr.. Pierce says with great confidence that
thentic denial of his remarks in the enter
view" and never will.
TO show the extent to which Smith was
willing to go on the money question. |
give part of the interview" The words
must be read, not as the expression of u
sound financial faith in all respects, but as
indicating the readiness with which Smith
would throw overheard his Fiat" money
creed if the republicans would agree to
make him Governor. Here are some of
the expressions used by Smith in the inter-
view:
do you think an increase of paper
money necessary p we asked.
IL am Of the opinion that the volume of
currency has been contracted too fast"
replied Mr.. Smith. More time should
have been taken to bring it all about 1t
is with the government as with man of
business He may have a large amount
of debts outstanding and abundant means
wherewith to pay. but if he makes imme-
date payment he must sacrifice his prop
erty by forced sales and ruin his business
by applying everything to the payment of
his debts. Every business man realizes
this. But now that we have realized all
the disadvantages of contraction" CON
tinued Mr.. Smith, "now that our property
has shrunk all it can shrink in value, /.
for one, am not in favor of retracng our
steps in order to endure all the misery
over again. u has all got to come 10 the
GOLD rdiue at last. II ace noc qet a,cay
from il, when we hare Just reached il, Ce
shall hare 10 come back to IL aQaia sooner
or later. THINK WE HAD BETTER
STAY"
"Then there is fiat money ~ said ,vo