Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-08-10
INTERESTING LETTER.
PORTLAND, Aug. 6, 1880.


Mr.. Editor. ~
Although It has been almost five years,
since have left my native County, have
not forgotten the home of my youth, the
hills Of Old Oxford, or the many pleasant
associations lingering around the tolls
and labours of forty years of my life.
Neither have forgotten my twelve years
apprenticeship in the editorial sanctum of
the dear old DEMOCRAT, or the tough polit-
ical struggles, that marked the Inaugural
ton of the now great Republican Party,
in which the DEMOCRAT was a pioneer.
Nor shall ever forget the heroes OF those
early wars for freedom and free country,
who amid the taunts and sneers OF the
multitude, followed the old flag OF freedom
and amid the fire and smoke Of battle, gal
lanily bore II aloft TO victory. Those
were days that not only tried mems souls,
but put TO the severest tests their grit and
moral courage. 1t was in the pure atmos-
phere that encircles the "Oxford Hills" +,
that the Republican Party was born. 1t
was here, that her noble, hardy sons, first
raised up the banner, and marched to the
field of conflict against oppression, cor
ruption and wrong, in the political world.
IL was the ''Oxford Bears" who first sound
ed the tocsin of war, and mustered the
Republican clans 10 the great fight, which.
finally won, and triumphautly carried
Abraham Lincoln into the Presidential
chair in lSG0.
This was less than thirty years ago, and
yet how many Of the prominent actors In
those stirring scenes are gone, Among
that number Noah Prince, President OF the
ilrst Republican Convention ever held in
this couutry,-Robert 4. Chapman and DR.
Twitchell of Bethel, Timothy Luddcn,
Horatio G.. Russ, Gen. Avian Bolster, and
that "truest among the true" Rufus :.
Stevens. And here stop TO drop tear
upon the tomb OF one whose sudden de-
parture has so shocked the whole commu-
nity-Dr Thos II. Browu.-Thc Doctor
was one Of the companions of my boyhood.
We were students together at school. oc-
cupying the same room, and enjoyed an un-
interrupted friendship of nearly n half
century. lie was my predecessor a. editor
of the DrNIoCE,T, aud To his pen. were the
Republicans largely indebted for the sue
cess which attended its early movements.
While 80 many among the pioneer Re-
pub.icanS OF those early days, are gone,
quite number of their compccrS are
among the living, engaged in the active
scenes OF life. Among the number of
these are Woodbury., Hubbard, Pcrham,
Walker, Chase, Gross, Clark, W. W. Boil
Stcr, White, knapp, Cutter, aud Others
whose names do not now recall. To
this band OF pioneers and their compatriots,
who really inaugurated the movement
which eliminated in the great Republican
Party, which has governed this country
for the last twenty years "A debt OF graf
itudc is due, which can never DC fully
paid.
To turn from the past TO the present. |
can sincerely assure you and your readers
OF my continued interest in whatever per-
tans TO the highest good OF "0ld oxford
County. Your Republican County ticket
is an ercelieRf one, and with u vigorous
fight YOU can elect il, and redeem the
County from fusion misrulc. Then
Rally around the flag, boys, rally once again,
shouting the battle cry Of freedom.
J. J. y.