Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-03
Republican Greenbackers.

the greenOackerS on the currency 1uc>-
ton. and possibly with an idea that
change of parties in the control Of the
State government would be good thing.
Outside of these questions the republican
greenbacker still agreed with the repub-
lican party He believed President Hayes
was fairly elected that the United States
is nation aud not a confederation of
sovereign States: that the South ought to
be reconstructed on the basis OF equal.
civil and political rights for all without
distinction of race, color or condition !:
that bulldozing. tissue ballots and fraudu-
lent counts are infamous; that the indus
tries of this country should be protected
against the pauper labor and abundant
capital of Europe; and so on through all
republican principles except as men
toned above.
But since the republican greenbacker
joined the advocates of the rag baby two
years ago there has come a great change
in the affairs OF the State and country
Then the government had not resumed
specie payments, and on the question OF
resumption the fight was waged bitterly
The greenbackers opposed all attempts to
resume. declared it thing impossible to
be accomplished, and step that could
only bring widespread ruin and disaster
if it could be brought about. Business
was PROSTATE, times were hard, laborers
could not find employment. bankruptcies
abounded. the responsibility for which the
greenbackers charged upon the republi-
can party without any regard to trnth or
fairness. 1t was harvest time then for the
greenback party. 1t waxed fat and grew
upon the ills of the country. Its quack
nostrnm-more paper money-took like
wild-fire among the sufferers from the
hard times and those who were ignorant
OF the evils of debased currency.
But the fight over the currency is end
ed. There are still efforts to keep the
subject before the people as a political is
sue. but they know the fight practically
is over. In spite of all opposition the
government has resumed specie pay
ments. Gold and silver are the basis of
all business transactions. A year ago 1t
was urged by the greenbackers that it was
only sham resumption, that it could not
continue. but after all their croaking re-
sumption has continued and few now dis
pute seriously that it will last. With re-
sumption has come good times. Even
Mr.. English, the democratic candidate for
Vice President, admits in his letter of &C.
ceptance that the country is prosperous.
Such an admission from such II source is
evidence enough of renewed prosperity
The greenbacker has not even plausible
Eallacy to stand upon. for truth and ex-
perience have exposed and overcome the
base cheat upon which the party was
founded. OF course there were homes,
greenbackers. but the party rested upon
deceptive principles which deluded those
who conscientiously embraced them.
On the question of the supposed desir-
ability of a change in the State govern
ment every republican greenbacker will
say, if he Is honest, that he labored under a
great mistake. Twenty years of republi.
can administrations left no stain upon the
honor of the State. One year of fusion
bos mazda tho mama Of tho Stato a b;SS,nc
and by-word in the nation and even in
foreign lands. There was change but
what change! From an honest admins
tration of the government we changed to
n robber administration one that no,
only robbed the treasury but stole also the
birthright of the people-the right to Z
free ballot and fair count. and attempt
ed to install and maintain its stolen gov,
eminent by force of arms and in spite Of
the decisions OF the Supreme Court con
demning its robber acts. Yes, we had d
change. and last year the people voted to
change back the government to the repub
lican party. but the men voted out though
loud mouthed advocates of change the
year before refused to &c, and everybody
knows what followed.
Now, then. republican greenbacker:
must see that they have nothing to stant
upon in the greenback party, while the re
publican party which they have never
failed to believe in. still invites their sup
port. Those who are honest and intelli
gent will not hesitate to return to the ole
party those who are determined to re
main in the fusion camp are bound to &C
over to the democracy. where they vii
soon bring up. Resumption is success
and cannot be disturbed, the hard times
are over. the nation is prosperous, achang,
of State administration has brought only
piracy and infamy what is there to Undue,
a republican greenbacker to vote for Har
ris NJ. Plaisted? We fail to see anything
General News.
The telephone has been used in Australia
TO convey the sound of a chime of bells SAC