Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-10
Daily Aennebet Journal,
Augusta, Tuesday Eorn'g, June 10, 1879.
The Greenback Party and the
Democratic Party One and the
Same

$dfne.
We publish in our columns to-day al
article from the Rockland Opinion, tn,
democratic organ of Knox county. in which
il announces its support of Joseph l.
smith for Governor.
The Opinion declares that in taking th
step it has undergone no change in it
opinion on political questions or in its par
" relations. I've are now" il SAYS
lust what we have ever been. an indie
pendent democratic newspaper. tirml,
land unalterably devoted to democratic
principles. In supporting Mr.
''Smith we simply accept the situation a'
1--WE find it and take course which in ON
Judgment will best advance democratic
principles and serve the democratic par
''ty rs national organization.
This frank statement by the Opinion OF
its own position in the campaign, is follow
ed by remarks upon the political situation,
in which it declares that 1.-THE democratic
party as such is out of the fight in this
campaign that the action of the demo-
cratic State convention will have no
'more effect on politics than the assem-
"blage OF sewing circle = that the demo-
cratic leaders are not satisfied with Gov
ernor Garcelon; and if they make nom
ination it will be simply to hold hard
money democrats in opposition to the re-
publicans Then it adds: 1--WE have no
''heart for such a contest. We have been
Fighting the republicans all these years
'and nc propose 10 keep up the .fghf."
The frank avowals OF the Opinion 90
still farther. 1t says the democratic plat
form is such that democrats can consist
''ently stand upon it. Democratic princi-
'ples on financial issues are asserted with
"a boldness and clearness for which
1--WE look in vain in the platforms
''of our own party for the past few years.
1.-The GREENBACKERs have taken THE
BACKBONE OF DEMOCRACY to build
up their party on 1t joins the green
hackers, it says. 'for the end for which we
'have been toiling these many years-that
of defeating the republican porty.''
Such are the deliberate and serious ut
terances of the democratic organ of Knox
county in explanation of its course in
openly supporting Joseph l.. Smith for
Governor. And remember that Knox has
been and is now democratic county, in
which the interests OF democracy are well
understood and cared for.
If anything can open the eyes of repub-
licans who have joined the greenback par
ty are inclining to joint, to the true char
acter of that party as the deadly enemy of
republicanism, these bold and sincere
avowals of the democratic organ of Knox
county will do it. No republican can be
greenbacker and la republican at the same
time. Some republican grecnbackers as
sert that they are just as much republicans
as they ever Were. Perhaps they believe
il when they say so, but if those who hon
estly say this will read the article of the
Opinion they viii see how grossly they
are deceived
The democratic leaders who are ready
to abandon the sound money princ-
pies of their party held in years past,
or any principle the abandonment of
which promises them success, are. it is
evident the power that controls, shapes
and moves the greenback party in Maine
While they could best work through a
separate organization they did so, but as
they have succeeded in Turing all the re-
publicans into their net which they are
Likely to get there, they think they can
take their true position more openly.