The Portland daily press., 1879-08-19
Mixing Those Babies Up.

ers, according to the arrangement, say that
the contest in this State is national ques-
ton, the question of the form, value, and
volume of our currency. The Democrats
say that the contest is purely on local affairs.
Occasionally the Little Buttercups who are
perambulating the State, or editing neWspa-
pers, mix the babies up, they know not how,
and are chided for their carelessness. That
was the case with the argus, which brought
down upon itself the hearty curses OF many
Democrats by its muddlement of the money
question and its indiscreet mention OF
Thomas Jefferson. But generally the divi-
sion of work has been adhered to.
At Auburn Thursday night the Demo-
cratic speakers had the floor. Gov. Garce-
lon, who was the first speaker, told his hear
ers that financial issues are not involved III
this campaign; that we cannct pass law
altering the currency; we cannot pass law
altering the bonds. Then he forgot himself,
and turned to the Southern question. Wan
dering again he said: The Republicans see
that this is a preparation for the neat gears
campaign.
All! Governor Garcelon, you acknowledge
then that national issues are involved. You,
too. have mixed those babies up. You have
correctly stated the position of the Republi-
cans. They do believe ''that this is prep
aration for the next years campaign" They
know that it is the opening fight OF the Pres
idential contest of 19S0-a contest that Will
| be fought between the two old parties. They
know that corrupt Greenback leaders have
bargained with the Democrats to carry their
forces next year into the Democratic camp,
as the infamous Marmont bargained with
the invaders of France to carry his corps in
to the camp of the Allies. That rebellion
in the Greenback ranks will follow there is
no doubt-it has already set in. But the
leaders insist upon their purpose-a purpose
upon the execution of which depends their
political fortunes. Yes, Governor Garcelon,
this '.is preparation for the next years
campaign" and many Greenbackers who see
it and would as soon serve in the Demo-
cratic party as in gang of convicts or
troop of brigands, are getting ON the lighting
ground in time and fastening back to the
Republican ranks.
But meanwhile the Republican party has
not ignored State issues and has no wish to
ignore them. 1t has met and disproved every
point made byits opponents. That is shown
by the speech of the second speaker at the
Auburn meeting, Mr. E. F. Pillsbury Will
ON editor Of the Pennington Patriot. Mr.
Pillsbury said that in the election now pend
ing no national issues are involved; and he
followed up this misstatement with score
of others. He said that everywhere in the
State are evidences of impoverishment and
decay,-and almost within ear-shot were the
great manufactures of Auburn and Lewis
ton. He said the growth of the County OF
Aroostook has stopped-and hundreds of
hardy Swedes are on their way this very
summer to make homes there. He said that
taxes had been increased over 500 per cent
since 1856 by the Republican party-and
men stood in that hall and heard him who
knew the increase of taxation is due to the
vast expenditure Of treasure in putting
down Democratic rebellion. He spoke OF
the State Prison acc cunts, but neglected to
say that the deficiency of which he spoke
was caused by the simple process of marking
down the goods by fusion committee He
said that over 100000 in trust funds are
Misrepresentation of the facts. He said
that the State tax could not be cut down,
because of deficiency of $500, 900 left to the
present administration by Repnblicans-the
deficiency vas caused by an unwise re
duction of the rate Of taxation, was provided
for in the tax levied by the Republican Leg
islature of 1878, and will be paid out of that
tax; the fusion legislature is not called upon
to do anything about it. He said that,
taking out all the items that can be at
tributed to the war and the ordinary expenses
of the State have been increased nearly 800
per cent. by the Republicans-another gross
misstatement that has been refuted. He said
that the Councillors make fifteen OF sixteen
hundred dollars year out of their office-he
has multiplied their average pay by two. He
said the State printing will cost less than
half this year what it did last-had the low
est bid been accepted and the opportunity to
subsidize the Maine Standard neglected,
the printing would be done for even less. He
said the Republican party have multiplied
the number of State offices-the fusionists
did not abolish even one office, but increased
the number. He said State expenses have
been reduced $125, ,000-they have been re-
duced about $4,000. The claim of S30O,OOU
reduction is handed over to the Greenback-
ers as their share of the lying in that direc-
ton.
These charges were made long before the
Auburn meeting and were promptly met and
refuted by the Republican press. We only
quote them to show that the issue has not
been avoided. Republicans meet them as
readily as they meet the misstatenents OF the
Greenbackers concerning the financial ques-
ton. The Republican press have encoun-
tered and vanquished two sets of liars-one
set that confines its lying to questions with
in the State; and the other set whose range
of imagination is only confined by the two
oceans; whose falsehoods, like canned goods,
are warranted to keep in any climate. The
Republican party does not fear to meet its
enemies on any ground they select. 1t is
fighting this campaign on both National and
State issues, and it is fighting for the victory
within sight
The Bangor Wing says: "Three voters i'll
zone family-a father and his two sons, who
were Greenbackers last year, in the town OF
Parkman, say that they have looked over the
ground carefully, and are satisfied that the
Greenback party is party of false preten-
sions, and one that cannot safely be elevated
to power They will this year all fall into