Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-15
4aiIp Nenntbet sournal.
Augusta, Monday Morn'g, Sept l5' 1872
Keen I'm Your Organizations.

Augusta, Monday Morn'g, Sept 10, 1879.
Keep Up Your Organizations.
The election through which we have just
passcd was but skirmish preliminary to
the great national contest of 1880. This
remark was often made in the campaign,
and doubtless is generally well under
stood; but there may be tendency since
the election to loosen the reins of disci-
pline and allow our various organizations
70 die out or become useless for want oil
proper care and attention to keep them up
The true light in which to regard the
political situation is that the battle has but
Just begun What we have done is but
preparatory to the greater conflict on
wider field. which is to follow. We have
done much which we shall not have to re-
peat, but at the same time we have adj
yanced our lines and must hold the ground
which we have taken.
1t is altogether probable that we shall
hear but little more of the financial ques-
ton in Maine, as it has been discussed
here for the last two years. Gradually it
will force itself upon the mind of the most
obtuse greenbacker, that that question is
dead. With resumption of specie pay
ments established in the land, and the
boom of reviving industry steadily in
creasing, what hope can there be in the
breasts of soft money advocates that
the doctrines of the greenbackers will
have sufficient interest for the people to
make them issues in future elections P
They are dead. The march of events has
left them behind. Every day marks their
gradual disappearance as political issues.
If the vote OF the people of Maine could
be taken again to-day, it would show
great falling off in the greenback vote from
that of the 9Th few ardent grcenback
ers may hold out the idea of future, but
the average understanding of the party is
that greenback issues have had their day
and must pass away.
But if the greenback issues are dead it
is not SO with the great national issues
pending between the North and South
Tie South has seen fit to revive the issue
of State Sovereignty, to ignore the right
eous principles established by the rebel
lion, and to challenge the North to defend
again the doctrines at the ballot-box once
submitted to the decision of the cartridge
box and settled in favor of freedom and
equality for all before the law, and we
men Of the North must see to it that we
uphold in the coming election with our
ballots, the good cause which was sustain
ed by our brave boys in the field of battle.
The South is thoroughly prepared for the
new fight over the Lost Cause. 1t has
suppressed by terrorism and fraud all OPP
position to the democratic party in that
section. The fate of Dixon is the last ter
rible warning to all who dare oppose the
democratic party of the South.
So it becomes the republican party to be
up and doing. We must not allow the in
struments of political warfare to rust in
Maine because we carried an outpost in
the battle of the sth. We must keep our
organizations alive and active, our weap-
ons bright, and be in readiness for the
more important battle of 1880.
The Bath Daily News having accused
the republicans of that city of resorting
to bribery and fraud in the late election,
Mr.. J. w. Wakefield publishes commu-
nication in the Times, in which he chal-
lenges Barker, the editor of the News, to
produce the evidence upon which his
charges are founded, or to carry the mat
ter before the courts or congressional in
vestigating committee. Barker was the
greenback candidate for senator, and was
buried under republican majority of
eleven hundred. This is what causes
him to yell fraud and bribery. Mr.. Wake
field says he is prepared to prove green
back frauds, and invites Barker to come
on with his charges. 81 desire" he says,
Ito assert publicly my confidence, that the
republican vote of this city last Monday,
was entirely free from any and all charges
made, and was as pure and unalloyed as
was ever cast by any people, entirely free
from any and all suspicion of fraud and
bribery" We venture to assert that Bar
ker will never make up case for the
courts, but will keep on blubbering and
clustering about republican frauds and
bribery in order to cover up his own in
glorious defeat and that of his party.
Governor st. John of Kansas writes to
friend in Washington in relation to the
exodus of blacks to that State, commend
ing the new corners for their sobriety, in
dustry and general good behavior. The
Governor says they have required but
little aid from the charitable, and stories
which have been circulated about starva-