Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-30
AN IMPORTANT LETTER.
A Prominent Androscoggin Manufac
turer who voted the Greenback
Ticket in 1879,
COMES OUT FOR DAVIS FOR GOV
ERNOR IN 1880.

From the Lewiston Journal.
We have permission TO give publicity to
the following private letter from A. L.
Denison, Esq. of the firm A. c. Denison Co.
of Mechanics Falls The letter will explain
itself MIR. Denison's position is that of
hundreds of other intelligent gentlemen and
republicans who last year voted with the OPP
position but who will this year stand shoulder
to shoulder with the Old Guard. Mr.. Deni-
sons reasons for the course he is taking
must recommend themselves to every honest
republican greenbacker. We give Mr.. Deni-
sons letter below -
Hon. Nelson Dingiey. Jr.:
Dear Sir Having voted the greenback
ticket last fall conscientiously, when almost
every manufacturing industry of the entire
almost an impossiblity that resumption could
remain a fixed fact. with labor Respondent
and seeking employment, but seldom finding
it, felt justified in making an attempt by
my vote to change, if possible, the methods
of the administration of the country, believ-
ing almost any change could be no worse, and
might be for the better.
Having no time to enter into any argu-
ments to justify my former position, and
knowing that you can appreciate the situation
which many better and more able man than
myself occupied last fall. | want just in a
verv brief way to say that after very mature
delberation and careful study | have deter
mined to vote the entire straight republican
ticket again this fall, Providence permitting
and will give herein only four reasons.
First, vote for Plaisted is a vote for Han
cock, as no man of any degree of information
upon the political prospects for this fall cleo
ton expects the greenback party to carry a
single electoral vote outside Of Maine: and
for the sake of this combination between the
elements of democracy and greenbackers, by
which is to be given three of Names cleo
toral votes to the democratic party and four
to the greenback party, the democracy of the
country would sacrifice every State officer
down from Governor to Sheriff. and well they
might, for the three electoral votes given
them by the grcenhack party of Maine might
be just the number wanted TO elect Hancock
and English.
What do the leading men of the democratic
party care for the greenbackers of the coun-
try, only 10 use them to pull the chestnuts ont
of the fire: What do such men as Belmont
and Tidcn. the hardest kind of hard money
men, care for the positions of honor and trust
in the State of Maine, provided they can see
three of Names electoral votes cast for Han
cock and English? Not rush, and can anu
grcenbacker be so blind as not to see it? If
he fuses with democracy this fall, (and he
must anyway if he votes outside of
the republican ticket it will be not be-
cause he cannot see plainly the intent, but
because he dislikes to come out in fair and
nd. nj l1l,
ton. Now know how men feel and can
appreciate their feelings, but certainly feel
that it is more manly to make a frank ac-
acknowledgements of ones honest convictions
than to cover them up by spirit of pride.
Secondly, New England Is a manufacturing
community, the republican party is protec-
tive party. Do you believe in free trade? Do
you, rs laboring men, want to compete with
the old world? Do you want to see the cot
ton manufacturing industry of our country
Frustrated and stagnant, or competing with
India upon labor basis of one dollar and
fifty cents per week for an able bodied MANI
If so vote the fusion ticket this fall which only
means a vote for Hancock.
This is no chimera or foolish fancy. They
are fixed certainties for the future of this
country. If our ports are to be opened To
the manufacturing products of the world.
with steamers plying from port to port with
freights comparatively nominal, labor must
bear the brunt of this burden and appeal
to you. every laboring man in this country.
to look to this, ponder over it, and when YOU
cast your vote, be sure you don't vote against
your own interests. And don't forget that
labor and capital are twin children, and what
Is for the benefit of one must help the other.
Thirdly l dou't believe in fusion ANYHOW.
and Uncle Scion has been right in fighting
against 1t. but he has been defeated and the
greenback party nailed to the cross. When
Weaver, DE LaMatyr and Randall say an
honest count and fair ballot in the South is
an impossibility, and bulldozing is rampant,
when greenback speakers are not allowed the
right which every American citizen demands
and should have, viz, the right of free speech,
untrammelled and unmolested, we believe it
is, to say the least, safe to keep the republic
can party in power while longer, and to in
sist that they see to it that the principles of
the party, the principles for which men of
this generation fought and died shall be MAN.
tanned and respected by every citizen of this
broad domain. if it takes an army to do it.
Again, If the greenback party has not prin-
cipie enough to stand upon and fight it out on
that line without forming an alliance with
the democratic party, can it ever he healthy?
Fourthly, l cannot. no. time and aooiu
no. as look my children in the face and
let my imagination play with the future. take
upon myself the responsibility to give en-
in any way to a set of men who.
IS aIr am compelled to believe did DELHI
erateiy and premeditatively attempt to steal a
State, regardless of all precedents, one of the
most reckless and outrageous crimes ever at
tempted upon free people. would for nv
own sake. could believe ex-Gov. Garcelon
and council we're innocent Of so base an in
tent but the testimony is unimpeachable and
am compelled TO believe otherwise.
l have given four reasons and could give
many more in face of present events, but l
believe after careful consideration of the
above, | shall be justified by every candid
man and woman in saying believe them rea
sons enough why have determined to stick to
he old republican party for a while longer.
A. T. DENIsox.
Mechanic FILLS. Aug. %, 1880.