Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-10
THE TRUTH DIvrLGED.
A Democratic Organ Declares for
Smith.
smith the only Real Candidate in OppO-
sitiOn 10 the Republicans.
Lrr EVERY REPrBLICAN GREE>BAcKFR SHt
The TRAP SIT ron nv.
From the Rockland opinion.

We place at the head of our columns TO-DAY
the name of Joseph l.. Smith, the nominees o
the grcenback convention, as our candidate
for governor in the campaign which is n
hand. In doing we have undergone No
change in our opinions on political questions
or in our party relations. We are now just
what we have ever been. an independent dem
ocratic newspaper. firmly and unalterably de
voted to democratic principles, and seeking
to advance them by whatever means seem 10
us to be best calculated to attain that result,
without regard TO the selfish interests of any
person or clique In supporting Mr.. Smith
we simply accept the situation as we find it
and take the course which in our Judgment
will best advance democratic principles and
serve the democratic party as national or
ganizaton. We but acknowledge the logic
OF events in trying to elect the candidate of
another organization.
The political situation in the state of Maine
as we find it to-day is not of our seeking and
is not altogether as We would have il. but
that j. no reason why We should shut our
ewes To it and act as if it were otherwise.
Could We have what we desire. the democrat
ic party of Maine would be vigorous united
and aggressive organization. That it j. not
So is greatly to be deplorcd. but it is of no
use to dispute the fact or act as if it were not
Il ldtl. ut suudtlbu IL DIltIN tHl> Dc
democratic party rs such is out of this cam
pagn. Ii is true that the State committee have
called a convention to meet at Bangor, July
|. But the action of that convention will
have no more effect on politics than the as
scmbling of sewing circle. 1t is even very
doubtful if nomination is made. Almost
every democratic leader in the State, while
Acknowledging the ability of Gov. Garcelon
has quarreled with him on the matter
of appointments. and they would not make an
effort to elect him again if they knew they
could succccd Under these circumstances he
will probably refuse to take another nomina-
ton if it is rendered him. and if any man i,
anxious to be the candidate he is vet to APP
pear The plan, so far as we learn, is to pre-
vail on somebody TO offer himself as n sacri-
fee and to contend with the greenbackcrs for
the vote of those opposed to the republicans.
We have no heart for such contest. We
have been fighting the republicans all these
years and we propose to keep up the fight.
SO far as we can do this inside the democratic
organization we shall stay there. But since
that organization is unequal to the business
in hand, we have no hesitation in going out
side and working for democratic principles
and reform in government wherever we find
a place to work.
The greenback platform, SO far as it goes
is such that democrats can consistently stand
upon it, And democratic principles ON fnan-
cial issues are asserted with holiness and
clcarness for which we look in vain in the
platforms of our own party for the past few
years. The greenbackers have taken the very
backbone of democracy to build up their par
ty on. Aside from the financial question,
moreover, we are not called upon to rcnounce
any of our principles. We shall act, it j.
true, with some men who do not believe in
all of them, but they join with us in the most
important work Of liberating the people from
the bondage imposed upon them by the money
power, work which no true democrat should
refuse to engage in. And we join them for the
end which we have been toiling these many
years-that of defeating the republican party
This is no time to sit down and let Things
drift. Ii we want TO beat Blainc's ring we
must not temporizc and waste our in strength
hopeless effort to build up the democratic par
~ of Maine so as to get il into a condition TO
do the work; we must take the strong and eff
icicnt organization we find ready to our hand,
for the purpose. 1t is useless to expect any
thing to be done at Bangor. We propose to
take hold now and work for the election of
Mr. Smith, who will be the only real
candidate in opposition to the republicans in
any event