Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-12
From the New York Tribune.
In The Van.

the grave responsibility Of leading the
republican hosts. In those States the
voice of the loyal North will hrst De
heard. 1t rests with them 10 DC
first to say what the people think oi
the Infamous frauds by which free gov
eminent has been destroyed at the south
and assailed in Maine. Even IN Ne"
England State. had the democratic party
succeeded elections would have become
henceforth shameful farce, even as In
Alabama. Also. with Vermont and Name
II rests to he first to say what the people
think of the bright prosperity which re-
publican honesty and wisdom have
brought. and of the .'Change" when
democrats demand Vermont votes four
weeks from tomorrow, and Maine OH ''ie
Monday following. September IL. Inc
republicans of those STATES have out lour
or five weeks in which to complete their
preparation for elections which may
change the whole history OF the couh'r.
for many years to come. The ehect oi
elections in these States upon public opih-
ion elsewhere is always great. But this
wear it will be greater than usual. because
of the peculiar nature and exceeding I'M
portance of the questions at issue II
Vermont and Maine do not sternly rebuke
the stealing Of States, and the
attempt of the Solid South TO
grasp control of the government
which it tried to destroy. and do not sus-
tain the policy by which prosperity has
been restored to the country. there Will
be much reason 10 fear that the people OF
other States may sink into apathetic ac-
quiescence in results apparently inevitable.
Swelling maiorities, rolling up to the
high-water mark of old-time republican
ism. ought to bear witness that the people
of Vermont and Maine do not look upon
the issues now raised with Indifference
Wade Hampton made his boast at the
Convention and his speech in Virginia to
the hardy Green Mountain boys and the
stalwart workers in Maine. He boosted
that the 1873 electoral votes Of Solid
South should be cast for Hancock. tie
said: Consider what Lee and jackson
..would do if they were alive. These are
1.-The same principles for which they
fought for four years. Very well; but
Vermont and Maine did not fight on that
side They. also, have honored dead to
remember. Every truehearted voter III
those States, within the last twenty years,
has seen some dear friend and noble
patriot Weld up his life for the cause
against which Lee and jackson fought,
and knows that the loyal hero, although
he may be unhonored and unsung, left be-
hind him a better example for honorable
men and worthy citizens to follow than
that of anv rebel chieftain. 1t will 90
home to the hearts of millions of North
ern voters. this pregnant saying. They
will consider what their dead heroes would
do were they alive. and what they did do
when the cause of rebelism masked itself
behind a Union General in 1864. These
Northern voters have been eager to get
rid Of sectionalism in politics for twenty
years. But democracy thrusts the foul
thing under their noses at every election,
and its Solid South and furled banner, and
..principles for which Lee and Jackson
fought" will never he forgotten nor ig-
nored by the North, until the democratic
party ceases TO use them as their chief
weapons in the continued warfare against
free institutions, equal rights, and an hon
est ballot.
The time is short. But shorter time
sufficed to kindle the loyal North when
democratic guns opened fire on Fort Sum-
ter. 1t ought not to take one week to
rouse the old spirit in every Northern vii
lage. Every republican must become a
missionary again. In the grand old days.
when the republican party wrought mira
cles for the Union. each man made it his
first and highest duty to appeal to his
neighbor for the good cause; to argue
with him. show him the right, and arouse
his patriotism. The work to-day is the
same. Committees cannot do it. Clubs
can do but fraction of it. 1t is the bus
mess of every republican TO see to it that
there shall not be single democratic vote
cast for lack of any information that he
can give. or any earnest and kindly APP
peal that he can make. # each republ-
can will take hold of the work in that
spirit. and give to it all the time that he
can spare until the election. there will be
an end of the democratic uarty as there
was of the rebellion, and the night after
the election will resemble the night after
the surrender at Appomattox. Republic
canism has fallen into the habit OF RELYING
too much on its matches achievements
and record. and its splendid organization
But matchless achievements do not pre-
vail with voters who know nothing about
them. \ record crowned with honor and
prosperity will not win men who do not
know how wide has been the difference of
parties as to measures by which prosper
,x-os caa,raJ arl -. ~